How many times have you experienced something like this? Imagine, all of a sudden, your laptop alerts you that you need to plug in the charger. As soon as the lights go out, you’ll have to look for your charger and plug it in. Suddenly you notice your laptop not charging when plugged in.
It would seem that once the AC adapter is plugged in, the device is ready to go; however, this is not always the case. The laptop doesn’t have indicators of battery life, such as blinking lights, an illuminated screen, or a “battery charging” icon. Why may this be happening?
Identifying the source of the issue and determining the most cost-effective way to fix it can be accomplished rapidly by using an inside-out strategy. What follows is a guide for identifying and fixing the problem.
Troubleshooting
There are several strategies for maintaining your battery, but many potential points of failure exist between the wall socket and your laptop. Some issues can be resolved quickly and easily by the user, such as driver update or a new battery, while someone may contact a laptop repairer or may get a complete system replacement.
It will save you time if we go over some basic diagnostic procedures before we really start fixing your laptop. There are often three major causes for a laptop that won’t charge: the charging cable isn’t working right, the battery is deteriorating, or the software isn’t operating effectively.
When your laptop suddenly stops charging, it’s not easy to tell if the problem is hardware or software. Neither the cord nor the battery should be at fault if the software is acting up.
But if the battery or charging cable doesn’t work normally, the faulty hardware is at blame. Make sure the laptop plugged in the socket in the correct manner.
What Causes Laptop Not Charging When Plugged In?
Your laptop isn’t charging, and to start fixing it; you need to have general know-how of why it started malfunctioning. When something breaks in a laptop, it can throw off the entire system, leaving you to wonder what caused the problem.
While there are many potential explanations for your laptop’s battery to stop holding a charge, we’ve distilled it down to three: problems with the power cord, problems with the software, and deteriorating battery health.
Power Cable Issues
If you plan on moving around with your laptop, don’t forget to include the charger. In its early stages, your cord may become permanently deformed from being coiled up for portability and laid out in odd ways to reach a far-off power outlet.
Your laptop wouldn’t be functional without the cooperation of several crucial parts. Several laptop power supplies contain a single AC adapter that serves as both the wall plug and the computer cable.
If you’ve double-checked that the cord is in good condition and the connection to your computer, but the charging indicator still doesn’t light up, the cord may be broken. Problems can also occur in your laptop’s power button and may cause issues with battery power.
Damaged Charger
Maybe while you were gone, one of your dogs or kids used your charger. A broken power wire has signs of being cut, chewed on, or torn. You’ll have to examine a little more intently sometimes because these items aren’t immediately obvious.
Your laptop is not receiving power from the outlet because of a damaged charger; if you notice any of the following symptoms. You can probably charge your laptop without a charger if you don’t have a spare one lying around.
Problems With Laptop Settings
For many reasons, laptops may not charge. It’s possible that you’ll require to access the power settings within the system’s interface in order to do this. Here, you may double-check that everything is set up appropriately for the plan.
Make the necessary adjustments and try charging again after plugging in the adapter. When a laptop doesn’t charge, these are the most likely suspects.
There are, however, a variety of other problems that can develop with a laptop battery, especially with a removable battery and chargers. In the event that you run into a problem that you can’t fix on your own, it’s best to see an expert.
Solutions
To fix the laptop charging issue, you have to go through several possible solutions to know exactly what is wrong with your laptop charging system. You have to modify laptop’s battery and power management settings or need to update the battery driver. Here are some methods to solve the laptop not charging when plugged in.
Double-Check The Connection
Make sure that the laptop charger is plugged in before proceeding. If you’re in a hurry, you might make this error. Don’t draw immediate conclusions; instead, make sure your laptop is indeed plugged into its charger. Then make sure the power strip into which you plugged the charger is operational.
Remove Battery
The battery could be at fault if your laptop is plugged in yet still won’t charge. In that case, investigate its legitimacy. For around 15 seconds, push the power key if it’s detachable. This action will use up all the remaining battery life in your laptop.
Then connect the power cord and switch on your laptop. Ensure the laptop battery remains out of the equation at this time. If your power adapter is malfunctioning, you can test it using this setup.
If your laptop switches on when you plug in the power adapter, then everything is fine. So the issue is with your battery. Perhaps the battery you’re using is defective. Is the answer? Place the battery back in its original position.
