Laptop Not Charging? How to Fix It: 10 Easy Solutions
You depend on your laptop’s battery to keep you productive throughout the day, but what happens when it suddenly stops charging? While a laptop that won’t charge can be frustrating, the good news is that in many cases you can diagnose and fix the issue yourself without an expensive repair shop visit.
In this guide, we’ll explore the most common reasons why your laptop battery won’t charge and walk you through 10 simple troubleshooting steps to get your laptop charging again.
Why won’t my laptop charge when plugged in?
Before diving into solutions, it’s helpful to understand the potential causes of charging issues. The three most common culprits are:
- Power cord problems
- Software/driver issues
- Declining battery health
Let’s look at each of these in more detail:
Power cord issues
Constantly plugging and unplugging your laptop charger, wrapping the cord for travel, or accidentally yanking on it can damage the delicate wiring over time. Key components that can fail include:
- The AC adapter
- The cord connecting the adapter to the wall outlet
- The cord connecting the adapter to your laptop
- The charging port on your laptop
Any weak point in this chain can prevent power from reaching your battery.
Software malfunction
While less common, software problems can sometimes interfere with charging. This may include:
- Outdated or corrupt battery drivers
- Power management settings configured incorrectly
- Operating system glitches
Declining battery health
Laptop batteries have a limited lifespan and will eventually lose their ability to hold a charge. Signs of a failing battery include:
- Overheating while charging
- Losing charge quickly
- Taking longer than usual to fully charge
Running a battery health report can give you insight into whether your battery is nearing the end of its useful life.
How to fix a laptop that won’t charge
Now that we understand the potential causes, let’s walk through 8 troubleshooting steps to get your laptop charging again. We’ll start with the simplest fixes and work our way up to more advanced solutions.
1. Check all physical connections
It may seem obvious, but the first step is to verify that everything is plugged in securely.
- Unplug your laptop charger from both the wall outlet and your laptop
- Inspect all connection points for damage or debris
- Firmly reconnect the charger to both the wall and your laptop
- Check that the outlet is working by plugging in another device
Pay special attention to the connection point on your laptop. If it feels loose or wobbly, there may be damage to the charging port itself.
2. Verify you’re using the correct charging port
Many modern laptops use USB-C for charging. However, not all USB-C ports may support charging. On laptops with multiple USB-C ports, usually only one or two are designed for power delivery.
Check your laptop’s user manual or look for a small charging icon next to the appropriate USB-C port. Trying different ports may resolve the issue.
3. Inspect your power cord and adapter
Carefully examine the full length of your charging cable and adapter brick, looking for:
- Fraying or exposed wires
- Kinks or bends
- Discoloration or warping on the adapter
- Loose connections
Using a battery pack or low-power outlet may prevent the laptop from charging effectively, possibly maintaining battery levels without increasing them due to insufficient power supply.
Gently flex the cable, especially near connection points, to check for intermittent faults. If you notice any damage, it’s best to replace the entire charger.
4. Remove the battery (if possible)
If your laptop has a removable battery, try these steps:
- Shut down your laptop and unplug the charger
- Remove the battery
- Press and hold the power button for 15 seconds to drain residual power
- Plug in the charger (without the battery installed)
- Attempt to power on the laptop
If your laptop turns on without the battery, this indicates a problem with the battery itself rather than the charging system. Try reinserting the battery and testing again. If issues persist, you may need a battery replacement.
For laptops without easily removable batteries, skip to the next steps.
