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This wikiHow teaches you how to figure out why your laptop isn't charging while plugged in. Charging issues are most often the result of faulty power adapters, non-working power outlets, or bad batteries. If everything checks out okay with the hardware, you can usually fix power issues by updating your laptop's power or battery management settings.
How to Fix Laptop If Charge Port Is Not Working
The first thing you should do is check if the charging port has a good connection with the adapter and charging brick. If the charging port and cable looks okay, then check the power jack on the laptop—a jack that jiggles may be faulty.
Steps
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Plug the laptop into a different power outlet. Unplug the laptop, wait a few minutes, and then plug it into an outlet on a different wall or room. If the laptop charges when connected elsewhere, the problem is not your computer or charger.
- To confirm whether the laptop is charging, check for charging lights. Many laptops have a light somewhere on the machine that indicates whether it's receiving power. Sometimes it'll be above the keyboard, other times it'll be on the side or back of the unit. If you're using a Mac laptop with a magnetic charging cable, you'll see a light on the end of the cable where it connects to your computer (orange = charging, green = fully charged). Other times you'll find lights on the power cord, especially if there's a "brick" aspect of the cable.
- If the power adapter works for a little while but then turns off, there may be interference with the outlet. Unplug the power adapter for about 30 seconds and then try again. [1] X Research source
- If the adapter or the computer itself feels unusually warm, wait until the surface has cooled completely before plugging it into a power source.
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Inspect the power adapter. Examine the entire length of the power cord for tears, dents, and worn-down insulation. If you notice any flaws, or if the power brick is warped or smells like burnt plastic, the cord is probably faulty. [2] X Research source Try bringing the laptop to a local repair shop and ask to try one of their working power adapters. If a verified-to-be-working adapter charges your laptop, order a replacement adapter. [3] X Research source
- If you're using a newer PC model that supports USB-C charging (such as the Huawei MateBook X), make sure your power adapter is plugged into the correct port on the laptop. [4] X Research source Usually only one of the USB-C ports on such models support charging, while the other is used only for data transfer.
- Check your warranty before replacing any parts, as the cost of the adapter may be covered.
EXPERT TIPComputer & Tech SpecialistLuigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.A dead adapter is one of the most common reasons your laptop isn't charging. Check whether the charging port is making a good connection with the adapter and charging brick. Also, the plug that goes into the laptop might be worn out from use.
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Check the power jack on the laptop. When the adapter is connected to your laptop properly, it should not jiggle or fall out of the jack. If the connection feels loose, there could be a bent pin inside the power jack. It's also possible that the entire jack has loosened from the motherboard. Take the laptop to a repair shop for a proper diagnosis.
- Bent pins and other power jack issues are model-specific. You can look up your model online for repair instructions, but the repair usually requires purchasing a new power jack and soldering it onto the motherboard. This could void your warranty.
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Start up your laptop without a battery. Shut down the computer, remove the battery, and plug the computer in. If the laptop wasn't powering on before but works without the battery, you may need a new battery. Another method may fix the problem, or your battery may be dead and require replacement. [5] X Research source
- If your laptop battery is not removable, skip this step and try the methods below before taking your laptop to a computer repair store.
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Open your Windows Settings . You can get there by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Settings . [6] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
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Click Power and Sleep in the left panel. Windows allows you to customize certain power and battery settings on your laptop. There may be a low-battery level alert that's too sensitive causing your PC to shut down when the battery is low.
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Check the values in the "Screen" and "Sleep" menus. In particular, make sure the values of both "When plugged in" menus aren't set too low. [7] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
- For example, under the Sleep header, if 10 minutes is selected from the "When plugged in" menu, the PC will turn off after 10 minutes of inactivity when plugged in. Raise that amount to prevent unexpected shutdowns.
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Scroll down and click Additional power settings . A list of your power plans will appear.
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Click Change plan settings on your current plan. Just as you did in the last area, make sure none of your settings are configured to shut down your PC unexpectedly.
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Click Change advanced power settings . It's near the bottom of the power plan. [8] X Research source
- Once quick way to fix any missteps in this section is to click Restore plan defaults at the bottom-right corner of the dialog, but this will erase any power customizations you've added.
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Check the values of the "Battery" section. If you clicked Restore plan defaults in the previous step, just skip to the next step. Otherwise, verify that the following settings are correct:
- Under "Critical Battery Action," make sure Do nothing is selected for "Plugged in." Otherwise, your computer will shut down at a certain battery level if it it's plugged into a power source.
- Under "Low battery action," also select Do nothing for "Plugged in."
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Click OK to save your changes. Now that you've updated your power settings, reboot your PC to see if the issue is resolved. If you're still having trouble, move to the next step.
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Open the Device Manager. You can do this by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Device Manager from the menu. [9] X Research source
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Click Batteries . A list of all battery-related drivers will appear. You'll usually see one entry for your AC adapter and another for the battery itself.
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Right-click the driver(s) and select Update driver . If you see two different entries under Batteries, do one after the other. Follow any on-screen instructions that appear to update drivers if necessary.
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Restart the computer. Shut down the computer and start it up again, so the driver will take effect.
