If your Lenovo laptop is plugged in but not charging, check the cable connection and battery and try other fixes listed in the post to troubleshoot the laptop not charging issue.
“Plugged in not charging” is the message no laptop user wants to encounter. It is like a nightmare come true. Luckily, unless it is not a hardware issue, it is easy to fix the laptop not charging issue. To fix it, you first need to check the power cable and ensure it is properly connected to both the laptop and the power socket. If this doesn’t work, try unplugging and replugging the power cable. If this doesn’t work either, try removing the batteries and using just the power adapter to see if it helps. If this works, you know there is an issue with the battery that needs replacing. However, none of this works. Don’t lose hope. We have other fixes. If they, too, don’t work, then it might be a hardware issue.
So, without delay, let us learn how to troubleshoot the laptop issue of not charging when turned on.
Generally, a faulty battery is the reason behind the laptop not charging. However, users have reported outdated, missing, and problematic battery drivers in some cases, causing Lenovo laptops to be plugged in and not charging issues. The best and easiest way to update drivers is to use driver updating software like Advanced Driver Updater.
To Get The Tool, Click The Button Below
How do you fix the Lenovo Plugged-in Not Charging Issue?
Here, we list the workable solutions to fix the laptop not charging 100%. Just walk through each fix until you find the right one.
- Check all physical cable connections.
- Remove the battery and connect it to the power.
- Check for hardware issues.
- Power reset laptop.
- Update the outdated battery driver.
- Update BIOS.
Fix 1: Check All Physical Cable Connections
Let’s do some basic checks before troubleshooting to fix the charging issue.
Firstly, check whether the charging wire is securely placed into the charging port on your laptop or not. If not, unplug and replug it. After that, double-check its connection to the electrical outlet. Also, check the joint where the cable connects to the AC adapter.
Read Also: How to Update Lenovo Thinkpad Driver
Fix 2: Remove the Battery and Connect it to the Power
If your laptop has a detachable battery, detach it. Before doing so, turn off the PC. Unplug the charger and any other connected devices.
After removing the battery, press and hold the power button for a few seconds to discharge any leftover charge in the system, connect the charger, and attempt to turn your laptop on.
If it works without the battery, your laptop’s battery is the problem. Clean the battery compartment, replace the battery, and double-check that all contacts are in place. If it doesn’t work, you’ll need to replace the battery.
Fix 3: Check for Hardware issue
After following the above two steps, if the laptop battery is plugged in and still not charging, run a check for faulty hardware. For this, firstly, check the power cable. If damaged, replace it.
After that, check the AC adapter, which may cause battery charging issues.
Fix 4: Power Reset Your Laptop
When the power cable is plugged in but not charging the Lenovo laptop, try power resetting. To do so, follow these steps:
- Shut down the computer.
- Detach the power cable from the socket and laptop.
- Next, get the battery out of the Lenovo laptop.
- Now, to power reset, press and hold the power button for 30 seconds.> Let go of the buttons after 30 seconds.
- Put back the battery and plug the charger into the laptop.
- Turn on the laptop; it should now start charging.
If this fix doesn’t help, no worries. We will move to other methods.
Fix 5: Update Battery Driver
The “plugged-in not charging” issue can also be caused by a corrupt or problematic battery driver. Therefore, you should check for battery driver updates. If it is outdated, you should update it.
You can go to the manufacturer’s website or use a driver updating tool like Advanced Driver Updater to do the job.
Advanced Driver Updater will scan the PC for outdated drivers and show the latest updates. Also, the best driver updater for Windows verifies the outdated driver and shows compatible updates.
You can use the trial or paid version of Advanced Driver Updater to update drivers. With the registered version, you get a 60-day money-back guarantee, while the Free version lets you update individual drivers.
To use it, follow these steps:
1. Download and install Advanced Driver Updater.
2. Click the Start Scan Now button to initiate the scanning.
3. Update the battery device driver by clicking the Update driver link. However, if you want to update all outdated drivers, a paid version of Advanced Driver Updater is required.
4. Restart your computer to apply changes.
For assistance, you can contact the support team at support@systweak.com.
Still no luck? Okay, there are a few more things to try…
Fix 6: Check Battery Settings
You might face a charging issue if you have recently changed the power settings or they are corrupt. To fix it, follow these steps:
1. Press Windows + R to open the Run window.
2. Type the control and press the Enter key.
3. Change the category view to Small icons.
4. Click Power Options to check the power settings.
5. Select the radio button next to Balanced if not already selected.
6. Click Change plan settings and check for battery, display, and sleep settings. If you find some of the settings are corrupt, reset them. If the low battery level is set at too high a percentage or you set the computer to shut down when the battery level drops too low, you might face issues.
If you cannot decide which settings are best, restore the power profile to default.
Now, try to charge the laptop. This should help.
Fix 7: Update your BIOS
Basic Input Output System (BIOS), is a piece of software saved on your computer’s motherboard chip. It is used to discover and troubleshoot hardware issues.
The “plugged-in not charging” problem might be caused by a problem with your BIOS firmware settings. Therefore, try upgrading your Lenovo BIOS to resolve the problem.
