Laptop not charging? Charger, port or battery
Often it's not the battery but the charger, the cable or a battery-care setting that deliberately stops charging at 60–80%.
- Most common cause
- charger, cable or battery-care setting
- Time
- 15–20 minutes
- Repair shop
- 200–680 zł
Don't use a charger from another laptop with a different voltage. If the battery is swollen (the casing bulges, the touchpad lifts), don't charge the laptop and take it to a repair shop.
Step by step
Check battery-care settings
Many laptops have a mode that stops charging at 60–80% to make the battery last longer. Check the manufacturer's app (e.g. Lenovo Vantage, MyASUS, Dell Power Manager) or the battery settings in the system.
Check the charger and socket
Plug the charger into another wall socket without a power strip. If the charger has an LED, it should be lit. Check the cable isn't frayed near the plug.
Check the laptop's charging port
Shine a torch into the port. Dust and a loose plug make charging cut in and out. With USB-C, try another USB-C port, because not every one supports charging.
Try another charger
Borrow an original charger for the same model or a USB-C charger with enough power (usually 65 W or more). A charger that's too weak may only slow the discharge.
Do a hard reset
Turn the laptop off, unplug the charger and hold the power button for 15–30 seconds. Some models have a small battery-reset hole on the bottom, described in the manual.
Update the BIOS and drivers
Manufacturers improve battery handling in BIOS updates. Download them only from the manufacturer's site and don't turn the laptop off during the update.
- the battery is swollen or the laptop gets hot while charging
- the port is loose or the plug falls out
- another working charger doesn't charge it either
- the laptop shuts down as soon as you unplug the charger
How much does a repair shop charge?
| New original charger | 200–480 zł |
| Charging port replacement | 270–540 zł |
| Battery replacement | 340–820 zł |
| Charging circuit repair on the board | 480–1100 zł |
Typical prices at independent repair shops in Poland, October 2026. Authorised service centres and big cities can be more expensive.
Repair or buy new?
The charger and battery are typical, worthwhile repairs. A damaged charging circuit on the main board of an old laptop is often borderline.
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Open the calculator →FAQ
What does “plugged in, not charging” mean?
The laptop sees the charger but isn't charging the battery. Often it's deliberate battery care, a charger that's too weak or a worn battery.
Can I charge a laptop with a phone charger?
Over USB-C sometimes yes, but usually too slowly. A laptop typically needs a 45–100 W charger.
How do I check if the battery is worn?
On Windows type “powercfg /batteryreport” in the command prompt. The report shows the current capacity compared with the factory capacity.