Laptop Plugged In But Not Charging?
It's a frustrating sight: you plug your laptop in, but the battery icon stays empty, or worse, the laptop won't turn on at all. Whether it's a dead battery, a faulty charger, or a blown chip on the motherboard, we have the tools to fix it in Leeds.
Is It The Battery, Charger, or Motherboard?
"Plugged in, not charging" is one of the most common error messages Windows users see. But what does it actually mean? It means your laptop detects the power adapter, but electricity isn't reaching the battery cells.
Before you rush out and buy a generic battery from Amazon or a cheap charger from eBay, it's crucial to know exactly what is broken. A new battery won't charge if your motherboard's charging circuit is fried. A new charger won't work if your DC jack is snapped internally.
At Leeds Computer & Laptop Repairs, we stop the guesswork. We use professional Fluke multimeters and DC power supplies to test every link in the power chain, from the wall socket right down to the microscopic MOSFET chips on your mainboard.
Common Causes of Power Failure
1. Faulty Power Adapter (Charger)
Chargers take a beating. They get kicked, coiled too tightly, and dropped. Often, the cable breaks internally near the strain relief (the rubber bit near the plug). The charger might still output 19V, but without the "Sense" signal, the laptop enters safety mode and refuses to charge the battery. We can test this in 30 seconds at our Leeds shop.
2. Dead or Degrading Battery
Lithium-ion batteries have a limited lifespan, typically 300 to 500 charge cycles (about 2-3 years). If your battery shows "0% available (plugged in)" or suddenly drops from 40% to 0%, the internal cells have likely collapsed. Swelling batteries (making the trackpad bulge) are dangerous and need immediate removal.
3. Motherboard Charging Circuit Failure
This is the tricky one. If your charger and battery are fine, the issue lies on the motherboard. A small component called the "Charging IC" (Integrated Circuit) or a "MOSFET" may have shorted out. This prevents power from switching between the AC adapter and the battery. We specialize in board-level repairs to replace these tiny chips.
The Leeds Repair Process
We employ a systematic approach to power diagnostics to save you money. We never assume; we verify.
- Step 1: Charger Test. We use our workshop test units to confirm if your charger is providing the correct voltage and amperage.
- Step 2: Battery Health Check. Using software diagnosing tools and hardware testers, we read the battery's design capacity vs. full charge capacity.
- Step 3: DC Jack Inspection. We examine the charging port under a microscope for cracked solder joints or broken center pins.
- Step 4: Circuit Analysis. If all above fail, we disassemble the laptop and trace the voltage rails on the motherboard to find the blown component.
Why Choose Local Leeds Experts?
Big chain stores will often tell you to "replace the motherboard" for £300+ or buy a new laptop. We are component-level engineers.
If a 50p capacitor is stopping your £1000 laptop from charging, we will find it and replace just that capacitor. We believe in repair, not replacement.
- Headingley Workshop: Easy parking, no city centre traffic.
- Fast Turnaround: Batteries and chargers in stock for Dell, HP, Lenovo.
- Warranty: 12 months on all battery and board repairs.
Power Issue FAQs
Answers to your battery and charging questions.
How much does a battery replacement cost?
For most standard laptops, a genuine or high-quality OEM replacement battery costs between £45 and £70 fitted. Internal batteries (found in ultra-thin laptops and MacBooks) take longer to fit and are slightly more expensive. We always quote you the total price upfront.
My laptop only works when plugged in. Is this dangerous?
It's generally not dangerous, but it puts your data at risk. If you accidentaly knock the power cable out, the laptop will shut down instantly, potentially corrupting your hard drive or losing unsaved work. It also means your battery is completely dead and should be responsibly recycled.
Can you fix the "Plugged in, not charging" error without parts?
Sometimes, yes! If it's a driver glitch (Microsoft ACPI Compliant Control Method Battery driver), we can uninstall and reinstall the drivers to fix it for a small service fee. However, in our experience, 90% of the time this error indicates a hardware failure with the battery or charger.
Do you calibrate new batteries?
Yes. After installing a new battery, we perform a calibration cycle (fully charge to 100%, discharge to 0%, charge back to 100%) to ensure the Windows battery electronics accurately report the charge level and remaining time.