How to Generate a Battery Report in Windows 11

Windows 11 features a built-in diagnostic tool that creates an in-depth battery health and discharge report. This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to generate the report using the Command Prompt, locate the generated HTML file, and interpret key metrics such as design capacity, cycle count, and long-term battery degradation.

Step 1: Open Terminal or Command Prompt as Administrator

1. Right-click the Start menu icon (or press Win + X).
2. Select Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
3. Click Yes when prompted by User Account Control (UAC).

Step 2: Run the PowerCfg Command

In the command-line window, type the following command and press Enter:

powercfg /batteryreport /output "C:\battery-report.html"

Note: Specifying the output path directly to C:\battery-report.html ensures the file is saved in an easy-to-find location rather than a system folder.

Once executed, you will see a confirmation message stating:
Battery life report saved to file path C:\battery-report.html.

Step 3: Open and View the Report

1. Open File Explorer (Win + E) and navigate to your Local Disk (C:).
2. Locate and double-click battery-report.html.
3. The report will open automatically in your default web browser.

Step 4: Understanding Key Sections of the Report

• Installed Batteries: Displays the battery name, manufacturer, chemistry, Design Capacity, and Full Charge Capacity. Comparing Design Capacity to Full Charge Capacity shows how much health the battery has lost over time.
• Recent Usage: Shows power states (Active, Suspended) and discharge rates over the last three days.
• Battery Usage: Details the exact drain percentages and battery capacity used during recent sessions.
• Usage History: Tracks system run-time on battery versus plugged into AC power over weeks and months.
• Battery Capacity History: Compares the battery’s full charge capacity to its original design capacity across the lifespan of the laptop.
• Battery Life Estimates: Provides estimated battery life based on actual observed drains compared against the design capacity.