Laptop Battery and Charging Help: Settings, Habits and Fixes

In short

This tutorial covers laptop battery and charging basics: how to tell whether a laptop is charging, what to check when it won’t charge or won’t turn on, and the settings and habits that make a battery last. Most charging problems come from the charger, the cable, the outlet or a power setting. Safety comes first: a swollen, very hot or damaged battery or charger means stop using it.

Before you start

Safety first. Stop using the laptop and unplug it if you notice any of these: the case bulging or the touchpad lifting, a burning smell, smoke, crackling, the charger becoming too hot to hold, or a damaged cable. Don’t try to open the laptop or remove a built-in battery. Contact the laptop maker or a qualified repair service.

Find out how your laptop charges. Some use a round barrel connector, many newer laptops charge through a USB-C port (often marked with a charging symbol), and MacBooks use USB-C or a MagSafe connector. Not every USB-C port on a laptop accepts charging, and a phone charger is usually too weak to charge a laptop properly.

Key terms

• Charger (power adapter): the brick and cable that supply power. Each has a power rating in watts, printed on it.
• USB-C Power Delivery: the standard that lets USB-C chargers safely supply laptop-level power.
• Battery saver / Energy saver: a Windows setting that reduces background activity to stretch battery life. Recent Windows 11 versions call it Energy saver.
• Battery health: how much charge the battery can hold compared with when it was new. All batteries wear gradually.
• Charge cycle: using the equivalent of one full battery’s worth of charge, possibly across several partial charges.

Lesson 1: when the laptop won’t charge

1. Look for the charging light, which is often near the power socket or on the front edge, and check the battery icon on the taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (Mac). A plug or lightning symbol means it’s charging.
2. Check every connection: the charger into the wall, the cable into the power brick (many are two pieces), and the plug into the laptop.
3. Try a different wall outlet, without a power strip or extension lead.
4. Inspect the cable and plug for damage, and gently check the laptop’s charging port for dust or lint. Don’t poke anything metal into the port.
5. For USB-C charging, try the other USB-C port, and make sure you’re using the laptop’s own charger or one rated for laptops. Windows may show a message such as “slow charger” if the charger is too weak.
6. Restart the laptop with the charger connected.

Checkpoint: the charging indicator should appear within a minute or two. If it shows “plugged in, not charging” on Windows, the laptop maker’s battery software may be limiting charge on purpose; check its settings or the maker’s support site.

Lesson 2: when the laptop won’t turn on

1. Connect the charger and leave it for at least half an hour. A fully empty battery may need time before the laptop will start.
2. Unplug accessories such as USB drives, docks and external screens.
3. Press the power button once firmly. If nothing happens, press and hold it for around ten seconds, release it, then press it once more. This resets a laptop that’s stuck in a frozen state.
4. Listen and look for signs of life: a fan, a keyboard light, or a charging light. If there are signs but the screen stays black, try the brightness keys, or connect an external monitor to see whether the screen is the problem.

Checkpoint: if the laptop starts, let it charge fully and install updates. If there are no signs of life with a known good charger, contact the laptop maker.

Lesson 3: make the battery last longer

1. Lower screen brightness. The screen is one of the biggest power users. Use the brightness keys or quick settings.
2. Use battery saving. Our tour of Windows Settings shows where power options live. On Windows 11, open Settings > System > Power & battery, and turn on Battery saver or Energy saver, or set it to come on automatically at a level you choose. On a Mac, open System Settings > Battery and turn on Low Power Mode when needed.
3. Check what uses power. Windows shows Battery usage per app on the Power & battery page. Close or update apps that use a lot.
4. Close unused browser tabs and apps and disconnect devices you aren’t using, such as a USB drive. Our tutorial on a computer running slow shows how to find apps working in the background.
5. Keep it cool. Heat shortens battery life. Use the laptop on a hard surface, and don’t leave it in a hot car.
6. Use the built-in battery care features. MacBooks offer Optimized Battery Charging, and many Windows laptops include maker software that can stop charging before full when the laptop is usually plugged in. Look for these in System Settings > Battery or the maker’s app.

Check that it worked

Charge to full, unplug, and use the laptop as normal for an hour with your new settings, then compare the remaining charge with what you’d usually see. On a Mac, System Settings > Battery shows Battery Health. On Windows, the laptop maker’s app often shows battery health too.

If something goes wrong

• The battery drains much faster than it used to: check Battery usage for a misbehaving app, update Windows or macOS and the laptop maker’s software, and check battery health; an old battery may need replacing by the maker or a qualified service.
• It charges only when the laptop is off: the charger may be underpowered; use the original charger or one with the same or higher rating that the maker supports.
• USB-C charging stops working: see Microsoft’s USB-C troubleshooting page in Official documentation, and try a charger and cable you know work with laptops.
• The battery percentage jumps around: install updates and restart; if it continues, contact the laptop maker.
• The case is bulging or the laptop smells hot: stop using it, unplug it and contact the maker. Don’t charge it again.

FAQ

Is it bad to leave my laptop plugged in all the time?

Modern laptops manage charging to protect the battery, and many offer settings that limit charging when you’re usually plugged in. Using those features and keeping the laptop cool are the most helpful steps.

Can I use a phone charger for my laptop?

A USB-C phone charger may charge some laptops very slowly or not at all, especially while they’re in use. Use the laptop’s charger or one rated for laptops that the maker supports.

How long should a laptop battery last?

It depends on the laptop, how it’s used and how old the battery is. All batteries gradually hold less charge; checking battery health helps you see when it’s worn.

Should I let the battery run down to empty?

No. Today’s laptop batteries don’t need to be fully emptied. Regular partial charging is fine, and storing a laptop for a long time works best with the battery about half charged.