Windows 11 Battery Not Charging: Plugged In, Not Charging

You plug the laptop in, the battery icon shows the plug, and the percentage does not move, or even goes down. A Windows 11 battery not charging problem can be a deliberate battery-care feature, a charger that is not up to the job, a software glitch or a worn-out battery. The fixes are very different, so this guide starts by reading what Windows is telling you, then works from the cheapest checks to the ones that point to a repair.

The steps apply to laptops and tablets on Windows 11 version 24H2, 25H2 and 26H2.

Step 1: Read the battery icon

Hover over or select the battery icon on the taskbar. Three messages are common:

What you see	What it means	What to do
A heart on the icon, “Fully Smart charged”	Smart charging has stopped charging on purpose, possibly below 100%	Nothing, unless you need a full charge today
“Charging slowly or discharging”	The charger or cable is not supplying enough power	Check the charger (Step 3)
“Plugged in, not charging” with no heart	Charging is paused for another reason	Check maker settings, driver and battery (Steps 2, 4, 5)

Step 2: Smart charging and battery-care settings

Microsoft explains that some device makers turn on Smart charging in Windows 11. When it is active, a heart appears on the battery icon and in Power & battery settings, and hovering shows “Fully Smart charged”: the battery is not charging even though the PC is plugged in, and the level may be below 100% to keep the battery healthier over time.

Many makers also offer a charge limit, often around 80 percent, in their own app or in the firmware. Microsoft says to check the device manufacturer’s website for how to turn Smart charging off on your model, since each maker implements it differently. If your laptop lives on a desk plugged in, leaving these features on is good for the battery.

Step 3: Check the charger, cable and port

Microsoft’s page on slow charging lists the usual culprits:

• Incompatible charger. Some laptops only charge properly with the maker’s own charger.
• Underpowered charger. Microsoft’s example: a PC that needs 12V and 3A will not charge well from a 5V, 3A charger. A phone charger often keeps a laptop alive at best.
• Wrong port. Plug into the port marked for charging; on some laptops only one USB-C port accepts power.
• Inadequate cable. The cable must support the power the charger and laptop need; a thin phone cable may not.

Also:

1. Plug the charger directly into the laptop, not through a dock or hub.
2. Try a different wall socket, and check the charger’s light if it has one.
3. Inspect the port for dust or damage. For Surface and USB-C devices, Microsoft suggests cleaning the port carefully.
4. If you have a known-good charger of the right type, test with it.

Microsoft also notes that charging is faster while the PC is asleep or off. For USB-C specifics, see Microsoft’s Fix USB-C problems page.

Step 4: Restart, update and reinstall the battery driver

Software can stop Windows from talking to the battery’s charge controller.

1. Restart the laptop (Start > Power > Restart, not just shut down).
2. Update: install everything in Settings > Windows Update, including optional driver updates, and check the PC maker’s site for BIOS/UEFI and firmware updates. Battery and charging behaviour is often fixed in firmware.
3. Reinstall the battery driver:
   • Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
   • Expand Batteries.
   • Right-click Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery and select Uninstall device. Do not tick the option to delete the driver software.
   • Select Action > Scan for hardware changes, then restart.

Microsoft’s Surface guidance uses the same driver step, with one exception it calls out: on Surface Pro X, do not remove the battery driver. If your PC maker has its own guidance, follow it.

Step 5: Check whether the battery is worn

Batteries lose capacity with age, and a worn battery may stop charging or drop suddenly. Run a battery report:

powercfg /batteryreport

Open the HTML file it creates and compare Full charge capacity with Design capacity. A large gap means the battery is worn; see our battery report guide for how to read it. Settings > System > Power & battery also shows battery usage and level history.

Step 6: Heat

Many laptops pause charging when the battery is too hot, to protect it. If the laptop is warm, on a bed or a cushion, or busy with a game while charging, let it cool on a hard surface. See Windows 11 laptop overheating.

Charging when the laptop is off

A useful test is to shut the laptop down completely and charge it for half an hour. Microsoft notes that charging is faster while the PC is asleep or off. If it charges while off but not while running, the laptop may be using more power than the charger supplies, which points to an underpowered charger or a heavy workload; see Windows 11 high CPU usage. If it does not charge even when off, Windows is not the cause: suspect the charger, the port or the battery.

Note what the charging light on the laptop does, if it has one. Many makers use different light patterns for charging, fully charged and battery faults, explained in the manual.

When it is a hardware fault

Contact the PC maker or a repair shop if:

• the battery icon shows no battery detected,
• the battery is swollen, the case bulges or the touchpad lifts (stop using it immediately),
• a known-good charger and every step above make no difference, or
• the battery report shows severe wear.

Do not buy unbranded replacement batteries or chargers from unknown sellers. For draining rather than charging problems, see Windows 11 battery drain, and Windows 11 energy saver helps stretch the battery you have.