Last updated: August 24, 2026
Is your laptop plugged in, but the battery is not charging?
You may see messages such as "Plugged in, not charging" or "Connected, not charging," or a battery percentage that stays at the same level even though the charger is connected.
This problem can happen because of a faulty charger, a damaged charging port, battery wear, Windows battery drivers, incorrect power settings, overheating, or a hardware problem.
You do not always need to replace the battery. Try the following fixes in order to find the cause and get your laptop charging again.
Important: If the battery is swollen, leaking, unusually hot, or physically damaged, stop using the laptop and charger. Do not try to open or repair the battery yourself.
Why Is My Laptop Plugged In but Not Charging?
There are several possible causes of a laptop battery not charging:
- Faulty AC adapter or charging cable
- Damaged or loose charging connector
- Dust or debris inside the charging port
- Incorrect or incompatible charger
- USB-C charger that does not provide enough power
- Battery protection or charging-limit settings
- An overheated laptop
- Temporary Windows power-management problems
- Corrupted or outdated battery drivers
- Outdated BIOS or firmware
- A worn-out battery
- Faulty charging circuitry on the motherboard
A laptop battery also loses capacity as it ages. If the battery is several years old and the laptop shuts down quickly after unplugging the charger, battery wear may be the main cause.
1. Check the Wall Outlet
Start with the simplest possibility.
Plug another device into the same wall outlet and check whether it receives power.
If the outlet does not work, try another outlet.
Also check whether the laptop's AC adapter has a power indicator light, if available.
2. Check the Laptop Charger and Cable
Inspect the charger carefully.
Look for:
- Cuts or damage to the cable
- Bent connectors
- Burn marks
- Loose connections
- Frayed sections
- A damaged charging plug
- An AC adapter that becomes unusually hot
Make sure the charger is firmly connected to both the wall outlet and the laptop.
If possible, use the original charger supplied with your laptop or a manufacturer-approved replacement.
Be Careful With USB-C Charging
Some USB-C laptops can charge only through specific USB-C ports. A USB-C charger may also fail to provide enough power.
For example, a low-power phone charger may connect to the laptop but may not provide enough power to charge the battery while the laptop is running.
3. Check the Charging Port
A dirty port can prevent the charger from making proper contact.
If you see dust, shut down the laptop and disconnect the charger before cleaning it.
Use compressed air carefully or have the port cleaned by a technician.
Warning: Do not insert metal objects into the charging port.
If the charging connector feels loose, moves excessively, or only works when the cable is held at a particular angle, the charging port may be damaged.
In that situation, professional repair is recommended.
4. Restart the Laptop
A temporary Windows power-management problem can sometimes prevent normal charging.
Save your work and restart the laptop.
After Windows starts again:
- Connect the charger.
- Check the battery icon.
- Wait several minutes.
- Check whether the battery percentage begins increasing.
If the laptop starts charging normally, the problem may have been temporary.
5. Shut Down and Let the Laptop Cool
Heat can affect battery charging.
If your laptop is very hot, shut it down and disconnect the charger.
Leave it powered off for about 20 to 30 minutes.
Then connect the charger and turn it on.
Make sure the ventilation openings are not blocked and use the laptop on a hard, flat surface rather than a bed or soft surface.
If your laptop frequently overheats, see our guide on how to stop laptop overheating and fan noise.
If the laptop repeatedly becomes extremely hot, investigate the cooling system rather than continuing to use it while charging.
6. Perform a Power Reset
A power reset can clear temporary hardware and power-management problems.
For a Laptop With a Removable Battery
- Shut down Windows.
- Disconnect the charger.
- Remove the battery.
- Disconnect other unnecessary devices.
- Press and hold the power button for about 20 to 30 seconds.
- Release the power button.
- Reinstall the battery.
- Connect the charger.
- Turn on the laptop.
Check whether the battery starts charging.
For Laptops With Built-In Batteries
Do not attempt to remove the internal battery unless the manufacturer specifically provides a safe procedure.
Instead, shut down the laptop, disconnect the charger and peripherals, wait several minutes, then reconnect the charger and start the laptop.