Start Up Your Laptop Without A Battery
Turn off the laptop, take out the battery, and reconnect it to a power source. If the laptop turns on when you remove the battery but were previously unable to do so, a new battery may be required. It’s possible that you’ll need to try a different approach or that your battery simply needs to be replaced.
Don’t bother with this if your laptop’s battery isn’t user-replaceable; instead, attempt the solutions below before taking it to a repair shop.
See If The AC Adapter Is Working Properly
There is more than one cause for a laptop battery that won’t charge; if the AC adapter quits working, you’ll have the same problem. When using an AC adapter, you can power your laptop without the battery installed or with the battery cable disconnected from the motherboard.
If the laptop boots normally, the problem is not with the adapter. Everything is operating as intended.
Run Windows Troubleshooter For Battery Issues
When problems arise with your laptop’s hardware, you can use Windows’ in-built troubleshooter. Microsoft’s Windows 10, 8, and 8.1, as well as Windows 7, all include the Hardware & Devices troubleshooter.
Troubleshoot Hardware and Devices by following these steps:
- For starters, click the Windows button + R.
- To open the Control panel, click the Control key in the Run dialogue box and select the Enter key.
- In the upper-right corner, under Search, select Troubleshooting after typing Troubleshooter into the Control Panel’s Search field.
- Choose “Power” from the “System and Security” menu.
Check The DC Jack
The DC Jack may be broken even if the AC Adapter is functioning properly. DC Jack refers to the small power socket on the side or back of your laptop into which you must insert the plug of the AC Adapter to power the device.
You should see if it has become loosened, which could lead to a lack of contact between the adapter plug and the device. A multimeter can be used as an additional verification tool. If it gives you the readings you need, it’s fine to go; otherwise, you’ll need to take it in for servicing.
Update Your Battery Drivers
To fix your battery’s weirdness, you should update your driver if you’ve already ruled out physical damage. The procedure outlined below is the one that has been shown to successfully update your battery drivers.
- Open the Run dialogue box by simultaneously pressing the Windows key and R on your keyboard.
- Type in “devmgmt.msc” without the quotes marks, then select the OK option. This is getting ready to launch the Device Manager in a different window.
- Extend the category of Batteries.
- Click the Microsoft AC Adapter, then select Update driver from the selection that appears. If a driver update is available, follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
- Update the battery entry for Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method as well.
- Once the upgrades have finished, restart the laptop to see if it is charging properly again.
Update BIOS
If you have the most recent BIOS update loaded, your PC will be able to autodetect the correct power supply. Incorrectly upgrading or downgrading the BIOS, however, can permanently damage your PC. For this reason, we advise extreme caution.
To see if there is an available BIOS update, first verify the version of your system’s BIOS and then look it up online.
Entering msinfo32 into Run will display system information, including the BIOS version and date. The next step is to visit the manufacturer’s webpage, enter your system information, and see if an updated version is listed. If there is, we recommend that you install it on your device.
Check The Motherboard
The motherboard is the final remaining possible source of failure. The battery charging circuitry is integrated into the motherboard; thus, if the motherboard fails, the battery won’t get charged.
Consequently, if you have already attempted the aforementioned solutions and the issue continues, you may have to look into replacing the charging circuit or the battery detector.
In such a circumstance, you will require professional assistance. If you need help fixing your laptop, contact the company that made it or a certified service center.
Replace Charger Or Battery Module
After exhausting these options, if the battery still won’t charge, you may need to buy a new charger or battery. You’ll need to place an order with your laptop maker to accomplish this. It might be expensive to replace batteries and chargers, particularly if you have an older device.
However, if you find yourself in a problem, it may be the only way to restore normal operation to your system.
Final Thoughts
If you are facing the issue laptop not charging when plugged in, surely one of the following solutions will work. In the event that the issue persists, it may be the result of a faulty battery or a malfunctioning component inside your laptop.
Having an expert at a laptop repair shop look at it is a good idea; they may advise you to get a new battery. Batteries age and eventually stop working, so keep that in mind. Every battery has a certain amount of charges and discharges before it stops holding a charge.
Your battery may not fully charge, but it should unless it’s dead. A battery’s status can be monitored so that you can anticipate when it will need to be replaced.
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