HOW TO: Check Your Laptop's Battery Health on Ubuntu
Ubuntu's hidden battery health checker reveals exactly how much life your laptop battery has left, and here's how to use it.
Recently, I’ve noticed my laptop battery dying faster than it should. It went from almost 8 hours of daily lifespan to just about 3 hours, so I had to inspect it.
Inspecting your battery on Ubuntu is quite easy, but unlike your mobile phone, it’s not in the settings app; it’s in a hidden battery health checker called Power Statistics.
The power statistics tell you two important things: the initial life of your battery and its capacity. The difference between these numbers is your battery's health score, which explains your laptop's shorter lifespan.
In this guide, you will learn how to check your battery health on Ubuntu. At the very least, you'll know whether to blame your dying battery or your hundred Chrome tabs for that rapid power drain.
Oyinebiladou Omemu
How to Check Your Battery Health on Ubuntu
Step 1: Go to your Activities menu and open the Power Statistics app.
Step 2: In the left sidebar, click on "Battery" or "Laptop battery."
Step 3: Switch to the "Details" tab in the main window.
Step 4: Compare "Energy When Full" vs "Energy (Design)"
- Energy (design) shows you the battery's original capacity when it was brand new. Think of it as the battery's factory specs.
- Energy when full shows what your battery can hold right now, after all its charging cycles.
If you look at the screenshot above, my laptop came with a 57 Wh battery (Energy (design)), but now only charges to 40 Wh (Energy when full). That means it has lost 17 Wh of capacity over time.
Step 5: Scroll down to see Capacity.
This shows how much capacity your battery has left compared to its original state. If you have,
- 80-100%: Your battery is in great shape
- 60-79%: Noticeable reduction, but still functional
- 40-59%: Significant wear; consider replacement soon
- Below 40%: Your battery is on its last legs
As you can see below, my laptop's battery is nearing its end.
Oyinebiladou Omemu
Conclusion
Now that you’ve checked your battery’s health, you know exactly what is wrong; you no longer need to guess why your laptop dies so fast. If your battery is still above 80% capacity, you’re in good shape; just keep up with healthy charging habits. If it’s below 50%, though, it might be time to start thinking about a replacement.
Remember, batteries wear out over time; it’s just how they work. But now that you know how to check, you won’t be caught off guard when your laptop suddenly refuses to stay unplugged. At least you’ll know whether it’s truly the battery’s fault or just too many apps running in the background.
Image Credit: Oyinebiladou Omemu/Techloy.com
