How to fix a laptop battery that’s not charging
⚡ Fast fix
- Stuck at 0%? Leave the charger connected for 15–30 minutes. A deeply discharged battery can take time before the percentage starts increasing.
- Plugged in but not charging? Check the charger, cable, power adapter, and charging port for damage or debris before assuming the battery has failed.
- Try a power reset. Shut down the laptop, disconnect the charger, then hold the power button for about 15 seconds before turning it back on.
- Still won't charge? An aging battery, faulty charger, charging port, or battery management issue may need professional repair.
If your laptop is plugged in but not charging, or the battery is stuck at 0%, you're not alone. Sometimes the fix is as simple as reseating the charger, while other times the battery, charging port, or power adapter may need attention.
At Asurion, we help people solve laptop problems every day—from batteries that won't charge to computers that won't turn on. Here are the most common reasons your laptop battery won't charge and what you can do about it.
Why is my laptop battery not charging?
If your laptop battery isn't increasing even though it's plugged in, one of these issues is often to blame.
The charger or charging cable has a problem
A faulty charger is one of the most common causes of a laptop that's plugged in but not charging. Check for:
- Loose cable connections
- Frayed or damaged charging cables
- A damaged power adapter
- An unsupported third-party charger
- Dirt or debris inside the charging port. A laptop tune-up and thorough cleaning can help.
If possible, test with another compatible charger.
The battery is deeply discharged
If your laptop battery is stuck at 0%, it may simply be deeply discharged. Leave the charger connected for at least 15 to 30 minutes before trying to power the laptop on. Some laptops won't immediately display an increasing battery percentage after being completely drained.
The laptop is overheating
Excess heat can temporarily stop charging to protect the battery. If your laptop feels unusually warm:
- Shut it down.
- Disconnect unnecessary accessories.
- Let it cool for about 30 minutes.
- Try charging again.
The battery is wearing out
Laptop batteries naturally lose capacity over time. If your battery no longer holds a charge—or stays at 0% even with a known-good charger—it may need to be replaced.
Don't let a dead battery slow you down
Schedule a device battery replacement or repair at one of our stores to fix it fast.
How to fix a laptop that's plugged in but not charging
No matter the make or model of your device, there are several ways to give your battery a boost. Here's what we recommend:
1. Restart your laptop
A simple restart can clear temporary power management glitches.
- Shut down the laptop.
- Wait about 30 seconds.
- Plug in the charger.
- Turn the laptop back on.
2. Check the charger, cable, outlet, and charging port
- Inspect your laptop's charging ports and see if there is any dust or debris. Need to clean them? You can use a cotton swab very slightly dampened in isopropyl alcohol or compressed air. Make sure you let the ports dry completely before plugging the cable back in. You might also want to consider letting a laptop repair pro handle a thorough cleaning for you.
- If your charging ports are loose or damaged, don't try to fix them on your own. Instead, take your laptop to the nearest uBreakiFix® by Asurion store for a quick repair.
- Take a look at your cables and make sure they're plugged in correctly. Avoid using unofficial charging cords and stick to those designed for your specific laptop, especially if you need to buy a new cable.
- Test the wall outlet or surge protector and make sure it's working. If not, try plugging your laptop into a different one to see if that fixes the issue.
3. Perform a battery reset (power reset)
Sometimes the battery controller simply needs to reset. If your laptop has a removable battery:
- Shut down the laptop.
- Disconnect the charger.
- Remove the battery.
- Hold the power button for about 15 seconds.
- Reinstall the battery.
- Reconnect the charger.
- Turn the laptop back on.
If your laptop has a built-in battery (like most modern laptops), simply disconnect the charger, hold the power button for about 15 seconds, reconnect the charger, and try again.
4. Check your battery health
Windows laptops can generate a battery health report, and many manufacturers include built-in battery diagnostics. If the battery health report shows significant wear, replacement may be the best solution.
On a Windows laptop:
- Open Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
- Type powercfg /batteryreport and press Enter.
- Open the battery-report.html file that Windows creates.
- Compare the Design Capacity and Full Charge Capacity. If the Full Charge Capacity is much lower, your battery may need to be replaced.
On a MacBook:
- Hold the Option key and click the Apple menu .
- Select System Information > Power.
- Check the Battery Health or Maximum Capacity section. If macOS recommends Service, the battery may need to be replaced.
Many laptop manufacturers also include battery health tools in their support apps, such as Dell SupportAssist, HP Support Assistant, Lenovo Vantage, or MyASUS. These can quickly tell you if your battery is healthy or needs attention.
5. Update your battery and chipset drivers
Battery charging issues can sometimes be caused by outdated drivers or firmware. Use Windows Update or your laptop manufacturer's support app to install:
- Battery firmware updates
- Chipset drivers
- Power management drivers
If you've tried these steps and still need a little help, we're right around the corner. Schedule a repair at the nearest uBreakiFix® by Asurion store and our certified experts can get your device back up and running as soon as the same day.
The Asurion® trademarks and logos are the property of Asurion, LLC. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Asurion is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any of the respective owners of the other trademarks appearing herein.