Windows 11 doesn’t have a universal setting to stop charging at 80%. The option comes from your laptop maker, either in its app or in the BIOS: Lenovo Vantage, MyASUS, Dell Power Manager, MSI Center, HP’s BIOS or the Surface app. Open your maker’s app, look for a battery health, charge threshold or conservation setting, and choose 80% or the “balanced” option. Keeping the battery below 100% when you’re usually plugged in can help it last longer.
Applies to: Windows 11 laptops from Lenovo, ASUS, Dell, HP, MSI, Microsoft Surface and Samsung. Options vary by model. Last reviewed October 8, 2026.
Why limit the charge?
Lithium-ion batteries wear faster when they sit at 100% and warm for long periods, as they do in a laptop that’s always plugged in. Capping the charge at around 80% reduces that wear. If you often work on battery away from a charger, you may prefer to keep charging to 100% and only turn the limit on when you’re mostly at a desk.
Lenovo
- Open Lenovo Vantage (or Lenovo Commercial Vantage on business models). Install it from the Microsoft Store if it’s missing.
- Select Device > Power.
- On ThinkPad models, turn on Battery Charge Threshold and set Stop charging at to 80%.
- On IdeaPad and Yoga models, turn on Conservation Mode, which holds the battery at about 55 to 60%.
ASUS
- Open MyASUS (or Armoury Crate on ROG and TUF laptops).
- Go to Customization > Power & Performance > Battery Health Charging.
- Choose Balanced Mode (stops at 80%) or Maximum Lifespan Mode (stops at 60%). Full Capacity Mode charges to 100%.
Dell
- Open Dell Power Manager (on newer models, the Dell Optimizer or Dell app has the same setting).
- Select Battery Information > Settings.
- Choose Custom and set Stop charging at to 80%, or choose Primarily AC Use.
The same options are often in the BIOS under Power > Battery Charge Configuration.
HP
Many HP business laptops have the setting in the BIOS. Restart and press F10 as the PC starts, then look under Advanced or Configuration for Battery Health Manager, Adaptive Battery Optimizer or Battery Care Function, and choose to maximize battery health or set 80%. Some consumer models offer it in HP Smart or myHP.
MSI
- Open MSI Center (or Dragon Center on older models).
- Go to the battery or General Settings section and select Battery Health Option.
- Choose Balanced (about 80%) or Best for Battery (about 60%).
Microsoft Surface
- Smart Charging: in the Surface app, under Battery, turn on Smart Charging. It caps the charge at around 80% when the Surface has been plugged in for long periods.
- Battery Limit mode: in the Surface UEFI, under Boot configuration > Advanced options, Enable Battery limit mode caps charging at 50%, for devices that stay plugged in permanently.
Samsung Galaxy Book
Open Samsung Settings > Battery and turn on Protect battery (or Battery Life Extender), which stops charging at about 80 to 85%.
Windows’ own Smart charging
Some newer laptops show a Smart charging option in Settings > System > Power & battery. It’s provided by the PC maker and may hold the battery below full when the PC is plugged in most of the time. See how to turn off smart charging in Windows 11 if it’s stopping your laptop reaching 100%.
Check it’s working
Leave the laptop plugged in and watch the battery icon. It should stop at your limit and show Plugged in rather than Charging. To see how much capacity your battery has lost, see how to check battery health in Windows 11.
Frequently asked questions
Is it bad to leave a laptop plugged in all the time?
Modern laptops stop charging when full, so it isn’t dangerous. But a battery held at 100% and warm wears out faster over months and years, which is why an 80% limit helps if you rarely unplug.
Can I set the limit to a number other than 80%?
Some apps, such as Dell Power Manager and Lenovo Vantage on ThinkPads, let you choose any start and stop level. Others only offer fixed modes like 60%, 80% or 100%.
Can I charge to 100% before a trip?
Yes. Switch the setting back to full capacity, or use a one-time “charge to full” option if your maker’s app has one. Remember to turn the limit back on afterwards.
Are there third-party apps that do this?
Charge limits are controlled by the laptop’s firmware, so only the maker’s tools or BIOS can set them reliably. Apps that claim to do it on any laptop usually just show a notification asking you to unplug.
Troubleshooting
The setting isn’t in the app
Update the maker’s app and the BIOS. Some budget models don’t support charge limits at all.
The battery still charges to 100%
The limit may reset after a BIOS update or a Windows reinstall. Check the setting again. Some laptops also charge to 100% occasionally to recalibrate.
Battery drains quickly on battery
Use a power-saving mode in Settings > System > Power & battery. See also how to turn off Efficiency mode in Windows 11 if an app is running slowly.
Related: show battery percentage in Windows 10.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.