In this post I explain how to troubleshoot laptop battery charging problems. I will list most common battery failure examples and suggest some troubleshooting steps.
Example 1.
Laptop detects the battery but shuts off when AC adapter unplugged.
When you move the cursor arrow over the battery icon while the laptop is connected to AC adapter, it show the remaining battery charge and says “charging”.
The batter power meter utility (if available) also shows that battery is connected and charging.
But… as soon as you unplug the AC adapter, the laptop shuts off completely.
Possible problems:
1. The battery not seated correctly. Try reconnecting the battery.
2. The battery contacts got dirty or oxidized and the battery is not making good connection with the motherboard. Try reconnecting the battery a few times.
3. If reconnecting the battery doesn’t help, most likely the battery is bad and has to be replaced.
4. If you replaced the battery but the problem still exists, this is motherboard related failure. Apparently the battery charging circuit has failed. In this case the whole motherboard has to be replaced (or repaired on component level).
Example 2.
The battery not detected by the laptop.
The battery is installed and you know it’s connected correctly but there is a red cross on the battery icon.
If you move the cursor arrow over the battery icon, it says “no battery detected”.
Possible problems:
1. Most likely the battery is bad. You have a very good chance to fix this problem by replacing the battery.
2. If replacing the battery doesn’t help, this is motherboard related failure. The motherboard has to be replaced (or repaired on component level).
Example 3.
The battery discharges very quickly after it reaches some critical point.
The battery detected by the laptop and charges properly to 100%.
When you unplug the AC adapter, it take normal time to discharge until some critical point (let’s say 80%) but after that the battery discharges very quickly to 0%.
Possible problems:
This is battery related failure. The battery is bad and has to be replaced.
Example 4.
The battery charges only if the power plug positioned correctly.
You have to wiggle the power plug in order to charge the battery. After you find the right position, the battery charges properly.
Possible problems:
1. AC adapter failure. The AC adapter power cable is damaged. You can test your AC adapter with a voltmeter.
2. If the AC adapter works fine, most likely this is power jack (connector where you plug power adapter) failure. In this case the power jack has to be replaced.
In some laptop models the power jack is not soldered to the motherboard, it’s attached to a power harness.
In this case, you can unplug the failed power jack from the motherboard and replace it with a new one.
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November 17th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
@ julio,
As I mentioned in the previous comment, test your laptop AC adapter.
It’s possible the adapter failed.
November 16th, 2011 at 9:08 pm
Thank you for responding. The laptop turns on when you press bottom, but just for a very short time , you can hear going but then stop. Screen is blank at all time while starting.
November 16th, 2011 at 11:32 am
@ julio,
It’s not very clear if the laptop turns on at all. What happens when you push on the power button? Does the laptop start at all?
By the way, you can test the AC adapter with a voltmeter.
It’s possible the AC adapter is dead and the battery doesn’t have enough charge to start the laptop.
November 15th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
Hi I have a laptop compaq v5000. I have a blank screen when I turned on. But I dont se the charging ligth on the front of laptop. It sound like is going but then you hear it stop. The ac adapter has been conected for a year. I never disconected because battery is no good.could it be that ac adapter is burn.
because i notice is very hot
November 15th, 2011 at 10:32 am
@ Megs,
This could be just simple AC adapter failure. It’s possible the AC adapter went bad and the laptop stopped charging the battery after that.
Now you cannot turn it on because the battery doesn’t have enough charge.
First, I would test the AC adapter. You can do it with a multimeter.
Alternatively, you can test the laptop with another compatible AC adapter.
November 15th, 2011 at 7:41 am
I have a Gateway laptop that is exactly 2 yrs old. I was having this problem at first where it would basically say it wasn’t charging and I’d have to keep it plugged in. One day it just unexpectedly powered off and wouldn’t power back on. If I push the power button it makes noises as if it’s about to power up and lights come on but then it just powers off after about 8-10 seconds. Any ideas of what this might be? I’m hoping it’s a cheap fix because I can’t afford a new laptop at the moment. I’ve been told so many different things I don’t even know where to begin to diagnose the problem. Any help would be MUCH APPRECIATED!!! Thanks!
November 13th, 2011 at 11:54 am
@ vienne,
Could be bad battery.
November 12th, 2011 at 7:23 pm
When I plug my toshiba laptop in to charge, it says that it’s charging, even though the power stays at 4%. It’s a new charger, so that shouldn’t be the problem, but what else might it be? Is there any simple way this could be remedied?
November 11th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
@ David V.
Could be just failed LED lamp.
November 11th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
Hi. My laptop charges correctly, but the battery charge light does not turn on. Any reason for this?