During field operation of a heat-assisted magnetic recording data storage device, a laser adjustment procedure is repeatedly performed. The laser adjustment procedure involves writing, at a designated location on a recording medium at least three tracks at an unsqueezed pitch, a first track being in the middle of the at least three tracks. A first bit error rate of the first track is compared with a reference bit error rate. In response to the comparison satisfying a threshold, the laser current is swept while recording squeezed test tracks at the designated location to determine a new laser current that results in a minimum bit error rate. The new laser current is used for subsequent write operations.