1. Go to the Lenovo Support page > wait for the site to read your machine details and update the BIOS.
2. Go to the product page > Driver & Software > BIOS > follow the on-screen tutorial.
3. Now, try connecting it.
If this, too, doesn’t help with the laptop plugged in and not charging issue, please get in touch with Lenovo Support for further assistance.
FAQ’s
Q1. What should I do if my laptop is not working without a charger?
When your laptop shows charged, but it is still not working without a charger, perform the following troubleshooting fixes:
1. Power off the laptop.
2. Disconnect the AC adapter > press and hold the power button for 15 seconds.
3. Reconnect the AC adapter and power on the laptop to see if it helps.
If this doesn’t work, try uninstalling battery drivers. To do so, follow these steps:
1. Press Windows + X > select Device Manager from the quick access menu.
2. Go to the Batteries category. Double-click on it to expand it.
3. Right-click on ACPI battery > Uninstall. (If you find more than one entry for ACPI battery, uninstall all of them.)
4. Reboot the laptop, and the default battery driver will be reinstalled.
Now, try to charge your Lenovo laptop. The charging problem should be fixed.
Q2. Is it better to use a Lenovo laptop plugged in or on battery?
You can safely keep the laptop plugged in at all times, as the laptop’s circuitry prevents overheating and overcharging. However, if you are traveling, you can use it on battery. But there is one thing you need to remember. Do not constantly charge the laptop to 100%, as it will reduce the battery lifespan. We suggest you keep the charge between 20% and 80% to avoid facing any issues.
Q3. Is there another way to charge a Lenovo laptop?
If you don’t have a laptop charger, you can charge a Lenovo laptop using a power bank or portable charger. However, remember it is a temporary fix. Always charge the laptop using a genuine charger to avoid battery issues.
Q4. Is it OK to leave the laptop plugged in overnight?
Yes, you can leave the laptop plugged in overnight because once the battery is fully charged (hits 100%), it will stop charging unless the voltage falls to a certain level. However, if the laptop overheats while charging, it is best to show it to a technician.
Q5. What is the lifespan of the battery in a Lenovo laptop?
On average, a laptop battery lasts for 2-5 years or 300-500 charge cycles. However, the lifespan of a battery depends upon:
- Usage pattern
- Battery type and age.
Q6. Why is my laptop not charging with USB-C?
Several reasons can cause a laptop not to charge with a type C USB charger. They are:
- The charger is not powerful enough.
- The charger is not correctly connected to the charging port.
- The charging cable does not meet the power requirement to charge the laptop.
- The USB power is faulty or dusty.
Hence, we suggest you please check the connection, the USB port, and power requirement and then try to charge the laptop.
That is all there is to it. We hope this article proves helpful in resolving your Lenovo plugged-in but not charging problem. Please comment and let us know which solution worked best for you. Please comment if you have any more queries, and we’ll see what we can do.
Had a problem with my laptop not charging when turned on. Saw this blog and tried Advanced Driver Updater and it helped!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
My tablet changing light is on but not get any power ..has been changing for 12hrs but still from 15%to 32%
It was pitty good but it’s happening for the last 3days
Help …
Hello Sir/Mam,
To fix the charging issue on your device, we suggest you to please check the power cable and ensure it is properly connected. If everything is just fine let the device run out of battery. After that, plug it into the charging port and see if it helps. If not update drivers. In case nothing of this works, you might need to see a technician.
How do you up date the drivers if there is no power on the laptop ?
Hello Gary,
We can understand your concern.
Generally, when the laptop is not charging, basic troubleshooting like checking the power socket, checking the power cables, and removing and re-attaching the battery works. However, if nothing works, it seems to be a hardware issue. In such a case we suggest contacting the support or a technician as they will be able to help you.
In my case of Lenovo Helix 2, resetting CMOS battery (physically) helped. But this had time done every few startups. Not solved on permanent basis yet
Dear Hassan,
It seems like there is some issue with the battery. We recommend you to please get it checked and see if it helps. Meanwhile, we will also look for some other solutions and will share them with you.
Thanks and Regards
My lenovo IdeaPad 330 doesn’t want to charge and we can’t seem to know what’s the problem
when my laptop is already powered on and its battery is draining down to low at 15% at that time when i plug in charger, my laptop is not charging at all and when laptop is powered off and then i plug in the charger it starts charging then i powered it on its charging. I want to solve this issue when my laptop is already powered on at that time charger is plugged in it doesn’t charge the laptop. How can solve this issue? Please somebody help.
Dear Moin
There can be several reasons for a laptop powered on but not charging:
1. Overheating.
2. Corrupt power settings.
3. Faulty motherboard, damaged charging circuit, and malfunctioning battery sensors.
To fix it, make sure the air vents are free from dust. Also, let the system shut down > cool down and then try to power it on and change.
If this does not help, try changing the power plan.
