Most laptop users have experienced problems where the laptops refuse to charge. Often, the user realizes that their laptops only charge when they turn off the system. What do you do in this situation? Is it not a problematic issue? It is a frustrating scenario for the user, especially when they need to perform an immediate task on the laptop.
However, the issue of laptops that only charge when turned off can also be resolved by taking some steps. It is worth stating that a minor fault may lead to more considerable damages and problems; therefore, when you notice any strange behavior in the machine, you should take rapid steps to fix the issue.
If you are also facing the same issue while charging the Laptop, I assure you this article hit the jackpot for you. Let’s first discover where the problem occurred that allowed the laptops to raise the issue while charging.
Laptop Only Charges When Turned Off — The Problem
Every laptop offers different battery timing, making it unique from the others. Also, the period of the battery depends on what type of task you perform on the laptops and how long the exposure you have. Most laptops have a long-hour battery; when fully charged, it can easily last approximately 12 to 13 hours.
Charging the laptop battery does not need any hard and fast rule. They need to plug the charger into the power sources and connect the adapter pin to the laptop. If your laptops only charge when turned off, this article gives you some suggestions and clarification.
The issue is not in the laptops; instead, it can originate from the battery or the power adapter because the battery failed and the charging mechanism of the laptops stopped responding correctly as it does not accept the charge or energy from the battery.
The other factor is that the motherboard allowed the laptops to raise this problem. Whether you have the original charger or a fake charger and face this problem, both have the same issue with their battery; therefore, the laptop’s power adapter has not had enough power to give a charge to the machine.
You often do not know why your laptop behaves like a faculty machine, especially where an issue is in the motherboard. So, any fault in the motherboard might also be problematic.
Possible Faults and Reasons Involved
Before finding ways to fix its charging issue, let’s note the fault that allowed your laptops to only charge when turned off.
- Defective Battery
The first and most common consideration is the defective battery. It is worth stating that the new battery driver can require less electricity than the damaged or outdated battery. It may consume more electric power to charge the laptops. So, that old and damaged battery does not get electricity when the laptop is in a state of its operation because that amount of electrical current is already in use in running the various processes of the machine.
In other words, the battery is unable to compete with available power. However, if the laptop has a removable battery, then you can test the battery by taking it out and switching the laptop on.
- Overheating
Overheating is another factor that prevents the battery from charging when the laptop is switched on. Usually, this problem is prone in old-model laptops, which may have a low-quality cooling fan system. However, Laptops that turn off while charging might take the laptops on the safe side to prevent the battery from overheating.
- Faulty Charger
Sometimes the issue is in the charger —meaning you are using a faulty or fake charger that can not charge your laptops properly. As mentioned earlier, the faulty charger can affect the battery’s performance badly, and other issues of charging the laptop and overheating might be due to the defective charger.
Likely, the charger you can use is not capable of transmitting adequate power to charge the battery when the laptop is operating. Before you strike the charger for being faulty, you should consider whether you are using the correct charger or not.
More Often, the overheating issue can confuse the charging sensor and allow the sensor to conclude that the laptop is fully charged while the scenario is almost the opposite. However, overheating the laptop is not the issue when the laptop is switched off.
Ways To Fix The Problematic Charging Issue
All of you are familiar that when you plug the charger into the power source, the laptop gives you some indicators that it can consume the energy from the source. Indicators may include; hearing a cheerful and short-pitched sound, the most common LED lights, and the laptop’s sudden bright-up display. These are at least significant indicators that your battery is successfully changing.
Most of the time, you might plug the charger into the power source to charge the fully-drained battery, but you still have not received any indicator of a bright screen display, glowing lights, and a charging icon. It seems that some malfunction is happening.
You can charge and take care of your laptop battery in several ways. But several parts and steps can go wrong between the laptop and the power source. But, it can be fixed because you know that there is an issue with the battery or the charger, so that also saves your hours of being frustrated.
Also, the inside–out strategy will help the user to determine the causes and the solution to the problem. Let’s dive into the issue of why laptops only charge when you turn off the laptop.
