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Are Lithium CMOS Batteries Rechargeable?

Published in CMOS Batteries 1 min read

Most lithium CMOS batteries, specifically the common CR2032 type, are not rechargeable.

Here's a breakdown:

Understanding CMOS Batteries

CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) batteries provide power to the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) chip on a computer's motherboard. This allows the computer to retain settings like the system time and boot order, even when powered off.

Rechargeable vs. Non-Rechargeable CMOS Batteries

Feature Non-Rechargeable (e.g., CR2032) Rechargeable (e.g., ML2032)
Type Lithium button cell Lithium button cell
Rechargeable No Yes
Common Use Most motherboards Less common
Charging Method N/A *Not charged by the computer

*According to the provided reference, while rechargeable CMOS batteries (like ML2032) exist, your computer is not designed to charge them. This means you would need an external charger.

Key Takeaway

While rechargeable lithium CMOS batteries exist (e.g., ML2032), the CR2032, which is the most common type, is not rechargeable. Importantly, even if you have a rechargeable CMOS battery, your computer likely cannot charge it.

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