3 Ways To Fix A Laptop That Is Not Charging

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.

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. [3] 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.

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.

If your laptop battery is not removable, skip this step and try the methods below before taking your laptop to a computer repair store.

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.

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.

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. "

This step requires an internet connection on your laptop.

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.