In Windows 10 laptops and tablets, there is a new feature called Battery Saver. It will automatically turn off certain activities (e.g., email notifications, live tile updates) when the battery level drops below 20 percent. At any time, though, you can manually enable Battery Saver. This comes in handy if you want to increase your battery life when you are traveling or when you won’t have access to a power outlet anytime soon.
To manually enable Battery Saver, all you need to do is click the battery icon at the bottom of your screen and select the "Battery saver" tile that appears. Windows will superimpose a green leaf over the icon to show that the feature is on.
To disable Battery Saver, simply click the battery icon and "Battery saver" tile again. You do not even need to do that, though. When you recharge your laptop or tablet, Windows will turn off the Battery Saver feature.
If you are concerned that you might forget to manually turn on this feature when you are traveling, you can change when the Battery Saver automatically activates. For example, you can have it take effect when the battery level drops below 50 percent rather than 20 percent. To change this setting, follow these steps:
- Click the battery icon.
- Select "Power & sleep settings".
- In the "Settings" window that appears, choose "Battery" in the menu on the left.
- Using the slider for the "Turn battery saver on automatically if my battery falls below" option, select the desired percentage.
- Make sure the "Lower screen brightness while in battery saver" check box is selected because dimming the screen is an effective way to save battery life.
- Close the "Settings" window.
