It is quite understandable why someone would want to keep their laptops plugged in at all times. Not everybody would have the time to wait for the laptop to recharge before they can use it again.
At the same time, people need to take care of their laptop batteries to ensure longevity. The battery of your laptop is one of the most vulnerable components and can deteriorate over time if you do not use it properly.
One of the common questions on the internet is whether or not it is safe to keep your laptop plugged at all times. In other words – is it okay to use a laptop while charging?
To prevent any harm, users should know the pros and cons of using their laptops while it plugged in.
Can I Charge My Laptop While Using It?
Generally, it is perfectly fine to use your laptop while it is charging as there are minimal risk implications. However, doing so for prolonged periods might end up deteriorating your laptop’s battery life in the long run, but the damage is minuscule.
So what happens when you plug in your laptop to any power socket? When that happens, your laptop runs on the power of the A/C adapter instead of its battery. So while you are charging your laptop, you are not necessarily using your laptop’s battery, making it immune to any harmful side effects.
Moreover, when you plug your laptop in, it doesn’t mean that the battery is charging constantly. Instead, the charging effect takes place only when the laptop’s battery levels drop below 95%. So any form of damage due to constant overcharging is also not in the equation.
Can I Run Heavy Software and Games While Charging my Laptop?
You should keep your laptop plugged in while running some heavy application or playing a high-requirement game. Playing video games with your laptop’s battery will affect the performance of the machine as well as accelerate the discharge process.
So if you are running some high-resolution game, or using multiple applications together, you better plug in your laptop to avoid any issues. Your laptop’s battery will suffer if it keeps charging and discharging frequently, which is what will happen if you do not have your laptop plugged in while doing heavy operations.
What will Happen if I Charge My Laptop While Using it?
If you are running your laptop on a depleted battery, it will continue to charge. The charging process will stop only when the battery is fully charged. When this happens, the laptop will start running on the power from the A/C adapter.
Many within the industry opine that keeping your laptop plugged in when its battery is fully charged can lead to the deterioration of the battery’s lifespan.
However, it is still a better alternative than ruining the battery’s performance by subjecting it to frequent charge and discharge cycles.
So if you want to keep using your laptop while it is charging, it is better to take some precautions.
- Make sure that you use your laptop in a well-ventilated area.
- You can also use a coolant to avoid overheating.
- If you want to take extra precautions, take the laptop’s battery out when it is fully charged.
What are the Harmful Effects of Using Laptops While They are Charging?
Generally, there are no major negative side-effects of keeping your laptop plugged in while you use it. However, if you do it on a prolonged basis, then you might experience some effects like overheating or reduction in the battery’s lifespan.
To avoid any issues, customers should ensure that they possess a genuine adapter that is compatible with the wattage of the laptop’s battery. If you take these precautions, you can continue to charge your laptop while using it without facing any kind of issues.
However, not charging your laptop with a compatible adapter for prolonged periods can cause the following problems:
1. Overheating
If you are running a heavy application while charging your laptop (which is necessary), then the battery might face overheating issues.
A laptop’s battery is susceptible to deterioration when it faces excessive heat. Fortunately, you can avoid any harmful ramifications by keeping your laptop in a well-aired and ventilated area. You can also make use of external tools like internal fans or coolants.
2. Reduction in the Battery’s Lifespan
There are no immediate consequences of using your laptop while it is charging. But if you continue to do so for prolonged periods, then the battery life will deteriorate in the long run.
However, there is nothing that you can do about this, and it’s natural for a battery to die out sooner or later.
Final Thoughts
Earlier, experts were very against the idea of using laptops while they are plugged in. However, the newer laptops are smarter even when it comes to charging. When the modern batteries are fully charged, they stop charging and start drawing power from the A/C adapter. As a result, it is safe to keep your laptop plugged in even if it is at a 100% battery level.
