Why Your Laptop Runs Slow When Not Plugged In? With 7 Best Solutions!

Evan Ruiz
Owner at - Techi Show

I am a professional laptop and computer troubleshooter, tech editor who loves to talk about technology and software. My passion is electronics devices. Follow me...Read more

One of the most common issues that many laptop users face is that their laptop runs slow when not plugged in. However, when the charger is put in, the laptop appears to function normally.

I had a similar problem a few years ago, but it was quite easy to deal with. Well, of course, unless there’s something severely wrong with the battery. Though, the chances of this happening are quite low. So, all you gotta do is first check out a few settings to see what’s causing your laptop to run slower when on battery.

Fear not! I have come up with a few explanations for why your laptop is acting this way and your steps to mitigate the situation. To learn about the critical details, go all the way to the conclusion.

Know The Reasons Why Your Laptop Runs Slow When Not Plugged In

It’s aggravating when you spend a lot of money on a laptop only to have significant problems that prevent you from using it effectively. Some others experience a similar issue with their gaming laptop running so slowly. Don’t worry; this article will present you with a few significant reasons your laptop runs slow when not plugged in.

Why Your Laptop Runs Slow When Not Plugged In

Examine the Advanced Settings for Battery Usage

This is necessary to determine the battery’s level and status. You can discover a variety of applications that can help you determine and extend the life of your batteries. On the other hand, apps with optimization turned off may have a negative influence on your battery.

Examine the advanced settings for battery usage

Failing Battery

When you see that your laptop charges quickly and empties quickly when you disconnect the charger, you know your laptop’s battery is failing. Your laptop may potentially overheat as a result of a failed battery.

The Problem of Power Management Options

Power management choices generally help with battery power and life control. Power configuration difficulties cause difficulty with the power management option. You may fix it by adjusting the power settings and selecting the most effective power savings option.

The problem of power management options

See whether the Frame Rate is Slowing Down

A low frame rate slows down your computer’s overall processing. A decent graphics card or a new CPU are necessary to address this issue.

The Laptop is in Power-Saving Mode

When not connected, laptops often function in power-saving mode by default. When plugged in, they run in balanced mode or how they are designed to run. This is because power is drawn from the power brick rather than the battery.

How To Speed Up Your Laptop Without Plugging It In

Following the reasons your laptop slows down while it is not plugged in, I’ve devised some simple but effective strategies for resolving the issues and making your laptop faster.

Check the Temperature in BIOS

When your laptop’s temperature rises, the bios can restrict its performance. You can monitor the temperature in the bios setting, saving you time and preventing your laptop from being slow.

Check the temperature in BIOS

Delete Unnecessary Programs

Programs quickly deplete your laptop’s RAM. As a result, deleting the apps you don’t use has a significant influence on the performance of your laptop.

Get Rid of Virus or Malware

Viruses and other malware use up a lot of RAM on your computer. This not only slows down your laptop but also harms your hard disk in the long run. Not to mention the possibility of your personal information being leaked.

Get rid of viruses or malware

Disable Automatic Software Updates

Software update alerts are undoubtedly a bonus for us. It informs us of the additional benefits of a new software update. Still, the fact that software updates might occur at any moment can significantly slow down your laptop’s performance.

If software starts updating automatically while you’re working, meeting, or gaming, it will quickly slow down your entire laptop. As a result, you should turn off the option.

Improve Your Laptop’s Cooling System

One of the most common problems that slow down your laptop is overheating when your charger is not connected. To avoid this problem, invest in a robust cooling system that will keep your laptop cool while you’re working.

Improve your laptop's cooling system

This way, you can use your laptop without having to plug in the charger.

Keep Your Laptop Clean

It’s critical to understand that dust invading your laptop may have a significant impact on its performance. As a result, keep your laptop clean at all times.

Replace Your Laptop’s Battery

Last but not least, if none of the preceding ways work, realize that the issue is with your battery. So, it is time to replace it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does adding more RAM to my laptop make it faster?

Yes, RAM will help you multitask with your laptop. The default ram is more than plenty when only running a single program. When you utilize more than one app simultaneously, the shortage of memory will cause the applications to slow down.

How can I get the performance of the on-battery mode to be equivalent to the plug-in mode?

A few ways to make your laptop work faster when not plugged in are as follows-

  • Uninstalling superfluous software,
  • Limiting apps at launch,
  • Increasing RAM on your computer, and
  • Checking for viruses and spyware.

Is it possible to operate a high-performance GPU at full speed while on battery power?

No. Laptops don’t have any high-performance GPUs. Their wattage is used to identify them. There are several sorts of GPUs on laptops, and the wattage determines whether or not it is a high-performance GPU.

GPU utilization should be higher than CPU usage, indicating that your laptop is not bottlenecked and is performing well.

How can I prevent malware from infiltrating my laptop?

There is a lot of security software available to assist you in keeping your laptop safe from viruses and malware.

Also, be cautious of what websites you visit or what you click on since many websites can immediately download malware to your laptop when you click on them.

Does restarting my laptop help in making it faster at all?

Yes. Restarting your laptop will clear the RAM and clean up your temporary files and processes, allowing it to function faster.

What are the ways I can back up my laptop?

Always create a backup of your files or data on your Google Drive or Cloud drive. Your data will never be lost, and you will have access to them even if you have to reset your entire laptop to make it faster.

Conclusion

The problem of why your laptop runs slow when not plugged in is quite frustrating. Not only do you worry about the health of your laptop, but you also can’t use it in public without a plug nearby.

This document contains all of the necessary information on how to solve all of these issues. Follow the tips I mentioned to resolve your troubles and obtaining a healthy, speedy laptop.

I am a professional laptop and computer troubleshooter, tech editor who loves to talk about technology and software. My passion is electronics devices. Follow me on social media.

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