Fast draining battery

Question

I have been using my Surface Pro 9 (256GB Intel 12th gen i5-1235U IRISxe integrated graphics) for around 2 years now, and the battery drains like 2-4% every couple of minutes. I am only a high school student, and I need this computer to survive longer and also is this battery drain related to Bluetooth devices whatsoever thx.

Answer 1

Hi Houcheng Zhu,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

I understand how stressful it is for a Surface Pro 9 draining 2–4% every couple of minutes, especially when you rely on the device for school. Before getting further, I’d like to re-check what is actually draining the battery:

• Unplug the charger and use the laptop normally.
• After drain, go to Settings > System > Power & battery
• Open Battery usage > set time period (e.g. Last 24 hours)
• Look for any apps or services showing unusually high usage.
• Uninstall/Temporarily stop using it or share screenshot of the chart here.

In addition, Bluetooth devices often consume very little power and shouldn’t lose you 2–4% battery every few minutes. If you want to test, turn Bluetooth off and compare the drain rate. If it is unchanged, Bluetooth is not the cause. There are also a few other things you can check:

1 - Battery health

• Press Win + X keys > choose Terminal (Admin) to open PowerShell
• Type (or copy-paste this) powercfg /batteryreport > press Enter
• Go to the folder shown in the result > open battery-report.html
• Compare Design Capacity vs Full Charge Capacity for significant drop.
• If you want, you can share your report here and I will help checking it out.

2 - Change power mode and refresh rate

• Go to Settings > System > Power & battery > Power mode
• Set On battery to Recommended or Best power efficiency
• Go back to System > Display > Advanced display
• Try lowering the refresh rate if it’s too high

3 - Surface app

• It should be built-in, but if not, download from Microsoft Store.
• Open the Surface app, install all firmware and driver updates if available
• Also open Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates

I know this seems troublesome, but starting with battery usage and battery health will quickly tell you whether this is a Windows issue or a battery wear issue. If there’s anything confusing, you can share it here!

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Answer 2

Fast battery drain can be caused by several factors, including the applications you are running, the settings on your device, and the condition of the battery itself. For your Surface Pro 9, if you are experiencing a drain of 2-4% every couple of minutes, it may be related to:

1. Power-Hungry Applications: Some applications consume more power than others. If you are using apps that are resource-intensive, they can significantly impact battery life.
2. Bluetooth Devices: If you have Bluetooth devices connected, they can also contribute to battery drain, especially if they are actively being used.
3. Battery Health: Over time, batteries can lose their capacity. If your battery health is below 60%, it may not hold a charge as effectively, leading to faster drain.
4. Settings: Features such as high screen brightness, background apps running, and location services can also affect battery life. You might want to check your settings and consider enabling battery saver mode.

To improve battery life, consider closing unnecessary applications, disconnecting Bluetooth devices when not in use, and adjusting your device settings for better power management. If the issue persists, you may want to check the battery health report to see if it needs replacement.

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References:

• Battery health report
• Surface Pro 9 Component Disassembly and Reassembly