How to Fix a Laptop that is not Charging

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Part 1

Troubleshooting

1.

Unplug for a few minutes, then try a different outlet.

 Unplug the laptop, wait a few minutes, then plug it into an outlet in a different room.
Some users report that a laptop power adapter can temporarily stop working to protect
itself from a perceived issue with the power supply.
[1]

o If your battery is removable, take it out while the power source is disconnected.
Hold down the laptop's power button for two minutes, put the battery back in, and
plug it in to a new outlet.
2.

Examine the cord.

 Examine the entire length of the power cord for tears, dents, and worn-down insulation. If
you notice any, or if the power brick is warped or smells like burnt plastic, the cord is
probably faulty.
[2]

You'll need to purchase a new cord for your laptop.

o Check your warranty before replacing any parts. The cost may be covered under
some circumstances.
3.

Inspect the connection.

 If the cord's attachment to your laptop wobbles or feels loose, there could be a problem
with the connection. Unplug the cord, remove debris with a wooden toothpick, and
remove heavy dust build-up with compressed air.

o Bent pins and other damage issues are model-specific. Take the laptop or cord to
a computer repair shop. You can look up your model online for repair
instructions, but this can be difficult without proper tools, and may void the
warranty.
4.

Restart the computer, removing the battery in between.

Shut down the computer, unplug it, then remove the battery from your laptop. The battery
can usually be accessed from the underside of the laptop, and may have a lock you can
turn with a coin, or release by lifting a lever. Leave the battery out for ten seconds, slot it
 back in, then start up your computer. Plug the laptop in again after start-up and wait ten
seconds to see if it works.

o Not all laptops have easily accessible batteries. If there is no obvious battery
compartment, just restart your computer without removing the battery.
5.

Let the computer cool down.

If your laptop battery feels very hot to the touch, excess heat could be interfering with the
charging process.
[3]
 Shut down the computer and let it sit for several minutes to cool down. If you haven't
cleaned your laptop vents recently, blow a can of compressed air into the fan vents at an
angle, in short bursts, to remove some dust.

o Do not blow directly into the fan vents, only at an angle, or you could damage the
fan.[4]
o If you are comfortable disassembling your laptop, you can use the compressed air
to blow away internal dust directly. Look up a guide to disassembly for your
model before you begin, and work on a large, clear surface. This will likely void
your warranty.
6.

Start up your laptop without a battery.

 Shut down the computer, remove the battery, and plug the computer in. If the computer
won't turn on, you probably need a new cord. If you can start it up again in this situation,
the charging issue is probably due to the battery itself, or your computer's interaction with
the battery. The methods below may fix the problem, or your battery may be dead and
require replacement.

o If your laptop battery is not removable, skip this step and try the methods below
before taking your laptop to a computer repair store.
7. 7

Replace the charger. Sometimes the adapter (the box in the cord) is faulty, or despite
your best efforts you can't repair a loose plug. Try borrowing a friend's charger, or asking
an computer store employee to test your charger. If your charger is faulty, buy a new part
from a computer or electronics store.

Part 2

Settings and Drivers (Windows)

1.

Check your power settings.

Go to

Start

Control Panel

Power Options
 . There may be a "low battery level" setting at too high a level, which can cause your
computer to shut down instead of charge.
[5]

The simplest way to deal with these settings is to restore them to the default. If this does
not fix the problem, continue on below

2.

Open the Device Manager.

First, open "Device Manager". This can be found most easily with a Windows computer
by using the search function, or by navigating to
Start

Control Panel

System and Security

Device Manager

.
[6]
3.

Look at the Batteries settings. When the list has loaded, expand the "Batteries Tab".
4.

Update driver software.

Right click "Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery," then select "Update
Driver Software."
[7]

Follow the instructions that appear.

5.

Restart the computer. Shut down the computer and start it up again, so the driver will
take effect. If the laptop still won't charge, repeat the "Update driver" step on every entry
in the Battery section, then restart your computer a second time.
 6.

Uninstall and reinstall the driver.

If you still cannot charge your laptop, try right-clicking "Microsoft ACPI-Compliant
Control Method Battery" and selecting "Uninstall." When the process is finished, click
the button on the toolbar that says 'Scan for hardware changes" Alternately, you can open
the "Action" tab and press Scan for hardware changes. Restart your computer once the
driver is reinstalled.

o This step requires an internet connection on your laptop.

Part 3
Settings and Drivers (Mac)

1.

Check your energy settings (Apple laptops).

Open Systems Preferences from the Dock or your Applications folder. Click on

Energy Saver

and check both the "Battery" and "Power Adapter" setting tabs. In rare cases, a sleep
setting set too low can look like a battery charging issue.
[8]
 In most cases, you'll need to try the additional steps below.

2.

Reset the System Management Controller.

Use one of these methods to reset the SMC, which controls battery management, battery
status light:
[9]

o Laptops with a non-removable battery: Shut down the computer. Plug it into a
power source. On the built-in keyboard, press the left-side shift control option
keys and the laptop power button at the same time. Release the keys at the same
time, then turn on your computer.
o Laptops with a removable battery: Shut down the computer and disconnect the
power cord. Remove the battery. Press and hold the power button for five
seconds. Reattach the battery and power cord attached to an outlet, then start up
the computer.