Laptops are designed to be portable and convenient, allowing us to work or play on the go. When a laptop only works when it’s plugged in, it can be frustrating and limit its usefulness. This issue, commonly known as “laptop plugged in not charging” can arise due to a variety of reasons, ranging from software issues to battery problems or hardware faults. Before attempting any guide to fix your laptop charging issue you should figure out the possible reasons why a laptop only works when it’s plugged in. Because proceeding with faulty instructions to prevent these issues can be hazardous for your laptop’s software or hardware and might cause permanent damage.
A wide number of potential causes, including hardware, software, or battery difficulties cause the laptop to work only while charging. Throughout this piece of information, we’ll negotiate about the causes of battery problems and the methods users can take to fix them. Taking prompt action, such as checking the power settings, upgrading the drivers, and resetting the battery can fix it. Let’s creak out the Reasons & Swift Actions to Fix the problem of the Laptop Only Works When Plugged In!
Laptop Only Works When Plugged In: Reasons & Actions To Fix
Laptops are fully-equipped and mainly intended for portability concerns, So that you may take your laptops anywhere, anytime, according to your ease and need. But when a laptop never works without plugging in a charger it bound you to a sitting place near the switchboard. I personally face this problem and it’s the worst thing when I need to take my laptop for a class presentation with a charger and look for the nearest switchboard. It feels really restricted when a laptop develops the same problem and only runs when you plug in the charger.
To function properly, laptops needed a hundred different parts. It feels as though the laptop is starting to scratch if even one component is broken. The laptop battery can stop charging for a variety of reasons. In the section below, I focus on a few root causes, such as software errors, failing batteries, problems with the power cord or AC adapter, and lack of power.
Reason No 1: Software Malfunction
The first cause is the “Software malfunctions” that arise when the driver of the laptops ages out. An obsolete drive can cause the laptop to lose its battery because the outdated driver in the laptop cannot accept the AC adapter’s power. The old drive needs to struggle to charge the battery.
- Actions To Fix Software Malfunction
If a software malfunction is causing your laptop to only work when plugged in, proceed with the actions to fix the Software Malfunction issue:
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| Update your operating system | Make sure your laptop’s operating system is up to date. Sometimes, software bugs can cause issues with power management, which can affect the laptop’s ability to run on battery power. updating your version of windows to the most latest edition can help fix these issues. |
| Update your drivers | Outdated or corrupted drivers can also cause power management issues that prevent your laptop from running on battery power. visit the company’s webpage for the laptop to acquire the latest drivers for your device. |
| Check power settings | Your laptop’s power settings may be set to only allow it to run on AC power. Go to the power settings in your Control Panel or System Preferences and make sure that your laptop is set to use battery power when unplugged. |
| Calibrate your battery | If your laptop battery is not calibrated properly, it may not be able to hold a charge, causing your laptop to shut down when unplugged. Follow your laptop manufacturer’s instructions for calibrating your battery. Only the capacity of worn-out batteries can be adjusted by calibration. The process of battery aging cannot be stopped. |
| Perform a system restore | If none of the above steps work, you may need to perform a system restore to a previous point in time when your laptop was functioning properly. This can assist in resolving any potential software problems causing the problem. |
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Reason No 2. Declining Battery Health
Secondly, the most familiar reason for the laptop’s battery not charging is its declining health. Likewise, an old device needs to struggle to hold a charge. Although before the battery leads to failure, there are some alarming signs that your laptop will malfunction.
Declining Battery Health issues include overheating when plugged into the charging source, the battery losing its charge quickly, and taking extra time to charge fully. These points, as mentioned earlier, are the surefire signs that the laptop battery is outdated.
- Actions to Fix Declining Battery Health
If you’re experiencing declining battery health on your laptop, we have listed below the actions you can do to improve the situation
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| Reduce your power usage | Using your laptop on high-performance settings can cause your battery to drain faster. Adjust and alternate the power settings on your laptop to a more conservative setting to reduce power consumption. You may achieve this by activating the power choices in the Control Panel or System Settings. |
| Unplug your laptop when it’s fully charged | Leaving your laptop plugged in after it’s fully charged can cause the battery to degrade faster. the battery has been entirely charged, unplug the charger immediately to help extend its lifespan. |
| Remove the battery while the laptop is plugged in to inspect the adapter | You can take the battery out of your laptop whether it supports and use it with an AC adapter. This will help to reduce the wear on the battery, which will extend its lifespan. |
| Get a cooling pad and Keep your laptop in a cool environment | Your battery may expire more quickly in warm environments. Place the laptop in the only cool spot and dry environment to help extend the battery’s lifespan. Or you can get a suitable heating pad to avoid any future battery damage. |
| Replace the battery | If your battery health continues to decline despite these efforts, you may need to replace the battery. Contact your laptop manufacturer or a reputable computer repair shop to purchase and install a new battery. |
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Reason No 3: The Issue With The AC Adapter
AC adapter, also known as “Power Code,” is the primary cable that provides extended operating power to laptops. If there is a specific issue in the power code, it ultimately affects the laptop’s battery. Nonetheless, there is a requirement to use the cord delicately and with care to prevent any damage. For example, You always take your laptop and the charger with you, and for easy packability, you wrap the cable in a way that easily accommodates a distant outlet. By doing this, the cord can be distorted out of shape.
