How to Generate a Battery Report in Windows 11

Windows can show battery usage in Settings, but the full Battery Report is hidden behind a built-in command. You can generate it in a minute, open it in your browser, and choose exactly where the file is saved.

1. Start with Command Prompt

Command Prompt is Microsoft’s documented consumer path for Windows 11 PCs with a battery. Use this first if you just want the standard HTML report.

1.Select Start.
2.Type Command Prompt.
3.Press and hold or right-click Command Prompt.
4.Choose Run as administrator.
5.Select Yes when Windows asks for permission.
6.Type powercfg /batteryreport, then press Enter.
7.Copy the folder path shown in Command Prompt.
8.Open File Explorer.
9.Go to that folder and double-click the battery report HTML file.

The report opens in your web browser. There is no separate battery report download because powercfg.exe is built into Windows.

1.Press Windows logo key + X.
2.Select Windows Terminal (Admin).
3.Approve the permission prompt if Windows shows one.
4.Type powercfg /batteryreport, then press Enter.
5.Open the generated HTML file from the path shown in Windows Terminal.

On Windows 11 22H2 and later, Microsoft documents Windows Terminal as the default host for console apps after the October 2022 update. Windows Terminal can run Command Prompt or PowerShell, so the same command works from either shell.

3. Save the report straight to your Desktop

Send the file to a location you already know if you do not want to track down the default output folder.

1.Open Windows Terminal (Admin).
2.Run powercfg /batteryreport /output "C:\Users\<your-name>\Desktop\battery-report.html".
3.Replace <your-name> with your Windows user folder name.
4.Open Desktop in File Explorer.
5.Double-click battery-report.html.

That command creates the same Battery Report, just in a folder that is easier to find. If your Desktop is backed up to OneDrive, its real path is inside your OneDrive folder, so copy the Desktop location from the File Explorer address bar and use that in the command.

4. Pick XML or a shorter duration when needed

Run powercfg /batteryreport /output "battery-report.xml" /xml to create an XML report.
Run powercfg /batteryreport /duration 4 to create a report using a 4-day duration.
Run powercfg /batteryreport /output "C:\ProgramData\battery-report.html" to save the report to that system folder.

The normal HTML report is the right choice for most people, while Microsoft’s powercfg reference also supports these extra options for specific workflows. Use HTML unless another tool specifically needs XML.

5. Skip Settings for the full report

Settings can show battery information, but it does not create the Battery Report HTML file. Open Settings, select System, select Power & battery, then open Battery usage to view battery levels and per-app usage.

Use that screen for a quick battery overview. Use powercfg /batteryreport when you need the actual Windows Battery Report file.

6. Treat older Windows 10 instructions as legacy

Older tutorials often use Command Prompt or PowerShell on Windows 10 with the same powercfg /batteryreport command. The command syntax is still documented, but Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. For current general-consumer guidance in July 2026, use the Windows 11 paths above. Windows 10 only belongs in a legacy context, such as Consumer ESU through October 12, 2027 or applicable LTSC and enterprise lifecycles.

7. Read old PowerShell Admin labels correctly

Some older steps use a previous quick menu label.

They say to right-click Start and choose Windows PowerShell (Admin). Starting in Windows 11 version 22H2, the documented quick menu label is Windows Terminal (Admin). The command stays the same. The menu label changed.

8. Let IT handle managed PCs

On managed Windows devices, an administrator can deploy a PowerShell script that runs a supported command such as powercfg /batteryreport /output "C:\ProgramData\battery-report.html".

Microsoft documents this through Intune admin center by selecting Devices, then Scripts and remediations, then Platform scripts, then Add, then Windows 10 and later. Intune scripts do not run on Surface Hubs or Windows in S mode, and the Intune Management Extension does not support Windows Home or Windows devices in S mode.