Q&A: Do you really have to fully charge a new laptop or phone before using it?

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Question from Brenda: I just ordered this new laptop for my son for his birthday. A friend of mine told me I need to charge the battery to 100% before I give him the laptop and let him start using use it.

In the past I have always just unboxed my new laptops and plugged them in and started using them immediately, and as far as I know there was never any problem. The same way with every new phone I have ever bought.

I’d prefer to let HIM open the box after he wakes up on his birthday and begin using the laptop immediately, but only if it won’t damage the battery or the laptop.

Do you think I really need to fully charge the laptop’s battery before I give it to him? And does your answer apply to new phones as well?

Rick’s answer: What a great gift, Brenda! I’m sure you son is going to love it!

To answer your question, there is absolutely nothing wrong with letting your son unpack his new laptop himself and start using it right away. Just make sure he plugs it in and lets the battery charge up while he’s using it, especially during the setup process. And yes, this answer does apply to new phones and tablets as well.

While it’s quite likely that the battery will arrive with only a partial charge, the charger will supply plenty of current for operating the laptop and charging the battery at the same time. In fact, it was designed to do just that.

You just need to make sure your son lets the battery charge all the way up to 100% before unplugging the charger and letting the laptop run on battery power for the first time.

Bonus tip: This post explains why you should plug your modem and router into a battery backup device.