If your computer has other power-related symptoms, see our guide on how to fix a PC that won't turn on.
7. Check Windows Battery Status
In Windows 10 or Windows 11, click the battery icon on the taskbar.
Look for the charging status.
You may see:
- Charging
- Plugged in
- Plugged in, not charging
- Fully charged
- Battery saver
If Windows says the laptop is plugged in but not charging, continue with the following steps.
8. Check for a Battery Charging Limit
Some laptop manufacturers include battery-health features that intentionally stop charging at a certain percentage.
For example, a laptop may stop charging around 80% to reduce battery wear.
This is not necessarily a fault.
Check your manufacturer's battery or power-management application.
Depending on the manufacturer, the setting may be called:
- Battery Health
- Battery Care
- Conservation Mode
- Charge Threshold
- Battery Protection
- Smart Charging
If the laptop consistently stops charging at a particular percentage, this setting is worth checking.
9. Reinstall the Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery Driver
A corrupted driver can sometimes cause charging problems.
How to Reinstall the Battery Driver
- Press Windows + R.
- Type
devmgmt.msc. - Press Enter.
- Expand Batteries.
- Right-click Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery.
- Select Uninstall device.
- Confirm the uninstall if Windows asks.
Do not worry if the battery device temporarily disappears from Device Manager.
- Shut down the laptop.
- Disconnect the charger.
- If your laptop has a removable battery, remove it.
- Hold the power button for about 20 to 30 seconds.
- Reconnect the battery if it was removed.
- Connect the charger.
- Start Windows.
Windows should normally detect and reinstall the battery device automatically.
If Windows Does Not Reinstall It
Open Device Manager again.
- Select Batteries.
- Click Action.
- Select Scan for hardware changes.
Windows should detect the battery hardware and reinstall the required device.
If you are troubleshooting other hardware detection problems, see our guide on USB Device Not Recognized in Windows.
10. Update the Battery and System Drivers
An outdated driver can cause power-management problems.
Do not rely only on random driver-download websites.
Instead, visit your laptop manufacturer's official support website.
Search for your exact laptop model and install the latest supported:
- Chipset drivers
- Power-management drivers
- Battery-related drivers
- System drivers
- BIOS or firmware updates
Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully when updating BIOS or firmware.
11. Run Windows Update
Windows updates can include hardware compatibility and power-management fixes.
Windows 11
Go to:
Settings → Windows Update
Select Check for updates.
Windows 10
Go to:
Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update
Select Check for updates.
Install available updates and restart the laptop.
If a recent Windows update appears to have caused other problems, see our guide on Windows 11 KB5121003 problems and fixes.
12. Check the Battery Report
It can show information about the battery's original capacity and its current estimated capacity.
Create a Battery Report
- Right-click Start.
- Select Terminal (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- Enter the following command:
powercfg /batteryreportPress Enter.
Windows will create a battery report and show its location.
Open the HTML report in your web browser.
Pay particular attention to:
- Design Capacity
- Full Charge Capacity
- Battery Capacity History
- Battery life estimates
If the full-charge capacity is significantly lower than the original design capacity, the battery may be heavily worn.
If your laptop is also running slowly, see our guide on how to fix a slow Windows 11 PC.
13. Check Whether the Charger Provides Enough Power
A laptop may remain plugged in while the battery percentage does not increase if the charger cannot provide enough power.
This can happen when:
- You are using the wrong charger.
- The charger has a lower wattage than required.
- A USB-C charger does not support the required Power Delivery level.
- The adapter is failing.
- The laptop is under heavy CPU or GPU load.
For example, if a laptop requires a higher-wattage adapter but you connect a lower-power charger, Windows may show that it is connected while the battery continues to drain.
Use the charger recommended by the laptop manufacturer.
14. Test the Laptop Without the Battery, If Supported
This test applies only to laptops with a removable battery and a manufacturer-supported procedure.
Turn off the laptop and disconnect the charger.
Remove the battery and connect the AC adapter.
If the laptop starts and operates normally from AC power, but the battery does not charge when installed, the battery itself may be faulty.
