A dead laptop battery can be a real pain, especially if you can’t seem to get it to charge. Before you panic, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can take to get your Windows 11 laptop charging again.
First, take a look at the charging port. If the charger doesn’t seem to be plugging in all the way, there might be debris blocking the connection. Use a flashlight to inspect the port and carefully remove any obstructions with a non-conductive tool. If dirt is the culprit, you can also clean the metallic contacts inside the port with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol.
Next, try using a different charging cable and charger. If you have a USB-C port, you can swap it out for a power bank or smartphone charger. While this won’t provide the fastest charging speed, it’s a good way to determine if the issue lies with your original charger or cable. For traditional barrel connectors, borrowing a charger from someone with the same laptop is the best bet. Avoid plugging in random chargers, as this could damage your laptop.
Did you know that your laptop battery has its own drivers? While they rarely cause problems, a Windows update or software change could interfere with their functionality. Reinstalling these drivers can resolve charging issues. Open the Device Manager (search for it in Windows) and locate the ‘Batteries’ section. Right-click on each battery item and choose ‘Uninstall device’. Don’t worry, these drivers will be reinstalled automatically when you reboot your laptop. After shutting down your laptop and removing the power cable, hold the power button for 30 seconds. Plug everything back in and power on your laptop. It should now charge as expected.
If reinstalling drivers doesn’t fix the problem, try running a Windows update. Sometimes, updates can include fixes for charging bugs. Reboot your laptop after the updates install and see if the charging issue has been resolved.
If you suspect a recent change caused the problem, try restoring your laptop to a previous state. Use the system restore feature to roll back to a date before the charging issue started.
As a last resort, if your laptop still won’t charge and has some power remaining, consider a factory reset. This will revert your laptop to its original state, potentially resolving software bugs that are causing the charging problem.
By following these steps, you can hopefully get your laptop charging again and back to full functionality. Remember, if none of these solutions work, it’s always best to consult a professional for further diagnosis and repair.
