- Your laptop says "plugged in, not charging"
- The battery won't go above a certain percentage
- The laptop only works when plugged in
- Check the charger's cable for damage. If it's frayed, burnt or very hot, stop using it.
The Windows key is the key with the four-squares logo, usually bottom left between Ctrl and Alt. When a step says Windows key + I, hold the Windows key down, tap I once, then let go of both.
Basic checks
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Try a different wall socket
Plug straight into a wall socket rather than an extension lead, in case the lead or socket is the problem.
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Check both ends are pushed in
Many chargers have a second cable between the brick and the wall that can work loose. Push every connection in firmly. If the charger has a light, check it's on.
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Look inside the charging port
Shine a torch into the laptop's charging port. Fluff and dust build up and stop the plug going in fully. Gently remove it with a wooden toothpick.
Never use anything metal, and switch the laptop off first. -
Do a power reset
Unplug the charger and switch the laptop off. Hold the power button for 30 seconds. Plug the charger back in and switch on.
Stuck at 80% or "not charging"
Many laptops deliberately stop at around 80% to help the battery last longer. This is a feature, not a fault. It's usually in the maker's app: Lenovo Vantage (Conservation mode), Dell Power Manager or Battery settings, HP or ASUS battery care. You can turn it off if you need a full charge.
Check the battery's health
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Create a battery report
Click Start, type cmd and open Command Prompt. Type powercfg /batteryreport and press Enter.
A message saying the report was saved, with a file location. -
Open the report
Press Windows key + E, click your user folder (or go to the location shown) and open battery-report.html. Compare Design capacity with Full charge capacity.
If full charge capacity is much less than about 60% of design capacity, the battery is worn out and won't last long. A replacement battery is often worth it on a laptop that's otherwise good.
USB-C chargers
If your laptop charges through USB-C (a small oval plug), a phone charger usually isn't powerful enough. Look for the watts (W) on the original charger (often 45W, 65W or more) and use one at least that powerful.
- The laptop case is bulging, the touchpad is lifting, or the battery smells or gets hot. Stop using and charging it: a swollen battery can be dangerous
- The charger or plug gets very hot, sparks or smells of burning
- Nothing happens at all with a known good charger
Still stuck? I'm happy to help.
If this didn't sort it, or you'd rather not do it yourself, get in touch. I cover Sheffield S20 and the surrounding areas.
Did this guide help? These guides are free for everyone. If it saved you a call-out, you can say thanks with a coffee.
Buy me a coffeeThese guides are general advice for home users, checked in September 2026. Menus can differ slightly between versions of Windows and between phone makers. If something looks different or you're unsure, stop and ask rather than guessing. Parmar Tech Solutions can't accept responsibility for problems caused by following these steps, so please back up anything important first.