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Uninstall and reinstall the driver. If you still cannot charge your laptop, return to the Batteries section of Device Manager , right-click Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery , and then select Uninstall . When the process is finished, click the Action menu and select Scan for hardware changes . Restart your computer once the driver is reinstalled. [10] X Research source
- This step requires an internet connection on your laptop.
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Check for software updates. Sometimes Apple releases new updates that can help your computer work well with the power adapter. [11] X Research source To check for updates, click the Apple menu, select System Preferences , and then choose Update Now if an update is available.
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2View your battery health status. To find out the condition of your battery, hold the ⌥ Option key as you click the battery icon in the menu bar. This displays the Battery Status menu, which will display one of the following status indicators: [12] X Research source
- Normal: The battery is working properly.
- Replace soon: The battery is working normally, but is no longer at full capacity. This is not time to panic, but you should definitely check the status frequently to make sure it doesn't get worse.
- Replace now: The battery works normally but its capacity is significantly lower than it was when brand new. You can still use the laptop, just make sure you always have a power cable handy until you can replace the battery.
- Service Battery: The battery is not working properly. You should still be able to use the computer with a power cord connected, but the battery will likely not work on its own. Bring the computer to the Apple-authorized service provider as soon as possible.
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Check your Energy Saver settings. If your computer is turning off unexpectedly, it may be related to incorrectly-set power settings. [13] X Research source In the Apple menu, click System Preferences , select Energy Saver , and then click Power Adapter to see check out what your computer's set to do when plugged in. Make sure the "Turn display off after" slider is not set to sleep after a brief period of inactive time.
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Shut down your Mac. If you're still having trouble, the remaining steps will help you reset the System Management Controller (SMC), which can help resolve power problems. [14] X Research source Begin by making sure the computer is turned off and not plugged into a power source.
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Plug the power adapter into the Mac. Don't turn the computer on, just plug it in for now.
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Press and hold Control + ⇧ Shift + ⌥ Option and the Power button. After holding the buttons down for about 4 seconds, lift your fingers from the keyboard. [15] X Research source
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Press the Power button once. This will power your Mac back on. Once it comes back up, the SMC will be reset, hopefully clearing up any residual power issues. [16] X Research source
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Community Q&A
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QuestionMy charger is plugged in, the light is on and it says 0% available (plugged in, charging) but it's not charging. How can I fix it?Community AnswerIt sounds as if all the juice from the battery is drained due to continuous use. You will likely need to buy a new battery for the laptop. Before you buy one, bring it into the place of purchase to see if they can troubleshoot it for you.
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QuestionWhat should I do if my PC is fine, the charger is also fine, but it does not charge?Community AnswerThe problem is with the motherboard and to be more precise with the charging IC. You can get it repaired.
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QuestionMy Sony Vaio laptop is not charging. What should I do?Community AnswerMake sure everything is connected well, try rebooting the computer, try removing and reinserting the battery if possible. If it still doesn't charge, you may need to replace your battery.
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Tips
- Check your laptop manufacturer's recommendations for power adapter voltage. A power adapter with the wrong voltage can damage your battery.Thanks
- Some charger models are poorly built and may allow you to accidentally flip the electrical current. Just to make sure, try unplugging the adapter, rotating it 180 degrees, and putting it back in.Thanks
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Warnings
- Some laptops do not have removable batteries. If your laptop is still covered under warranty, do not attempt to remove the battery yourself; this will void the warranty.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204652
- ↑ https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/what-to-do-if-your-laptop-is-plugged-in-but-not-charging
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102464
- ↑ https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/what-to-do-if-your-laptop-is-plugged-in-but-not-charging
- ↑ https://www.asus.com/us/support/FAQ/1012793/
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/how-to-adjust-power-and-sleep-settings-in-windows-26f623b5-4fcc-4194-863d-b824e5ea7679
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/how-to-adjust-power-and-sleep-settings-in-windows-26f623b5-4fcc-4194-863d-b824e5ea7679
- ↑ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/device-experiences/advanced-power-settings
- ↑ https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1012793/#B6
- ↑ https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1012793/#B6
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201541
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204054#builtin
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202824
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295
About This Article
Article Summary
X
1. Try a different power outlet.
2. Check the power adapter.
3. Check the power jack on the laptop.
4. Try starting up without a battery.
5. Check your power plan settings.
6. Update battery drivers.
7. Check for operating system updates.
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,924,508 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "I didn't keep my PC battery charged and had to buy a new one. A couple of days ago I saw the same white blinking light. It freaked me out because I had been good about charging my new battery. I read through this and decided to shut down my PC, remove the battery, put it back in and turn the thing on. Thank God it worked. I'm glad I found this site!" ..." more
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"I didn't keep my PC battery charged and had to buy a new one. A couple of days ago I saw the same white blinking light. It freaked me out because I had been good about charging my new battery. I read through this and decided to shut down my PC, remove the battery, put it back in and turn the thing on. Thank God it worked. I'm glad I found this site!"
..."
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"I followed the steps in section 2 as outlined, restarted the computer and I got the battery to charge. Thanks."
"All the details were extremely helpful, as well as the alternate methods."
"This post listed practical ways of resolving the issue discussed."
"The second method worked for me. Very informative, thanks. "
