Ok to remove built-in Lenovo laptop battery?

Delly10 · 15 Dec 2023

Sorry I'm not home and don't have access to my Lenovo's windows version number.

I have a Lenovo laptop that I bought a few years ago as a backup laptop. I've just been keeping it in storage, thinking my current laptop was going to see the end of its life soon. During that time, I noticed that the battery drains itself (even after just a few months), even though the computer is shut down (not in sleep mode).

This month, I checked it after 5 months. 5 months ago before storing it, I charged the battery up to 75%, and then shut it down. When I plugged in and turned it on after 5 months, the battery was at ZERO percent. Upon reading that lithium batteries become damaged that way, and are unsafe to use afterwards, I don't really feel safe storing it in my house--at least not the battery.

If it had an easily removable battery, then no problem. But this one is built-in, requiring removal of the laptop's bottom cover, and then several screws from a circuit board. What I'd like to know is whether or not I could remove this battery, and then be able to operate the laptop from AC only. My Dell computer works fine that way, but it's battery is removable by just sliding a switch on the bottom of the unit and popping the battery out. But I'm wondering if Lenovo manufactures their laptops with the battery "built-in" because the laptop somehow relies on the battery even when it's shut down. That would explain why its battery drains itself in storage.

dalchina · 15 Dec 2023

I see no reason why you couldn't remove it should you wish.

There are videos about removing/replacing such batteries if you wish to search..

and this is interesting as an example (this laptop in fact) of a way to disable the internal battery which you might like to try first (find the instructions for your particular PC).

Re: T440s: disabling internal battery if can't boot

As a rule of thumb, no. But you don't have to disable it physically. You can do that in the BIOS config.

1. Disconnect the ac power adapter and all cables from the computer.
2. Restart the computer. When the ThinkPad logo is displayed, press F1 to start the ThinkPad Setup
program.
3. Go to Config ➙ Power ➙ Disable built-in battery.

Remarkably my internal battery still gives me almost an hour. 8-9 years old, in regular use the last few years, mostly without the larger battery (which is still good).

Delly10 · 15 Dec 2023

dalchina said:

I see no reason why you couldn't remove it should you wish.

There are videos about removing/replacing such batteries if you wish to search..

and this is interesting as an example (this laptop in fact) of a way to disable the internal battery which you might like to try first (find the instructions for your particular PC).

Remarkably my internal battery still gives me almost an hour. 8-9 years old, in regular use the last few years, mostly without the larger battery (which is still good).

Disabling the battery sounds like a good alternative! I tried looking up how to do it with my computer (Lenovo Ideapad 3 15iiL05), but keep getting different info. that doesn't work. None of what they say shows up on my computer when I follow the instructions. I did try what you said. I restarted with all cables removed and pressed F1 when the Lenovo logo came up. It just continued booting to the lock screen as usual. Tried it twice with same result.

But I did find a video about removing the battery. Seems to take only a minute and 40 seconds to remove it: Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15IIL05 How to Battery Replacement Disassembly - YouTube

If it proves to be that simple, then putting it back in to check its status, or if I ever need to use the laptop portably shouldn't be a problem. But simply disabling the battery would still be preferable.

Berton · 15 Dec 2023

Some Notebooks can be used without their battery but there's another consideration, they may be using the battery for balance/weight control with positioning of the 'lid' or screen panel.

Helmut · 16 Dec 2023

It's F2 or possibly Fn+F2 to enter the BIOS/UEFI for IdeaPad, there should be an option to disable the battery.

1. Batteries even when completely disconnected/removed will self discharge and loose capacity over months/years.

Windows Shutdown assuming defaults, is a combination of Sleep and Hibernation, thus will use some power. You can change this in Power Options for Shutdown, but point 1. you cannot change.

dalchina · 16 Dec 2023

You could ask in Lenovo's own forum as this may be machine specific.

Here's a generic kind of thread there:
English Community-Lenovo Community

Note these answers (not specific to yours- just indicative):

I am afraid the BIOS setup regarding to disable internal battery is to for the so-called "Battery-in-service" mode, which means to make it ready to change hardware avoiding any battery current impact, AND once the external power cord plugged in, the internal battery will be connected aka disable in BIOS is no more valid.

Depending on the model, the option to disable built in battery should be seen under Configuration tab similar to battery-in service mode to switch .

Other older models may not have this option just to set expectations.

fishingfool · 16 Dec 2023

Hi Delly10
Just an observation but I can give you 2 good reasons why I would break that puppy out of storage and start using it.

1. There is more than one battery to consider. Average life of a laptop cmos battery is "roughly" 8 years. (give or take).
You are approaching half life without ever using it. It's a little more involved than popping out a coin cell in a desktop tower.
Below is a video with your type battery

How To BIOS Reset Lenovo Computer / Replace CMOS Battery - Computer Wont Turn On Fix #2 - YouTube

2. At today's technological pace. It aint getting any younger and electronic components don't like sitting around without power.

Have a nice day.

Anibor · 16 Dec 2023

I have a ThinkPad laptop. The battery can be disabled from the UEFI Setup (BIOS), but it it´s enabled again automatically when the charger is connected. So it´s not possible to disable the battery permanently with this procedure.

Megahertz · 16 Dec 2023

Li ion Batteries should never be completely discharged as they degrade.

I use a desktop as my main computer but have an old Asus laptop to use when I travel.
I used to have a old HP laptop.
The Asus laptop has Win 7, is ten years old and has an internal battery and it does discharge from 80% to 20% in a period of 30 days. But when charged the battery could last for hours. So I charge the battery every month to 80%.
The old HP laptop has Win 10, is eleven years old and despite the new battery (removable) , if leave in the laptop it also get discharged from 80% to 40% in a period of 30 days. If remove from the laptop it doesn't discharge.

I would only remove the Lenovo battery if it only hold charge for less than an hour.
If it does hold charge for more than an hour it may not be 100% but it still work. In this case, once a month put the battery to charge. If the laptop has a battery life extend fuction (Max charge to 80%) enable it.

dalchina · 16 Dec 2023

fishingfool said:

Hi Delly10
Just an observation but I can give you 2 good reasons why I would break that puppy out of storage and start using it.

1. There is more than one battery to consider. Average life of a laptop cmos battery is "roughly" 8 years. (give or take).
You are approaching half life without ever using it. It's a little more involved than popping out a coin cell in a desktop tower.
Below is a video with your type battery

How To BIOS Reset Lenovo Computer / Replace CMOS Battery - Computer Wont Turn On Fix #2 - YouTube

2. At today's technological pace. It aint getting any younger and electronic components don't like sitting around without power.

Have a nice day.

It's not the CMOS battery that's in question here...