Laptop Computer Not Charging? Complete Troubleshooting Guide

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Quick tips to fix a PC laptop or MacBook that won't charge

Co-authored by Luigi Oppido and Hannah Dillon

Last Updated: October 3, 2025 Fact Checked

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Troubleshooting the Hardware

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Checking Windows Power Settings

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Checking Mac Power Settings

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Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

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. In this article, we'll teach you how to fix a PC or Mac laptop that won't charge, including some expert tips from computer and tech specialist Luigi Oppido.

How to Fix a Laptop That Won't Charge

Computer & tech specialist Luigi Oppido suggests trying a different charger, charging port, and outlet first to see if the issue is with the charger, not the laptop. If it's not the charger, turn off the laptop, remove the battery, and plug the charger into the computer. If it charges, you may just need a new battery.

Section 1 of 3:

Troubleshooting the Hardware

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Plug the laptop into a different power outlet. Oppido explains that when a laptop won't charge, the problem is usually with the battery, the charging port, or the charger.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist

Expert Interview} Before troubleshooting those components, rule out issues with the 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 lights on the machine that indicate it's receiving power. Sometimes it'll be above the keyboard, other times it'll be on the side or back of the unit. Other times, you'll find lights on the power cord or charging brick.
  - If you're using a MacBook with a magnetic charger, you'll see a light on the end of the cable where it connects to your computer (orange = charging, green = fully charged).
- If the adapter works for a little while but then turns off, there may be interference with the outlet. Unplug it for about 30 seconds and try again.^{[2]
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- If the adapter or the laptop feels unusually hot, wait until the surface has cooled completely before plugging it into a power source.
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.^{[3]
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Try using another charger. Bring the laptop to a 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.^{[4]
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- Check your warranty before replacing any parts, as the cost of the adapter may be covered under it.
EXPERT TIP

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist
Luigi 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.

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist

A dead adapter is one of the most common reasons a laptop won't charge. 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.^{[5]
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- 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 you have a newer laptop, it might have a USB-C charging port. It's easy to mix these charging ports up with the regular USB-C port on your computer. To check which port is which, look at your laptop's manual. The charging port will also likely have a "charging" icon printed next to it.
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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.^{[6]
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- If your laptop battery is not removable, skip this step and try the methods below before taking your laptop to a computer repair store.
Some laptops are set up only to charge the battery if it's below a certain power level. If you notice that your laptop sometimes charges and sometimes doesn't, allow it to dip below an 80% battery charge, then try charging it again. If your computer starts to charge, test this out a few more times to make sure it's due to the battery level and not a different factor.
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Update or reinstall the battery driver (Windows only). If the battery driver has stopped working on your laptop, it may be the cause of your battery not charging properly. Here's how to fix it:
- Right-click the Start button.
- Click Device Manager.
- Expand the "Batteries" heading.
- Right-click on the battery device.
- Click Update driver.
- Restart your laptop and see if the battery starts charging.
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Restore default power schemes (Windows only). If you've updated your laptop's power settings, this could cause issues with the laptop's battery charging. You can easily reset these settings without having to remember their default values. Here's how:
- Search for "power options" in the taskbar search bar, then click Power Options. For Windows 11, search for "power plan" instead.
- Click Change plan settings next to the plan you have selected.
- Click Restore default settings for this plan.
- Click Yes in the pop-up window.
- Close out of the Control Panel window.
- Restart your computer.

Section 2 of 3:

Checking Windows Power Settings

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You can get there by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Settings.^{[7]
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Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

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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.^{[8]
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Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

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- 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.
A list of your power plans will appear.
Just as you did in the last area, make sure none of your settings are configured to shut down your PC unexpectedly.
It's near the bottom of the power plan.^{[9]
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Check the values of the "Battery" section. If you clicked Restore plan defaults previously, 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's plugged into a power source.
- Under "Low battery action," also select Do nothing for "Plugged in."
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.
You can do this by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Device Manager from the menu.^{[10]
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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.
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.
Shut down the computer and restart it, 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.^{[11]
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- This step requires an internet connection on your laptop.

Section 3 of 3:

Checking Mac Power Settings

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Sometimes Apple releases new updates that can help your computer work well with the power adapter. To check for updates, click the Apple menu, select System Preferences, and then choose Update Now if an update is available.^{[12]
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View 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:^{[13]
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- Normal: The battery is working properly.
- Replace soon: The battery is working normally, but is no longer at full capacity. This is not the 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.
If your computer is turning off unexpectedly, it may be related to incorrectly set power settings.^{[14]
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Research source} In the Apple menu, click System Preferences, select Energy Saver, and then click Power Adapter to 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.
If you're still having trouble, the remaining steps will help you reset the System Management Controller (SMC), which can help resolve power problems.^{[15]
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Research source} Begin by making sure the computer is turned off and not plugged into a power source.
Don't turn the computer on, just plug it in for now.
After holding the buttons down for about 4 seconds, lift your fingers from the keyboard.^{[16]
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This will power your Mac back on. Once it comes back up, the SMC will be reset, hopefully clearing up any residual power issues.^{[17]
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Community Q&A

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Question

My 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 Answer

It 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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What should I do if my PC is fine, the charger is also fine, but it does not charge?

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The problem is with the motherboard and to be more precise with the charging IC. You can get it repaired.

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My Sony Vaio laptop is not charging. What should I do?

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Make 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.

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Some charger models are poorly built and may allow you to accidentally flip the electrical current. To make sure, try unplugging the adapter, rotating it 180 degrees, and putting it back in.

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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.

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