What to do when your HP laptop is not charging

We've all been there—you're about to start an important project or join a crucial video call, and suddenly, your HP® laptop won’t charge. It’s a frustrating scenario. Before you panic or rush to buy a new charger, let’s walk through some common reasons why your HP laptop battery isn’t charging and how you can fix it.

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Why won’t my HP laptop charge?

If your HP laptop suddenly stops charging, it can be frustrating and confusing. Understanding the possible reasons behind this charging issue can help you pinpoint the problem.

• Issues with the charging cable or adapter. Inspect the cable for visible damage or fraying. Ensure the adapter is firmly plugged into both the laptop and the power outlet. A loose connection or damaged cable can prevent proper charging.
• Battery problems. Batteries have a limited lifespan and can degrade over time. An old or malfunctioning battery might not hold a charge or charge at all.
• Power source issues. Check if the power outlet is working by plugging in another device. If the outlet functions properly with other devices but not your laptop, the issue might be with the laptop’s power input or adapter.
• Software and driver issues. Make sure your operating system and battery drivers are up-to-date. Outdated or corrupted drivers can impact your laptop’s ability to recognize and charge the battery.
• Internal hardware problems. Charging issues might be caused by problems with internal components such as the charging port or motherboard.

How to troubleshoot your HP laptop that won’t charge

If your HP laptop still isn't charging, don't worry—there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to identify and resolve the issue.

Perform a hard restart

If your HP laptop isn't charging, a hard restart (sometimes called a force restart) can often resolve the issue. Start by pressing the Power button and shutting down your laptop completely. Turn your laptop back on and see if it’s willing to charge.

If not, you can take that hard rest a step further. Press the Power button until the laptop shuts down completely. Then, disconnect the power cable from the wall outlet If you have a removable battery, take it out. Press and hold the Power button for 15-20 seconds to discharge any residual power. After that, reinsert the battery, reconnect the power adapter, and turn your laptop back on.

Perform a battery diagnostic test

Many HP laptops come with built-in diagnostic tools. You can use those to determine whether the battery or the power adapter is failing.

1. Hold the Power button until your laptop powers off completely.
2. Turn it back on and immediately press the Esc key repeatedly (about once every second) until the menu appears. Then, press F2 to open the Component Tests menu.
3. In the Component Tests menu, select Component Tests to display a list of tests.
4. To run both tests simultaneously, select Power Source > Run once.

You can also test each component individually.

How to run a Battery Test:

1. In the Component Tests menu, select Power > Battery.
2. Click Run once to begin the test.
3. When the test is complete, the results will be displayed on the screen.

How to run an AC Adapter Test.

1. In the Component Tests menu, select Power > AC Adapter Test.
2. Click Run once to begin the test.
3. When the test is complete, the results will be displayed on the screen.

Update battery drivers

If your power source passes the diagnostic test, the next step is checking whether your battery drivers are up to date:

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Search for “Device Manager”.
3. Expand the Batteries section, then right-click on the Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery (usually the second option) and select Delete or Uninstall.
4. Then, restart your laptop. The latest driver update will be automatically applied upon restart.