How to Set Battery Thresholds on Linux

A very simple guide to setting battery thresholds on Linux for your laptops.

As a ThinkPad T480 user, I wanted to implement automatic battery charging controls to optimize battery life while maintaining flexibility for mobile use. This is particularly useful when you don’t have a fixed schedule and need your laptop to be ready for unexpected outings while preserving battery health.

Setting Charging Thresholds

You can set both start and stop charging thresholds just by enterting two commands in therminal.

Start charging

To set the battery level at which charging begins, use this command:

echo 25 | sudo tee /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/charge_start_threshold

This example sets the laptop to start charging when the battery falls below 25%.

Stop charging

To set the battery level at which charging stops, use this command:

echo 80 | sudo tee /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/charge_stop_threshold

This example sets the laptop to stop charging once the battery reaches 80%.

thats really it.

Why These Thresholds?

Setting charging thresholds between 25% and 80% helps extend battery lifespan by preventing both complete discharge and constant full charging. This range provides enough capacity for mobile use while minimizing battery wear.

Note: These settings persist across reboots, so you only need to configure them once.