5. Update or reinstall the battery driver
Outdated or corrupt drivers can sometimes interfere with charging. Here’s how to address this:
- Right-click the Start button and select “Device Manager”
- Expand the “Batteries” section
- Right-click on “Microsoft ACPI Compliant Control Method Battery”
- Choose “Update driver” and follow the prompts
- If updating doesn’t help, try uninstalling the driver instead
- Restart your laptop to allow Windows to reinstall the driver
6. Check power management settings
Certain battery settings can affect charging behavior. To review these:
- Open Windows Settings and go to System > Power & sleep
- Click “Additional power settings”
- Select “Change plan settings” next to your current power plan
- Click “Change advanced power settings”
- Expand the “Battery” section
- Ensure “Critical battery action” and “Low battery action” are not set to shut down or sleep when plugged in
7. Run the power troubleshooter
Windows includes a built-in troubleshooter that can identify and fix common power-related issues:
- Open Windows Settings
- Go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters
- Find “Power” in the list and click “Run”
- Follow any on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process
8. Check your battery health
If you’ve tried the above steps and are still having issues, it’s worth checking your battery’s overall health:
- Open a Command Prompt as an administrator
- Type powercfg /batteryreport and press Enter
- Open the generated HTML report (typically saved in your user folder)
- Look at the “Design Capacity” vs “Full Charge Capacity”
A misfiring battery sensor can lead to inaccurate readings regarding the battery’s status, causing charging problems.
If your full charge capacity is significantly lower than the design capacity, your battery may be nearing the end of its lifespan and require replacement.
9. Reduce resource usage
If your laptop is not charging when plugged in, it’s possible that the device is consuming too much power, preventing the battery from charging. To reduce resource usage, follow these steps:
- Close any unnecessary programs or background applications that may be consuming power.
- Adjust your laptop’s power settings to a more conservative plan. You can do this by going to your laptop’s power settings and selecting a plan that prioritizes battery life over performance.
- Consider upgrading your laptop’s RAM or storage to improve performance and reduce power consumption.
- Disable any unnecessary features such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or location services when not in use.
- Use the Task Manager to monitor your laptop’s resource usage and identify any programs or processes that may be consuming excessive power.
By reducing resource usage, you can help your laptop’s battery charge more efficiently and prevent overheating.
10. Check for overheating
Overheating can cause your laptop’s battery to not charge properly. To check for overheating, follow these steps:
- Check your laptop’s cooling vents to ensure they are free of dust and unobstructed.
- Use software to monitor your laptop’s CPU temperature. If the temperature is excessively high, it may be causing the battery to not charge.
- Ensure your laptop is in a well-ventilated area and avoid blocking the cooling vents.
- Consider using a laptop cooling pad to help keep your laptop cool.
- If your laptop is overheating, try shutting it down and letting it cool down before trying to charge it again.
By checking for overheating and taking steps to prevent it, you can help ensure your laptop’s battery charges properly.
When to seek professional help
If you’ve tried all of the above steps and your laptop still won’t charge, it’s time to consider professional assistance. Potential issues that require expert repair include:
- Damage to the laptop’s charging port
- Faulty motherboard components
- Battery issues on laptops without user-replaceable batteries
- Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) on Mac computers to resolve power-related issues
Contact the laptop manufacturer or a reputable computer repair shop for further diagnosis and repair options.
Contact support or replace the charger
If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it’s possible that there is a problem with your laptop’s charger or power adapter. In this case, you may need to contact the manufacturer’s support or replace the charger. Here are some steps to follow:
- Contact the manufacturer’s support and explain the issue you are experiencing. They may be able to provide additional troubleshooting steps or replace the charger for you.
- If you need to replace the charger, ensure you purchase a replacement charger that is compatible with your laptop’s make and model.
- Check the replacement charger’s wattage and voltage to ensure it matches your laptop’s requirements.
- Avoid using low-quality or counterfeit chargers, as they can cause damage to your laptop’s battery or other components.
By contacting support or replacing the charger, you can help resolve the issue and get your laptop’s battery charging properly again.
Conclusion
A laptop that won’t charge can be a major inconvenience, but in many cases, you can resolve the issue yourself with some basic troubleshooting. By methodically working through the steps outlined in this guide, you can identify the root cause of the problem and often find a simple solution.
Remember to always use genuine chargers and batteries for your laptop to ensure safety and optimal performance. With proper care and maintenance, you can extend the life of your laptop’s battery and minimize charging issues in the future.
