Windows Tablet · System Info

Extend battery life on the go

Battery Saver reduces background activity, notifications, and some visual effects to stretch remaining battery life, which matters more on a tablet used away from a charger than on a desk-bound PC.

What you should know

  • Go to Settings > System > Power & battery to see current battery percentage and time remaining.
  • Turn on Battery Saver manually from the same page, or set Turn battery saver on automatically at a percentage you choose, such as 20%.
  • Check Battery usage further down the page to see which apps are draining the battery fastest and whether any are running in the background unexpectedly.
  • Adjust Screen and sleep timers under Power & battery to turn the display off sooner when unplugged.
  • Set the Power mode slider (Best power efficiency / Balanced / Best performance) to Best power efficiency when running on battery for extended periods.

Some features like background app refresh, Focus Assist syncing, and mail push are automatically restricted while Battery Saver is active — expect notifications to arrive in batches rather than instantly.

Why it matters

A tablet is frequently used untethered for hours, so power settings have a much more direct effect on your day than on a plugged-in desktop. Tuning Battery Saver thresholds and power mode is the fastest way to noticeably extend time away from a charger.

Best practices

  • Set the automatic Battery Saver threshold to a level that gives you a buffer before you'd actually need to plug in, such as 25-30%.
  • Check Battery usage weekly to catch a runaway background app before it becomes a recurring drain.
  • Use Best power efficiency power mode for travel days and Balanced or Best performance when plugged in for pen-heavy or creative work.

Common problems and fixes

Battery drains fast even in Battery Saver
Review Battery usage under Power & battery for an app stuck running in the background, and update its app or the device's drivers via Windows Update.
Battery Saver won't turn off automatically after charging
It's designed to stay on until the battery reaches roughly 80% or the device is unplugged and charged further — this is expected, not a fault.

Tips and tricks

  • Dim the screen brightness a few notches from Quick Settings before enabling Battery Saver — display brightness is typically the single biggest battery drain on a tablet.

Frequently asked questions

Does Battery Saver work while plugged in?

No — it's designed for unplugged use and turns off automatically once the device is connected to power.