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1560894203174310.jpg?impolicy=prdimg&imdensity=1&imwidth=1000 "How to Perform an HP Laptop Battery Replacement")
How to Perform an HP Laptop Battery Replacement
Daniel Horowitz
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June 1, 2019
In case you hadn’t noticed, the battery in your laptop isn’t meant to last forever. You may have realized that you spend hours charging your laptop only to have it run out of battery power within a short period of time. This is because over time, your battery’s capacity lessens so won’t be the same as it once was.
There’s good news, though. Laptop batteries can be replaced. So if you’re wondering how you can install a new battery on your own, this article will show you how.
This guide will help you make the repair quickly and efficiently so you can get back to work and enjoy the maximum battery life of your device.
Here are the steps you’ll take when replacing your computer’s battery:
- Purchase a new HP laptop battery
- Create a battery report in Windows
- Disconnect your laptop from a power source
- Remove the back panel of your laptop with a screwdriver
- Remove your old battery
- Connect your new battery to the body of your laptop
- Replace the back panel
- Confirm performance with a new battery report
Let’s get started.
1. Purchase a new HP laptop battery
Before you think about opening up your computer and starting this process, you first need to order a new battery. HP’s support team can be helpful with this, but you can also find the make and model of your computer yourself to avoid ordering the wrong replacement battery.
Determine your serial number and which company your computer was manufactured by before going online to find a new battery. Also, see if you can easily determine the battery’s own model number and serial number while performing your search.
If you’re not sure how to find a replacement battery for an HP laptop, you have a couple of options:
- Use the battery finder tool to find the right replacement
- If you need to replace an older computer’s battery, perform a search on a third-party website
If you’re wondering “how much is a laptop battery?” it’s important to know that the prices will vary depending on your laptop’s age. It may also be more difficult and cost-prohibitive to find a replacement battery if you’re looking for one for an older computer. Make sure you weigh the cost of replacing the battery against the cost of a new laptop.
2. Create a battery report in Windows
Before you perform an HP battery replacement, you should get an idea of how well your battery is performing. Windows has made this simple with its battery report. Here’s how you can generate the report:
1. Click on the lower-left corner of your screen to bring up the Command Prompt
2. Type in “powercgg/batteryreport” and then hit “Enter”
3. A report on the state of the battery will be saved
4. Click on your Users folder to find and review the battery report
The report provides an overview of how the battery performed in the past and an overview of its past three charging cycles. You will want to take a look at the Design Capacity vs the Full Charge Capacity in order to determine whether it is worth replacing the battery.
If there is a big difference between how much the battery could hold when you unboxed your computer and now, then it’s likely a replacement is necessary.
3. Disconnect your laptop from the power source
This is the easiest step in the process but it bears repeating. In addition to completely powering down your laptop, you will also want to make sure you have disconnected it from the power source. If not, you will be in serious danger of harming yourself through an electric shock.
4. Remove the back panel of your laptop with a screwdriver
Most HP laptops require the removal of the back panel for a battery replacement. This means that you might have to invest in a Phillips-head #0 screwdriver or a laptop opening kit, both of which are inexpensive and can make the process of installing a new battery much simpler.
There may be some rubber feet on the back panel that you’ll need to remove before you can access the battery, but this depends on your HP laptop model. Use a plastic opening tool to pry off the rubber, which will allow you to remove the screws that hold the body of your laptop together.
Use the Phillips screwdriver to loosen the screws on the back panel and then gently remove the back cover of your laptop. This may require you to use the plastic tool again to loosen the edges. It’s usually easier to start in a corner and carefully dislodge the panel, but be sure to take care not to harm the components inside.
5. Remove your laptop battery
Use your Phillips screwdriver to unscrew the screws holding your battery in place within the body of the computer. After it is loosened, you will need to disconnect the cable that attaches your battery to your system. Be careful when doing this because these parts are delicate and you can cause future problems if you damage them. Also, make sure to remove the battery entirely from your device.
Take the new battery out of the packaging and make sure it is clear of any plastic. Double check that it’s indeed the correct battery for your device so it won’t cause any compatibility issues. Place the battery into the slot on your laptop and make sure it is lined up properly.
6. Connect your new battery to the body of your laptop
At this point, you can begin the process of connecting the new battery. After you insert the new battery, you will need to reverse the steps you just completed to get your computer up and running again.
- Connect the cable on your computer to the new battery carefully
- Screw your battery back into the body of your device
- Make sure the battery is firmly in place, but not too tight or else it could damage some components
7. Replace the back panel
Line up the back cover to the rest of your laptop before using your Phillips screwdriver to put the cover back on. Again, you’ll want to be careful not to make things too tight or too loose, because either one can damage your device. Replace the rubber footings on the bottom of your laptop if your computer has them.
8. Confirm performance with a new battery report
Once everything is lined up and put back together, plug your computer into a power source. After a few minutes of charging, turn on your laptop to make sure everything starts properly. If your laptop appears to be working properly, you will want to perform another battery report to see what your Design Capacity is and if it all looks the way you would expect. If it does, you’re ready to use your laptop again - this time with proper battery life!
In summary
Replacing your HP notebook battery doesn’t have to be difficult. Plus, when you do it yourself, you can save both time and money that you would otherwise spend taking it to a shop. However, if you feel as though the job is more complicated than you are willing to take on or if you’re worried about harming your laptop, you should consider consulting a professional.
About the Author: Daniel Horowitz is a contributing writer for HP® Tech Takes. Daniel is a New York-based author and has written for publications such as USA Today, Digital Trends, Unwinnable Magazine, and many other media outlets.
