Your laptop battery is not charging? Do not write off the energy storage device directly! We'll show you different methods to fix the problem, because a repair or a new purchase is not always necessary.

From André Gabriel

Sometimes it's bewitched. You are working on the laptop and the battery is showing a low reading. Logically, connect the power supply and draw energy from the mains. But the laptop battery is not charging. Or you cannot even start the mobile computer because the battery remains empty even though it is connected to a power source. A defect is not necessarily the cause.

Why is my laptop battery not charging?

Laptop batteries are sensitive devices. With every connection to the power grid, with every loading and unloading, the battery loses capacity and wears out more and more over time. Batteries are wearing parts. However, that does not mean that a discrepancy – the laptop battery does not charge despite mains operation – immediately indicates damage.

Sometimes the problem lies elsewhere, so you can solve it in a few simple steps. If the laptop stops charging, it could be for one of the following reasons:

• Problems with the electrical outlet
• Contacts are dirty
• The power supply unit is defective
• Driver installation required
• Display does not work

Before you decide to replace the battery, you should go through the steps below. Ideally, the battery will then recharge and you can use the laptop normally.

Step one: check the socket

Don't be afraid of simple troubleshooting when the laptop battery isn't charging. It would be great if such a solution were successful, wouldn't it? So we first check the socket that you currently or usually use to charge the laptop.

Is the power supply still plugged into the socket? Then please see if that is really the case. Deviations are not immediately visible, but have a direct effect: If the plug and socket are not fully connected, the battery will not receive any power and the laptop will not charge.

Also, take a close look at the outlet. Even crumbs or dense fluff of dust can disrupt the contact. For careful cleaning, it is best to use a cotton swab after you have switched off the fuse.

What do the built-in elements look like in the socket? Everything in place? If a contact part is bent or otherwise damaged, you may have to replace the socket. Either way, it is advisable to carry out the battery check on other sockets in the apartment or house.

Is the power supply working properly?

If the laptop and battery are intact, the problem may be with the power adapter. If someone in your household or environment has a comparable charger, you can borrow it and connect the laptop and battery to it. Please make sure that the voltage corresponds to the specified requirements of the laptop or battery.

The battery is suddenly receiving energy again? Then all you have to do is replace your own power supply. The reason for a defective power supply unit can be a loose contact or a cable break due to wear and tear – too frequent kinking, for example – or due to an external influence such as a bite from a pet.

Laptop does not charge: remove the battery

The laptop battery is not charging, so let's try the typical "unplug" method. However, the measure cannot be carried out with all laptops. Therefore, you first check whether you can easily remove the battery from the computer. Gently turn the laptop over when it is turned off. If there is a compartment with a release on the underside, you open it and remove the battery. You may also need to loosen a few screws.

For many, the alarm bell rotates immediately: the battery is no longer charging, my laptop is broken. To rule this out, connect the computer to the power supply without a battery. If the device works, everything points to a battery problem.

Now we clean the visible contacts with a dry microfiber cloth or with a cotton swab – both on the battery and on the computer. Then you put the battery back in and boot up the device. Now connect it to the power supply and check the charge indicator to see if the problem has been resolved.

Laptop does not load: Check Windows drivers

If your laptop works with the Windows operating system, you should remove the relevant drivers and reinstall them. That's how it's done:

1. Press the Windows key and "R" at the same time.
2. Enter the command "devmgmt.msc" in the run window.
3. Select "Ok".
4. Search for "Battery" or "Battery" in the Device Manager.
5. Open the submenu by clicking on the small arrow.
6. Right click on the battery driver.
7. Click on "Uninstall".
8. Confirm the entry with "Ok".
9. Restart the laptop.

The driver should automatically reinstall itself at startup. Then you check the functionality of the battery. If the laptop battery still does not charge, the suspicion of a defect increases.

Fix the problem with the charge indicator

It is possible that only the charge level indicator does not work properly. In that case, you will have to realign it. How this works and what options you have, we explain in detail in our guide "Calibrating the laptop battery" .

summary

1. If the laptop battery does not charge despite mains operation, you may be able to solve the problem manually.
2. First check that the socket outlet is clean and intact and that the power adapter is free from damage.
3. Remove the battery (if possible) from the laptop and dry clean all affected contacts.
4. Under Windows, uninstall the drivers in the device manager and restart.
5. You can calibrate the battery to ensure that the charge indicator is working correctly.