1. Press Windows + R to open the Run window.
2. Type the control and press the Enter key.
3. Change the category view to Small icons.
4. Click Power Options to check the power settings.
5. Select the radio button next to Balanced if not already selected.
6. Click Change plan settings and check for battery, display, and sleep settings. If you find some of the settings are corrupt, reset them. If the low battery level is set at too high a percentage or you set the computer to shut down when the battery level drops too low, you might face issues.
If you cannot decide which settings are best, restore the power profile to default.
Now, try charging the laptop.
If none of the above fixes help, it seems there is some issue with the motherboard. We suggest contacting a technician to get the problem fixed.
Hope this helps.
Thanks and Regards
Dear Portia,
There are several reasons for laptops not charging. The most common ones are:
1. Overheating.
2. Corrupt power settings.
3. Outdated driver.
3. Faulty motherboard, damaged charging circuit, and malfunctioning battery sensors.
To fix it, make sure the air vents are free from dust. Also, let the system shut down > cool down and then try to power it on and change.
If this does not help, try updating the driver and changing the power plan.
1. Press Windows + R to open the Run window.
2. Type the control and press the Enter key.
3. Change the category view to Small icons.
4. Click Power Options to check the power settings.
5. Select the radio button next to Balanced if not already selected.
6. Click Change plan settings and check for battery, display, and sleep settings. If you find some of the settings are corrupt, reset them. If the low battery level is set at too high a percentage or you set the computer to shut down when the battery level drops too low, you might face issues.
If you cannot decide which settings are best, restore the power profile to default.
Now, try charging the laptop.
If none of the above fixes help, it seems there is some issue with the motherboard. We suggest contacting a technician to get the problem fixed.
Hope this helps.
Thanks and Regards
I changed my battery. Lenovo ideapad 320.
Before changing the battery, my laptop wont turn on because i think lenovo doesnt want to turn on the laptop when the battery is faulty.
So i bought a new one, the model of the battery is the same as in the recommended battery.
But now after a few months, i noticed that my laptop wont charge when it’s on. And after i turned it off the led blinks red, and after a few minutes it will charge.
Sometimes i notice that the laptop just suddenly turns on when im trying to charge it, i really dont know what is the problem of my laptop now.
The charger seems working fine, because the led is blinking red when i plugged it in, it just wont charge normally like before
Hello Uel,
To fix the charging problem we suggest you try to do a Static Discharge on Laptop and AC adapter.
– Remove all cables attached to the device (hdmi, external mouse/keyboard, etc).
– Turn off the device and keep the AC adapter connected to the laptop, but disconnect it from the wall socket.
– Hold down power button for 60 seconds and then re connect all the cables.
– Connect the AC Adapter, then let the device charge for about 2 minutes (if it does) then start up as usual.
However, if this doesn’t help, try charging another laptop. If the same issue occurs probably the AC adapter is faulty.
This method should be performed when the device is powered completely off and not connected to any power outlet.
In addition if you haven’t yet updated the BIOS and battery driver please do so and also run a battery diagnostic to detect any issues.
Hope this helps.
Thanks and Regards
I opened mine > unplugged and plugged every “cable” after unplugging battery for few min and this fixed my problem.
It wasn’t charging unless I held or taped the plug into the laptop. I tried buying a new charging cord, that worked for a little bit, but now I’m back to having to hold the plug in. I haven’t tried the suggestions in the article just yet, I’m working and can’t take the time to shut it all down. I will try them all this evening, just hoping in the meantime you might be able to identify the problem from this info. Thank you for any help!
Hi. I have a Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga X380 and recently , I’ve had trouble charging it. Some days ago when I plugged in the original charger it didn’t charge and surprisingly , it lowers it (I mean if it’s 65% it turns to 64% an so on).
I didn’t want to repair it so I decided to buy a Type C adapter. Now it charges but there’s another problem. It charges so fast and for example when it’s 64 it suddenly turns to 68. I’m so worried. Help me
Dear Shin,
Regarding your query, please note the charging time depends on the battery size, the voltage, the physical environment, and whether you are using the computer. Usually a 45 W charger works fine with Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga x380. However, if you are using a different charger which supports USB-C fast charging the laptop may charge quickly.
Note – For safe and optimal charging performance you should always use a certified compatible charger.
Hope this answers your question.
Thanks and Regards
Dear Preeti
My charger is 45W. I don’t know what the problem is.
I just think it’s not normal when it suddenly jumps from 68 to 72. It’s not how it must charge.
Dear Shin
Thank for your writing to us.
Please note fast charger are quick and effective hence you might see a sudden jump. However, if you suspect that there might be a hardware issue, please contact the local technician.
Hope this helps.
👍 This blog post was incredibly helpful for me! 😊 I’ve been struggling with my Lenovo laptop showing “Plugged In, Not Charging” error, and this article provided clear and concise steps to troubleshoot and potentially fix the issue. 💻 The explanations were easy to follow, and I appreciate the various solutions provided, from checking the power cord to updating drivers. 🙌 Thank you for sharing this valuable information! 🌟 I’m definitely bookmarking this page for future reference.
Thank you for sharing this helpful guide on resolving the “Lenovo plugged in, not charging” issue. Your clear instructions and troubleshooting steps provide valuable assistance to users encountering this problem. Much appreciated!