How to Fix It When Your Windows 10 Laptop Battery Is Not Charging

Why Windows 10 reports a low battery while charging

By
Jon Martindale
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Jon Martindale
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    Jon Martindale has been a feature tech writer for more than 10 years. He's written for publications such as Digital Trends, KitGuru, and ITProPortal.
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    Updated on June 12, 2020
    Working From Home

    A PC is useless without power, so it can be frustrating when a laptop charger stops working. If your Windows 10 laptop battery is not charging even while plugged into a power source, there are a few potential causes and solutions.

    Instructions in this article apply broadly to all Windows 10 PCs regardless of the manufacturer.

    Windows 10 Power Troubleshooter

    Causes of a Windows 10 Battery Not Charging

    Reasons why a Windows 10 laptop is not charging include:

    • The charging cable might be damaged.
    • The internal battery could be damaged.
    • A specific driver could be corrupt.
    • The power outlet could be turned off.

    How to Fix Battery Not Charging in Windows 10

    If your laptop is plugged in and powered on, but it's still not charging even though the battery is low, try these steps to get it charged up again.

    If you suspect that the laptop battery is defective (particularly if it's overheated, distended, or smells funny), disconnect it immediately. Damaged batteries can leak or explode.

    1. Use a different charger and plug. Try another laptop charger if you have one handy. Also, try a different power socket. If you find the problem lies with the cable, you can try to fix the broken charger.

      If your device is under warranty, contact the manufacturer to have the charger repaired or replaced.

    2. Run a Windows 10 Battery Report. Windows 10 has a Battery Report function that tells you a lot about the health of the laptop's battery. It can also nudge you in the right direction for fixing problems.

    3. Run the Windows 10 Battery Troubleshooter. Windows 10 has several built-in troubleshooting tools that identify and fix problems, including battery issues. To use it, go to Settings > Update & Security > Power (in the Troubleshoot section) > Run the Troubleshooter.

    4. Remove the battery. Most modern laptops don't let you remove the battery, but if yours does, there's a trick you can try that sometimes resets the charging process.

      Remove the battery, unplug the charger, then press and hold the power button for 15 seconds. This resets the internal CMOS of the laptop, which can kick it out of whatever non-charging loop it's stuck in.

    5. Reinstall the Microsoft Battery Control Method driver. Sometimes a particular driver that manages the charging process can become corrupted following a crash or Windows update, and the only way to get it working again is to force Windows to reinstall it.

      Removing the back panel of the laptop and manually removing the battery contacts will likely void your warranty, so skip this step if your device is still under warranty.

    6. Perform a Windows System Restore. If you think a Windows update or some other software installation caused the laptop to not charge, roll it back. The Windows 10 built-in system restore function reverts a PC to how it was before an update. A system restore can fix battery charging issues.

    7. Reset Windows 10. If none of the above fixes work, but you're sure the charger isn't faulty, and the battery isn't dead, reset Windows to its factory settings.

      Resetting Windows to factory settings erases all personal data and software on a computer, so back up the files you want to keep.

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