Batteries age over time and can become faulty or unreliable. When technical tragedy strikes, unfortunate laptop users may want to use their laptop while they wait for another battery.
Can a laptop run without a battery? We break down the facts and how to do so safely in this guide.
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Can A Laptop Run Without A Battery? (Is It Ok + Pros & Cons)
In short, yes – but you will need to take precautions. When using a laptop without a battery, it is vital that you plug it into a reliable outlet securely with a functioning adapter.
Ideally, an intact original adapter that came with the laptop would be best, but we work with what we have.
With this method, your laptop works similarly to a PC and will run fine but will also shut down if unplugged. This removes its portability but means that you can still use your laptop without a battery.
Removing a battery does not always need to be a last resort.
Some people remove their laptops when their laptop is not being used for a while to avoid overheating or to avoid damaging their laptop with a faulty battery.
Whatever your circumstances, it is vital that you back up your work as losing power means losing unsaved data.
Precautionary Measures When Using A Laptop Without A Battery
Make Use of a UPS or a Power Backup Device
A UPS, or uninterruptible power supply, or a power backup device protects you from power surges as well as loss of power. These devices enable you to charge your laptop during a power outage and ensure that you will not lose data. If you live somewhere where power cuts are frequent, a UPS or power backup device is essential.
Keep The Charging Cable Intact
Once your charging cable is in, we do not recommend moving it or separating the brick from the cord. Even lightly nudging the cable could cause a momentary loss in power, which could in turn cause you to lose your work in a sudden shutdown. Keep your cable intact and still, and manually shut it down once you are done working.
Keep The Battery Slot Clear
Is it safe to run a laptop without a battery? Keeping your battery slot clear of potential blockages is essential to its health and long-term functionality. We also must recommend that you do not touch any exposed battery connectors as you could become electrocuted. Be sure to keep these battery slots away from curious children and animals for maximum safety.
Use The Original Adapter
If you do want to use a laptop without a battery, it would be ideal if you could use your original charger. Power variations could be harmful to the internal components of your laptop, and the original power adapter (or identical substitute) helps lessen the effects of them. If you do not have your original adapter, a functional, secure, and intact one should work as well.
How To Safely Use A Laptop Without A Battery
Can a Dell laptop run without a battery? Or perhaps you are wondering can HP laptops run without a battery? No matter the brand of your computer, the steps for safely using the laptop without a battery are going to be nearly identical. Here are our best tips to do so:
Materials:
- 1Inspect your adapter and confirm that it is functional, undamaged, and flush with the outlet. If not, purchase a replacement, along with a UPS or backup power device.
- 2Shut down and unplug your laptop.
- 3Remove the battery according to product manual instructions.
- 4Attach your UPS or backup power device according to manual instructions.
- 5Plug in and boot up your laptop.
If you have a dead battery that will not charge, it does not necessarily need to be removed for this method to work.
Common Laptop Battery Questions
Can I leave my laptop plugged in overnight?
It is possible to leave your laptop plugged in overnight as it is not possible to overcharge modern laptops. If you have an older model or are not running any updates or downloads, we recommend shutting it down and unplugging it.
Can you put a battery in the laptop while it's on?
We do not recommend trying to plug in a battery while the laptop is on as it could be a safety hazard. If you want to attach your battery, we insist that you shut it down first and unplug it before doing so as a safety precaution.
How do you remove the battery of your laptop?
Removing the battery from a laptop typically involves unscrewing various parts of the laptop’s underbelly. For model-specific instructions, we recommend consulting your product manual.
Conclusion
Will my laptop run without a battery? In summary, it is possible to run most laptops without a battery, provided you follow our advice above. If you are careful, use a UPS, and keep your adapter connected and plugged in, you should be able to keep working away to your heart’s content.
Jake Redman is a UK-born-digital nomad & founder of Ultimate Quality Content, a collective of high-end copywriters formed to provide detailed insight into everything technology-related. Jake is the definition of a man-nerd. He gets excited over things like processor architecture, ray-tracing, & is an avid E-Sports fan, specifically League of Legends. When he isn’t writing detailed tech-related articles, Jake can be found performing fire-breathing shows & wields a dragon staff, or on the sofa playing Mario Kart.