Why does my Dell laptop stop charging?
Laptops are sturdy pieces of hardware and generally durable no matter what you put it through. However, there may be times when youll notice your laptop not charging at all. When that happens, there are several ways to mitigate disaster. Show If youre the owner of a Dell laptop and have a problem with charging, look no further. Below, youll find a variety of methods to get your laptop to start charging again. Well address common symptoms and possible solutions. Dell Laptop Not Charging No LightDell laptop AC adapters have LED lights to indicate your laptop is receiving a charge. If you plug it into a power socket and connect the charging end to your laptops charging port, it should light up. Occasionally, the LED is off or turns off when you connect the charger to the computer. There are several reasons this may happen, such as:
Follow these troubleshooting steps and to pinpoint the possible cause for a charger malfunction:
If the wall outlet is working, but the LED indicator doesnt light up, you may have to buy a new charger. This phenomenon doesnt usually indicate a faulty port, but you should be prepared for the possibility. You can run a Dell ePSA hardware diagnostic test to troubleshoot the issue further. Here are the steps:
Dell Laptop Not Charging With USB-CSome Dell laptops have USB-C chargers instead of other proprietary pin designs. These laptops already ship with a designated charger, which can be replaced. However, when it malfunctions, its usually due to a faulty USB-C port or the motherboard. Here are some ways to potentially solve the problem:
If these steps dont help, you can try flipping the USB-C cable upside down. Should any other actions not work, the issue is likely the port or motherboard, and youll have to send it in for repairs. Dell Laptop Not Charging Through Docking StationSome Dell laptops can be charged via USB-C or the included charging cable connected to a docking station. These devices are designed to increase productivity by connecting all essential peripherals to one place. Should you discover your laptop isnt charging when plugged into the docking station, there are a few ways to address the issue. Before we get into the fixes, here are potential reasons your laptop isnt charging through the docking station:
To diagnose the issue, follow these steps:
Since you dont need the charging brick, it doesnt come into play here. Using different wattages will prevent charging, and youll have to use another docking station if thats the case. Of course, loose cables and an improper connection can be fixed by following the steps above. Reattaching everything tends to solve loose connections. In other cases, a BIOS update can cause issues with the charger, making it impossible for your laptop to detect it. Should that happen, you may have to perform a BIOS update. These are the steps to perform a manual update:
BIOS updates can solve driver issues but wont fix hardware. If this solution doesnt work, its most likely any of the options mentioned above. Dell Laptop Not Charging When Turned OffYou expect your laptop to charge when plugged in, especially when its turned off. However, some users experience situations where they cant start their computer without using the charger. And when it turns on, it may display 0% battery remaining. One possible culprit may be the microchip Dell uses to detect genuine batteries. The chip may malfunction and not detect the battery. Fortunately, theres a fix for this situation. Depending on your laptop model, you may need tools, but the solution will take less time if you can remove the battery immediately.
If done correctly, youll reset the microchip inside your Dell laptop. However, if youre not confident in doing this yourself, especially with a fixed battery, you can bring it to a store for repairs. Dell Laptop Not Charging to 100%A fully-charged battery is what people would expect after several hours of charging, but sometimes problems arise from extended use. A laptop battery used often will wear out eventually, and one symptom is not reaching a 100% charge after a long time. It might only reach 90% or more, but never full. Thus, youre missing out on about half an hour of battery life. Fortunately, theres an easy fix for this scenario. Here are the steps:
Sometimes, the battery is not at fault but the driver. A quick uninstall and reinstall may solve the problem in this case:
Of course, there are other causes, such as problematic AC adapters and more. You can always troubleshoot to pinpoint the exact cause of the issue. Say Goodbye to Battery IssuesMost of the time, battery and charging issues require replacement chargers or hardware. In the best cases, some problems can be addressed at home with the help of tools. However, always consult a professional for the best course of action when in doubt. Have you ever encountered any of these problems? Which solution worked best? Let us know in the comments section below. |