Your laptop was running low on battery, so you plugged in the charger – but it still isn't charging? There can be several causes, and you can definitely fix at least one of them yourself.
Drain the residual power
If you've plugged the charger into your laptop and the charging light hasn't come on at all (it's usually next to the power socket or somewhere else on the laptop's casing), and the operating system isn't showing that the laptop is charging via the notification icon in the taskbar either, here's a simple trick to fix the problem:
- Unplug the charger and disconnect all devices connected to the laptop
- Remove the battery. If your laptop has a built-in battery, skip to the next step
- Press and hold the power button for 30 seconds to drain any residual power from the laptop's motherboard
- Put the battery back in
- Plug the charger into the laptop
- Switch the laptop on If the trick worked and your laptop is charging normally, job done. Remember these steps so you can repeat them if the same problem comes back.
What to do if that didn't work
If the steps above didn't help, the problem is a bit more serious. The most likely cause is a faulty charger. If you own a multimeter and know how to use it, plug the charger into the mains and measure the connector that goes into the laptop. It should usually read around 12-20V (you'll find the exact value printed on the charger). If you get nowhere near that value, or no reading at all, the charger is faulty and will need replacing. You can buy a non-original one for just a few hundred crowns. It can be tricky to identify exactly the right compatible charger in online shops (there are hundreds of types), so feel free to get in touch – we'll be happy to supply the right one for you.
If the charger isn't the problem, though, the fault lies inside the laptop.
Faulty power connector
If the problem isn't caused by residual power or a faulty charger, the next most common fault is a damaged laptop power connector. Sometimes it simply wears out over the years; other times it's helped along by rough handling of the laptop while it's charging.
The power connector can be desoldered from the motherboard and a new one soldered in its place. Understandably, this isn't something you're likely to manage at home. We recommend bringing your laptop to us or sending it via our free courier pickup from anywhere in Czechia. We'll sort the problem out with ease.
Faulty power circuits on the laptop's motherboard
If you send us your laptop for diagnostics because you suspect a faulty power connector, we may occasionally have to call you with the bad news that the connector is fine and the problem lies elsewhere. Sometimes components on the motherboard itself fail, and when a laptop won't charge, the likely culprit is faulty power circuitry. This is one of the most demanding repairs, as it involves soldering tiny components on the laptop's motherboard. However, we're fully trained and equipped for these problems too, so we can fix them. A repair like this costs more, but don't worry – in most cases it's still well worth it. Don't hesitate to get in touch.