Why Does My Windows 8 Laptop Show 'Plugged In Not Charging'? Troubleshooting Guide
The message 'plugged in not charging' on your Windows 8 laptop can occur due to several reasons. Here are some common causes and potential solutions to resolve this issue.
Potential Causes and Solutions
Battery Issues
1. Battery Health: The battery may be old or degraded. Check its health using battery diagnostic tools.
2. Remove and Reinsert: If possible, remove the battery, clean the contacts, and reinsert it. This can sometimes resolve connection issues.
Charger Problems
1. Faulty Charger: The charger may be defective. Try using a different charger compatible with your laptop.
2. Connection Issues: Ensure that the charger is properly connected to both the laptop and the power outlet. Check for any damage to the charging cable.
Power Settings
3. Power Management Settings: Sometimes power settings can affect charging. Go to Control Panel Power Options and check your settings.
4. Battery Saver Mode: If enabled, it may prevent charging to conserve battery. Disable it to see if charging resumes automatically.
Driver Issues
5. Outdated Drivers: Check if your battery drivers are up to date. Go to Device Manager and find your battery under Device Manager.
6. Uninstall Drivers: Uninstall the battery drivers and restart your laptop. Windows will reinstall them automatically.
BIOS Settings
7. BIOS Update: An outdated BIOS can cause charging issues. Check the manufacturer’s website for updates.
8. Reset BIOS: Sometimes resetting the BIOS to default settings can help. Refer to the manufacturer’s documentation for steps.
Hardware Issues
9. Motherboard Problems: There might be an issue with the laptop’s motherboard or charging port. These are more serious hardware issues that require professional inspection.
10. Battery Connector: The connection between the battery and the motherboard might be loose or damaged. This could also be a sign that the battery itself is faulty.
Troubleshooting Steps
11. Restart the Laptop: A simple restart can sometimes resolve the issue. Sometimes a fresh start clears temporary glitches.
12. Try Another Outlet: Plug the charger into a different power outlet to rule out outlet issues. Power fluctuations or damaged outlets can affect charging.
13. Check for Updates: Ensure that Windows is up to date. Updates often include bug fixes and performance improvements that can resolve various issues.
Professional Help
If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it might be best to consult a professional technician. They can perform a more in-depth diagnosis and possibly replace faulty components.
Additionally, detecting a weak charge but not enough to actually charge the battery pack suggests that the charger might not be providing the correct power or the laptop might not recognize the charger properly. This could also indicate that the charger is not suitable for your laptop model or the laptop's power consumption is higher than the charger can handle.
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