Maximize your Surface battery life
Applies To
Surface Devices SurfaceYour Surface uses an internal lithium-ion battery. The amount of time your battery lasts will vary depending on the kinds of things you do with your Surface. This article will help you learn more about how to get the most out of your Surface battery.
Check the Energy recommendations on your Surface
The Energy recommendations section is a quick place to go when you're looking for a collection of settings that affect your power usage.
-
Select Start > Settings > System > Power & battery > Energy recommendations.
-
Select Apply all or individually adjust settings that are likely to use more power than average—such as screen brightness, screen saver, and how long your device can be inactive before it goes to sleep or turns off. To learn about each setting, see Learn more about energy recommendations.
Battery usage
Use the detailed Battery information in Windows to see which apps are using the battery power.
-
Select Start > Settings > System > Power & battery.
-
Expand Battery usage, and for Battery levels, select Last 24 hours, and then select an hour of high battery usage.
Look for apps that are using a lot of battery power. If there are any apps that you're not actively using, close them.
If the apps start automatically, open Task Manager and then select the Startup apps tab. For any apps you don't want to start automatically, you can right-click on the app, then select Disable. For more info, see Change which apps run automatically at startup in Windows.
If you're using apps that use a lot of battery power, you might want to plug in your Surface while using those apps. That practice can help you get the most from your battery over time.
Check in Surface app
Check the health of your Surface device using the Surface app.
-
In the Surface app, expand Help & support to check the update status.
-
If there are updates available, select the Check for updates button to open Windows Update and install the available updates.
-
Select Get help and tell us the problem you are experiencing. If Surface app detects any issues, we’ll let you know.
Note: If you don't have the Surface app installed, you can download the Surface app from the Microsoft Store. When it has downloaded, select Start, search for Surface, then select the app from the list of results.
General battery tips and tricks
For ways to save battery power, including how to find out which apps are using the most battery, see Battery saving tips for Windows.
Related topics
Support for Windows 10 will end in October 2025
After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11.
Your Surface uses an internal lithium-ion battery. The amount of time your battery lasts will vary depending on the kinds of things you do with your Surface. This article will help you learn more about how to get the most out of your Surface battery.
Choose a power mode for the best battery life and performance
On some Surface models you can select a power mode, which affects how much battery life and the performance you can get from your Surface.
To switch to a different power mode, disconnect the power supply (if it's plugged in), then select the Battery icon on the right side of the taskbar. Select Recommended. If you want to save even more power to write an email or finish watching a movie, move the slider to the lower setting—Battery saver.
Battery usage
Use the detailed Battery information in Windows to see which apps are using the battery power.
-
Select Start > Settings > System > Battery, and then See which apps are affecting your battery life.
-
For Time period, select 6 hours, 24 hours, or 1 week (depending on which time period has a higher amount of battery usage).
-
For Show, select Apps with usage.
Look for apps that are using a lot of battery power. If you're not using them, you should close those unused apps.
If the apps start automatically, open Task Manager and then select the Startup tab. For any apps you don't want to start automatically, you can select the app, then select Disable. For more info see Change which apps run automatically at startup in Windows.
If you're using apps that use a lot of battery power, you might want to plug in your Surface while using those apps. That practice can help you get the most from your battery over time.
Get the latest updates
You can quickly check the health of your Surface drivers and firmware using the Surface app.
-
In the Surface app, expand Help & support to check the update status.
-
If there are updates available, select the Check for updates button to open Windows Update and install the available updates.
Note: If you don't have the Surface app installed, you can download the Surface app from the Microsoft Store. When it has downloaded, select Start, search for Surface, then select the app from the list of results.
General battery tips and tricks
For ways to save battery power, including how to find out which apps are using the most battery, see Battery saving tips for Windows.
Related topics
Need more help?
Want more options?
Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.
Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.
Find solutions to common problems or get help from a support agent.