However, this does not completely rule out a charging-circuit problem.
For built-in batteries, do not open the laptop just to perform this test unless you are qualified to do so.
15. Check the Battery and Charging Hardware
If none of the software fixes work, the problem may be hardware-related.
Possible hardware faults include:
- Failed battery cells
- Damaged charging port
- Faulty AC adapter
- Damaged DC-in jack
- Failed USB-C charging circuitry
- Motherboard charging-circuit failure
- Battery connector problems
If the laptop is old and the battery has lost most of its capacity, replacing the battery may solve the problem.
Use a genuine or reputable replacement battery that is compatible with your exact laptop model.
What If the Laptop Says "Plugged In, Not Charging" at 80%?
Many modern laptops deliberately limit charging to protect battery health.
If charging always stops at approximately 80%, open the laptop manufacturer's battery-management application and look for a charging limit or battery protection feature.
If the limit is intentional, the laptop is working as designed.
If charging stops at random percentages such as 23%, 41%, or 67%, further troubleshooting may be necessary.
What If the Laptop Battery Percentage Keeps Decreasing While Plugged In?
This usually indicates that the laptop is not receiving enough power.
Check:
- The charger wattage.
- The charging cable.
- The charging port.
- The USB-C port, if applicable.
- The laptop's power requirements.
- Whether the charger is genuine or manufacturer-approved.
- Whether the laptop is under heavy CPU or GPU load.
A faulty battery can also cause unusual charging behavior.
When Should You Replace the Laptop Battery?
Battery replacement may be necessary when:
- The battery drains extremely quickly.
- The laptop shuts down soon after unplugging the charger.
- Battery capacity is significantly reduced.
- Windows reports that the battery needs service.
- The battery cannot hold a charge.
- The battery is swollen or physically damaged.
When Should You Get Professional Help?
Contact a qualified laptop technician if:
- The charging port is physically damaged.
- The charger becomes unusually hot.
- The laptop smells burnt.
- The battery is swollen.
- The laptop only charges when the cable is moved.
- The battery is not detected by Windows.
- A known-good compatible charger does not work.
- The laptop does not charge after reinstalling the battery driver.
- The problem appears to be related to the motherboard charging circuit.
Do not attempt to repair a damaged charging circuit or battery yourself unless you have the necessary technical skills and equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my laptop plugged in but not charging?
A faulty charger, damaged charging port, battery protection setting, overheating, worn battery, or Windows battery driver problem can cause this message. Start by checking the charger, port, battery settings, and Windows battery driver.
Why does my laptop stop charging at 80%?
Many laptops include battery-health features that intentionally limit charging to around 80%. Check the manufacturer's battery-management software before assuming the battery is faulty.
Can a bad charger cause a laptop battery not to charge?
Yes. A damaged or incompatible charger may provide insufficient or unstable power. Try the original or manufacturer-approved charger for your laptop.
Can Windows cause a laptop battery not to charge?
Yes. A corrupted battery driver or temporary power-management problem can interfere with charging. Reinstalling the Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery device can help.
How do I know if my laptop battery is bad?
Generate a Windows battery report using powercfg /batteryreport and compare the Design Capacity with the Full Charge Capacity. A large reduction in full-charge capacity indicates significant battery wear.
Should I leave my laptop plugged in all the time?
Modern laptops generally manage charging automatically, but battery-health features such as charging limits can help reduce battery wear. If your laptop manufacturer provides a battery-protection mode, consider using it.
Why is my laptop charging very slowly?
Slow charging can be caused by a low-wattage charger, damaged cable, USB-C power limitations, high system usage, overheating, or battery degradation.
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Final Thoughts
A laptop battery that is not charging does not always mean that you need a new battery.
Start with the simple checks: test the wall outlet, inspect the charger and charging port, restart the laptop, let it cool down, and check for battery charging limits.
If the problem continues, reinstall the Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery device, run Windows Update, update your laptop manufacturer's drivers, and generate a Windows Battery Report.
If the battery is swollen, the charging port is damaged, or a known-good charger does not solve the problem, stop troubleshooting and have the laptop inspected by a qualified technician.