Laptop Not Charging? 7 Checks Before You Buy a New Charger
Share
You plug in your laptop. The battery icon says "Plugged in, not charging". Or nothing happens at all. Your first thought: "The charger is dead, I need a new one."
Maybe. But before you spend money, try these seven checks. Sometimes the fix is free.
1. Try another wall socket
Sounds too simple, but extension boards and old sockets fail more often than chargers. Plug straight into a wall socket you know works.
2. Check the power cable (the "kettle" cable)
Most laptop chargers have two parts: the box and a separate cable to the wall. That cable can fail too. If you have a spare UK power cable at home, swap it.
3. Look at the charger light
Many chargers have a small LED. No light often means the charger or wall cable is the problem. Light on but not charging points more toward the pin, the laptop's port or the battery.
4. Inspect the pin and the laptop's port
Look closely at the tip. Is it bent? Is the cable cracked near the tip? That's the most common place for a cable to break. Also check the laptop's charging port for dust or a loose feel.
Example: Fatima's charger only worked if she held the cable at an angle. The cable was broken inside, right next to the pin. A new charger fixed it in seconds.
5. Remove the battery (if you can)
If your laptop has a removable battery, take it out and plug in the charger. If the laptop turns on without the battery, the charger works — the battery is likely the problem.
6. Restart and check settings
Some laptops have a "battery care" setting that stops charging at 60–80% to protect the battery. If it charges to 80% and stops, that's probably a setting, not a fault. A simple restart can also clear charging glitches.
7. Make sure it's the right charger
A charger with lower watts than your laptop needs may show "not charging" or charge very slowly. Check the label: voltage must match, watts should be the same or higher. (See our guide: Which charger fits my laptop?)
So what's broken?
| What you see | Most likely |
| No charger light, nothing works | Charger or wall cable |
| Works only at an angle | Broken cable near the pin |
| Runs without battery, won't charge battery | Battery |
| Stops at 60–80% | Battery care setting |
| Nothing works with any charger | Laptop's charging port or board — needs a technician |
Still stuck?
Send a short video of the problem to WhatsApp +971 56 265 5845. We'll tell you whether you need a charger, a battery — or neither.
👉 Laptop chargers · Laptop batteries — 12-month warranty · Cash on Delivery.