Battery Temperature

What is battery temperature?

Battery temperature measures how hot the lithium-ion battery in your laptop, phone, or tablet is running. Batteries generate heat when charging and discharging, and they're sensitive to temperature extremes.

Unlike your CPU which can tolerate high temperatures briefly, batteries are permanently damaged by excessive heat. Running hot consistently shortens your battery's lifespan and reduces its capacity over time.

Why it matters

A hot battery isn't just uncomfortable to hold—it's actively degrading. High battery temperatures cause:

• Permanent reduction in battery capacity (your battery "wears out" faster)
• The device may throttle performance to reduce heat
• In extreme cases, the device may shut down to protect itself
• Long-term heat exposure can cause battery swelling in severe cases

Video calls are particularly demanding because they use the CPU heavily while often also charging—a double source of heat.

What you can do

During use:

• Remove your laptop from cases or sleeves that trap heat
• Use on hard, flat surfaces—never on beds, pillows, or blankets
• If your device feels hot, consider unplugging from power during video calls
• Avoid using your device in direct sunlight or hot environments

Charging habits:

• Don't leave your device plugged in and running intensive tasks for extended periods
• If possible, charge when the device is idle or doing light tasks
• Some devices have "optimized charging" features that reduce heat—enable them
• Avoid cheap third-party chargers that may not regulate power properly

Long-term battery health:

• Keep your device between 20% and 80% charge when possible—constant 100% increases heat
• Store devices in cool environments; never leave laptops in hot cars
• If your battery is swelling or your device runs constantly hot, have it serviced

What Network Weather shows you

Network Weather monitors battery temperature to help you protect your device's long-term health.