Either AC power (while hooked in) & battery power is compatible with laptops (when unplugged). Hence, while you’re working on your laptop, Windows must operate on each of those power generators all at the same. Usually, two components of the adapter are connected to the slot, and the other connects to the port of the laptop. If properly connecting them both does not brighten up the laptop, you might be dealing with a damaged or faulty cord.
- Actions to Fix The Issue With The AC Adapter
If you’re experiencing issues with your laptop’s AC adapter, here are some steps you can take to resolve the issue:
You can identify and fix any problems affecting your laptop’s AC adapter by complying with these directions.
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| Check the power source | Make sure that the power outlet you’re using is functioning properly. Try plugging in another device or appliance to ensure that the outlet is supplying power. |
| Check the adapter’s connections | Ensure that the AC adapter is firmly plugged into both the power outlet and your laptop’s charging port. Check for any damage or lose connections. |
| Check the power indicator light | Some laptops have an LED light on the charging port or the adapter itself that indicates when the adapter is working properly. Check if the light is on, off, or blinking. A blinking light may indicate an issue with the adapter. |
| Check the adapter for damage | Inspect the adapter for any obvious damage, such as broken or twisted prongs, frayed wires, or other physical harm. The adapter might need to be changed if it has damage. |
| Test with another adapter | Try using another AC adapter that seems to be suitable with your laptop if you have access to one to see whether the problem lies with the adapter or the laptop. If the new adapter works properly, your old adapter may need to be replaced. |
| Update the firmware | Some laptop manufacturers release firmware updates that can fix issues with AC adapter compatibility. Check your laptop manufacturer’s website for any available updates. |
| Replace the adapter | If neither of the foregoing remedies helps, then the AC adaptor could require being replaced. Contact your laptop manufacturer or a reputable computer repair shop to purchase and install a new adapter. |
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Reason No 4: Battery Consumption Due To Power Plans
In the setting of the laptops, there is a “Power plans ‘ option that manages how much power your laptops may conserve and consume. There are three predefined modes of the power plans, each of which has its performance and optimizing speed to increase or decrease the battery life. These include Power Saver, Balanced, and High performance. No doubt these plans increase the efficiency of a laptop and automatically balance the power and performance for an unbeatable experience.
But putting the laptop in “High-performance mode” consumes more power. That might cause the dysfunctioning of the battery. Because shuffling from high performance to the power save mode lowers the laptop’s performance.
- Actions to Fix The Power Plans Battery Consumption
Managing your laptop’s power plan can help improve your battery health and extend its lifespan. You need to operate these power plans wisely proceed with the following actions if you set a power plan on your laptop and it never works without plugging a charger!
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| Adjust the power plan settings: | Your laptop’s power plan settings allow you to control how it uses power. Through the Control Panel via System Preferences, you may access basic power plan options. Adjust the settings to reduce power consumption, such as lowering the screen brightness, turning off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when not in use, and putting your laptop to sleep when idle. |
| Enable power-saving features: | Several laptops have power-saving functions that can help the battery last longer. Some examples include “Battery Saver” mode, which reduces power consumption by limiting background processes, and “Hibernate” mode, which saves your current session to the hard drive and shuts down the computer to conserve power. |
| Use the right power adapter: | Using a power adapter that is not designed for your laptop can cause damage to the battery and other components. Make sure to use the adapter that was supplied with your laptop or a compatible replacement. |
| Keep the battery charged: | The battery may degrade more quickly if you let it run totally dry. Keep your laptop plugged in or recharge the battery when it gets low to help extend its lifespan. |
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Procedure to Adjust your laptop’s power plan settings
To adjust your laptop’s power plan settings, Proceed with the following actions listed below:
- Open the Control Panel on your laptop. Choose “Power Options” from the “Hardware and Sound” menu after clicking. You will see a menu showing available power plans. Choose the plan you want to adjust and click on “Change plan settings.”
