- Smart charging protects the battery from wear and tear due to overcharging.
- Turn off smart charging if you need a fully charged battery.
- Many manufacturers offer applications to manage the battery charge of their devices. Windows.
Have you ever noticed that your Windows 11 laptop or tablet battery doesn't seem to fully charge or gets stuck at 80%? This is due to a feature known as Smart Charge . This feature is designed to increase battery life, which sounds helpful at first glance, but it might not be ideal if you plan to use your device for an extended period without access to a power source. Fortunately, if you find yourself in this situation, it's possible to disable this feature.
You may not be aware of this feature if you don't pay much attention to your battery performance. However, turning smart charging on or off can make your device better suited to your needs. In this article, we're going to explain in detail what smart charging is, why it exists, and most importantly, how to turn it off if you prefer to charge your device at 100%.
What is smart charging in Windows 11?
Smart Charge in Windows 11 is a feature designed to protect your device's battery and reduce wear and tear over time . It manages the amount of charge the battery receives, limiting it to 80% when the device is detected as being plugged in for extended periods or in hot environments. This protects the battery from damage caused by overcharging and excessive heat, extending its lifespan.
However, by having this option enabled, you may notice incomplete charging when the device is plugged in for long periods or in situations where the temperature rises. The purpose is to limit the stress on the battery by preventing it from staying at 100% for too long.
For users who need a fully charged battery , such as those who work outdoors or plan to travel without access to a power outlet, this limitation may be inconvenient.
Why would you want to disable smart charging?
As we mentioned earlier, the smart charging feature is designed to prevent overcharging and protect battery life. However, there are situations where disabling it might make more sense. If you plan to use your device on a long trip, at a meeting, or in any situation where you won't have immediate access to a power source, disabling smart charging will allow you to fully charge your battery and take advantage of its capacity.
It's important to note that regularly disabling smart charging can accelerate battery wear . Therefore, it's recommended to only disable it when necessary. While this feature isn't universally enabled on all Windows devices, on laptops that have it, automatic activation is very common.
How to disable smart charging in Windows 11
If you've decided that you need to disable smart charging to get the most out of your battery, here are the steps to do so:
- Open the Configuration from the start menu.
- Go to the section Power and battery management.
- Within the battery section, select Load Optimization and look for the option Smart charge.
- Disable this option if you prefer, or set specific times when you want this feature to remain disabled.
On some devices, you may need to use a third-party app provided by the manufacturer, such as Microsoft Surface devices. In this case, you'll need to open the Surface app and follow the usual steps to adjust the battery settings.
Which manufacturers offer tools to adjust battery charging?
Various manufacturers have developed their own apps to manage battery charging on their devices. Here's how to limit or adjust battery charging on some of the major manufacturers.
MSI
MSI offers battery charging control through its Dragon Center app. Open the app and look for the Battery Master option , where you can limit charging to 80% or choose the charging mode that best suits your needs.
LG
With the LG Smart Assistant app , users can easily limit battery charging to 80%. Simply activate this option in the power settings within the app.
Dell
Dell devices feature Dell Power Manager , an application that lets you manage battery charging. You can choose to limit charging to 80%, or set a custom limit depending on your preferences.
Asus
Asus allows its users to adjust battery charging through its MyASUS app . This app offers several charging modes, including those that limit the battery to 60% or 80%, depending on the user's needs.
Whether you're using a Dell, MSI, Asus, or any other Windows 11 compatible device, you can customize battery charging to your needs using the tools provided by the manufacturer. These apps are usually pre-installed or available for direct download from their respective app stores.
In short, smart charging is a useful tool for protecting the battery life of many Windows 11 devices. However, if your usage needs require longer battery life, temporarily disabling it is a valid option to get the most out of each charge. Properly configuring this option can be key to more efficient and personalized use of your laptop or tablet, preventing unnecessary overcharging and extending your battery's lifespan when needed.
I'm Alberto Navarro and I'm passionate about everything related to technology, from cutting-edge gadgets to software and video games of all kinds. My interest in digital began with video games and continued in the world of digital marketing. I have been writing about the digital world on different platforms since 2019, sharing the latest news in the sector. I also try to write in an original way so that you can stay up to date while having fun.
I studied Sociology at university and completed my studies with a Master's in Digital Marketing. So if you have any questions, I'll share with you all my experience in the world of digital marketing, technology and video games.