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How you're charging your tablet is slowly killing it - 3 methods to avoid (and the right way)

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Maria Diaz/ZDNET

ZDNET's key takeaways

Unplug at 100%, keep battery between 20% and 80%.

Avoid draining to 0%; store unused tablets at 50%.

Use certified chargers to prevent stress and overheating.

As someone who uses a tablet daily, I'm constantly looking for ways to make its battery last longer. However, some habits you don't think twice about could actually be hurting your battery over time. There are ways to extend your tablet's battery life, and there are some things you should avoid that do the opposite.

Also: These 7 common household items were draining power all day - until I pulled the plug

Most tablets offer six to eight hours of use on a single charge, though battery life diminishes with age and continued use. While there are many things you can do to conserve battery life, here are the ones you should avoid to ensure your battery's longevity.

1. Leaving your tablet plugged in overnight

This isn't always a problem with newer tablets, but most tablets on the market will suffer from being left plugged in overnight. Tablets typically charge to 100% and stop using electricity. However, leaving your tablet plugged in can cause it to continue trickle-charging to keep the battery full, which can stress the battery over time and diminish its lifespan.

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