Check it with the Windows battery report
Every Windows laptop can write a battery report, whatever the brand. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell and run:
Then drop the battery-report.html file into the checker. It works out the health percentage, wear and cycle count, and the file never leaves your browser.
"Plugged in, not charging" at 95%
On ThinkPads this is usually normal. Lenovo says that if the battery is still between 95% and 100% when you plug in, it won't start charging. That's a self-protection feature meant to extend the battery's life, not a fault.
Stuck at around 55–60%?
That's usually a setting in Lenovo Vantage, either Conservation Mode on Lenovo consumer laptops or a custom Battery Charge Threshold on some versions. Both deliberately stop charging early to slow battery wear. Turn them off in Vantage if you need a full charge.
Runtime or lifespan: pick one
Lenovo frames ThinkPad battery settings as a choice:
- Maximum runtime: the default. It keeps the battery topped up, starting to charge when it drops below 96% and stopping at 100%.
- Maximum lifespan: for a laptop that's rarely unplugged. Lenovo suggests setting low custom charge thresholds, so the battery sits partly charged instead of full. Age, charge cycles, time at full charge and heat all wear a battery out.
When a Lenovo battery needs replacing
Look at the health percentage against how you use the laptop, and stop using it if the battery swells. See when to replace a laptop battery.