- Check Your Laptop’s Battery
The second way is to check the integrity of the battery— the damage the battery has sustained. It is easy to check the battery’s integrity when the laptop has a removable battery. Follow the below process:
Take the battery out and drain any of the remaining power from the battery by holding the power button for about 15 minutes. After that, connect the laptop to the power source without a battery and turn on the laptop. If, after the battery removal, the laptop is successfully turned on, then it is confirmed that the issue is in the laptop battery. So, the need is to re-install the laptop battery.
However, this is poorly fitted when the laptop battery is not visible, whereas easy when the laptop has visible compartments.
- You Might Need To Change The Charger
You should use a charger that is powerful enough to charge the battery. A perfectly fitted charger does not mean that it is powerful to charge the battery. This usually happens with any laptop charger, but it is generally with laptops that have offered a USB-C charger for the battery problem in laptops, for example; a laptop showed a USB-PD charger, but there is a lack of wattage, which is vital for the proper charging of the laptop.
Therefore, Always check that the laptop charger has the exact wattage. For instance, if the charger has an actual wattage of 45W, stick to a charger of 45W. If the charger has a lower wattage, it only charges the battery and prevents the battery from being drained while using the laptop. Instead, it does not offer laptops with high battery charging.
Furthermore, low-quality and no-brand chargers are also dangerous. So, always prefer to use the manufacturer’s original charger. If you use a third-party charger, make sure it is USB-IF certified. Above all, it is better to use the original charger and avoid fake and third-party chargers.
- Confirm The USB-C Port
Today, most of the laptop’s ports are designed on the USB C standards, as it is easy for the user to charge the battery efficiently and transfer data. Usually, Laptops are designed the 2 USB C-specific ports — one is designed with specific USB C ports for transferring the data while the other ports are for charging the battery. So, check again, are you connecting the charger to the concerned port or not? If not, then reconnect it in the same port. To avoid misconception, you should also see the icon on the charging port.
- 2B issue – Burnout And Breaks
However, burn and breaks damage the battery credibility and thus the performance of the laptops. Let’s discuss what types of breaks and burnout affect the battery. So, if you face any of the below damages, take immediate steps to fix them.
- Checking the power cord by flexing and bending it, if the power cord or the power adapter has any kinks and breaks.
- Also, check the cable thoroughly. Is there any loose, cut, or damage in the cable adapter?
- Check the AC brick. Are you see any discoloration in the AC adapter? The better is to change the adapter.
- Never try to adjust the power cord according to your packability because the wrapped and shapeless cable also lowers the chance of getting energy from the cable properly.
- Sniff the power code for any possible smell of burnt plastic.
- Check The Connector
As all of us know, the charger has two connections: the charger pin connected to the charging port and the adapter power connected to the slot. Make sure that your connection is solid.
However, if the connection port is not clean, it also creates problems while charging. In case of dust or debris, Clean the jack with the help of a toothpick. The wobbly and loose jack is an indication of a defective jack. Also, the battery performance is unsatisfactory when the jack is broken inside and needs to be repaired.
Final Thoughts
With this blog post, I tried to offer you the best possible ways to fix the laptop that only charges when turned off. Assumably, the root causes are the laptop charger and faulty battery. Suppose the hard struggle doesn’t end the problem. Probably, there is a chance that the issue is in the particular laptop model. So, in these circumstances seek professional support. However, you can turn off the laptop for charging because it can prevent your laptop from overheating. Hence, it proves to be a safe approach.
FAQs — Laptops Only Charge When Turned Off
- Is it an excellent mechanism to charge the laptop when turned off?
Yes, it is the best and safe mechanism as it eliminates the issue of overheating. Also, it consumes the power from the source rapidly.
- How much time does the laptop take to charge the battery fully?
It depends on the laptop’s capability and the battery’s capacity power. However, every laptop has different in terms of its ability and capacity. Generally speaking, laptops take 45 minutes to charge fully, and depleted batteries will take an hour.
- Why does the computer stop charging when plugged in?
The laptop is usually plugged into the power source but does not consume power due to the damaged cord. Looked and grabbed the entire cord length to see if any damage affected the laptop’s charging.
