My laptop battery became swollen, so I removed it and now the laptop only runs from its charger. Do I need to keep the charger connected while the laptop is powered off, or is it safe to unplug it between uses? I'm concerned that leaving it plugged in constantly may be increasing my electricity bill. I also want to know whether disconnecting power could reset the system clock or erase BIOS settings.
3 Answers
The extra electricity use from a powered-off laptop and charger is generally tiny—often around a watt or less—so it’s unlikely to explain a noticeable bill increase. Sleep mode can use somewhat more power, so check the power settings if you want to minimize consumption.
It’s fine to run the laptop without its swollen battery, but don’t reinstall or continue using a damaged battery. Shut the computer down normally before disconnecting power. Be aware that if the CMOS battery is already dead, an unexpected restart during an update could cause configuration problems, so replacing that small battery may be worthwhile.
Most laptops have a separate CMOS or motherboard battery that preserves BIOS settings and the clock when external power is removed. If that battery is healthy, unplugging the charger shouldn’t change anything. If it eventually runs down, the laptop may report an incorrect date and time, while the operating system will usually correct it through internet time synchronization.
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