- Users may change the settings for “Plugged in” and “On battery” here. To select the desired value, tap on “ on the drop-down menu beside every setting. You can adjust settings like
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| Turning off the display | Decide how long should extend the time just before the display turns off. Here go for the minim of display time to avoid battery drainage while the user never utilizes it. |
| Put the computer to sleep | Decide how much time should pass first before the laptop enters sleep mode. |
| Adjust screen brightness | Reduce the screen brightness to save power. |
| Turn off Bluetooth/Turn off Wi-Fi | Disable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when not in use to save power. |
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Once you have adjusted the settings, click on “Save changes.”By adjusting your laptop’s power plan settings, you can reduce power consumption and extend the battery life of your laptop. Keep in mind that the exact options and interface for adjusting power plan settings may vary depending on the version of Windows or macOS installed on your laptop.
Prevention & Maintenance: Bonus Tips To Avoid Future Risks
When a laptop only works when plugged in, it is often a sign that the battery is no longer holding a charge or is damaged. Nonetheless, users can do certain actions to prevent or minimize the risk of this happening. Here are some tips for maintaining your laptop’s battery and power system:
- Use your laptop on a flat surface: Using your laptop on a flat surface can help prevent overheating and ensure that the battery is getting enough air circulation to stay cool. The vents on your laptop may become blocked if you use it on a soft surface much like a blanket, bed, or couch, which will lead to overheating.
- Avoid extreme temperatures: Excessive heat potentially harms the laptop’s battery and increases its degradation. Avoid exposing your laptop to extreme heat or cold and keep it in a temperature-controlled environment.
- Properly store and charge the battery: When you’re not using your laptop for an extended period, make sure to properly store and charge the battery. Ideally, you should store the battery at around 40% charge and keep it in a cool, dry place. When you charge the battery, make sure to use the manufacturer’s recommended charger and avoid overcharging or draining the battery.
- Perform regular maintenance checks: Regular maintenance checks can help you identify any issues with your laptop’s battery or power system before they become a bigger problem. Check the battery’s health status and monitor its usage to see if it’s performing as expected.
- Monitor battery usage: Monitoring battery usage can help you identify any apps or programs that are draining your battery faster than they should. You can use the built-in battery monitor on your laptop to see which apps are using the most power and adjust your settings accordingly.
- Avoid overcharging or draining the battery: Overcharging or draining the battery can cause it to degrade faster and reduce its lifespan. Make sure to unplug your laptop once it’s fully charged and avoid using it until the battery is completely drained.
- Use power-saving modes: The majority of laptops offer power-saving settings that can be used to extend battery life. These modes can adjust the brightness of your screen, turn off unnecessary background processes, and adjust other settings to help you save power.
WrapUp – Laptop Only Works When Plugged In
The common reasons, solutions, and avoidance advice for a Laptop Only Works When Plugged In are covered in this article. The major reasons for this problem are a bad battery or a weak power system, which can be identified using a variety of troubleshooting techniques including monitoring usage, evaluating battery health, and performing maintenance checks. Users can take precautions including using the laptop on a flat surface, avoiding high temperatures, correctly storing and charging the battery, and using power-saving settings to stop this problem from occurring. If you are having this problem, you should act quickly to prevent further harm to the laptop. Those who require further assistance or support can access additional resources and data.
Frequent Queries – Laptops that Only Operate When Plugged In
- Why does a laptop only work when plugged in a charger?
Due to a bad battery or power supply, a laptop might only function when hooked to a charger. It’s possible that the charging circuitry is damaged and unable to properly charge the battery, or that the battery has degenerated over time and is no longer able to retain a charge. The problem could occasionally also be brought on by software or driver issues. However, a faulty or outdated battery is the most typical culprit. It is advised to identify the problem quickly and fix it to prevent potential damage.
- Can I fix a laptop that can not work without a charger?
Depending on the root of the problem it might cause due to a defective battery here replacing it with a fresh new one is the solution. If a damaged charging circuit or similar hardware issue is to blame, the malfunctioning parts may need to be repaired or replaced. It’s crucial to identify the underlying source of the problem before making any repairs by examining the battery’s condition, keeping track of consumption, and carrying out maintenance checks. To make sure they are current, you may also try updating the drivers and software on your laptop.
- How do we identify the real charger of our laptops?
By checking the charger for a label or consulting the instructions in your laptop’s instruction manual, you may determine which charger is the genuine article. The label on the charger should include the manufacturer, model number, input/output voltage, and amperage ratings. To prevent harming the battery or power system, it’s crucial to use the right charger for your laptop. Always purchase it from a reputable source, such as the manufacturer or an authorized store.
- How I can reset my laptop battery?
Resetting a laptop battery can help recalibrate the battery gauge and improve battery performance. Proceed with the following procedure to reset your laptop battery.
“Turn off your laptop and unplug the charger from the wall outlet and the laptop > Remove the battery from your laptop > Press and hold the power button for 30 seconds > Reinsert the battery into your laptop > Plug the charger back into the wall outlet and your laptop > Turn on your laptop and let it charge fully without interruption”.