A few things to try:

  • OEM charger required for proper handshake; third-party may power but not charge.
  • Battery wear level high; charging disabled by firmware thresholds.
  • DC jack or charge controller board partially failing.
  • Embedded controller/BIOS needs an update or reset (power drain reset).

Need help? Check here: /services/repairs/

What it might be (likely causes)#

  • OEM vs third‑party charger mismatch
    Many laptops authenticate their own adapters (Dell/HP/Lenovo). If the brick’s ID line or USB‑C e‑marker isn’t right, the system will run on AC but refuse to charge. Background: USB Power Delivery

  • Battery wear / conservation modes
    High wear level (low Full Charge Capacity) or a vendor battery conservation setting (capping at ~80%) can show “plugged in, not charging.” Check vendor utilities before declaring failure.

  • DC jack or charge path fault
    Loose barrel jack, damaged USB‑C port, or failing charging FET/sense line can allow power‑in but block charge current to the pack.

  • Embedded controller (EC) / BIOS state
    After sleep/hibernation or updates, the EC can get stuck. A full power drain and/or BIOS/EC update often restores charging logic.

For broader charging diagnostics (wattage, cables, EC reset), also see: /posts/why-is-my-laptop-battery-not-charging/

Things to check (quick, safe wins)#

  1. Verify the adapter’s wattage & identity
    Use an OEM‑rated brick (or higher) for your model. On USB‑C, use a PD‑rated, e‑marked cable (60–100 W). If your BIOS shows “Adapter not recognized,” charging will be disabled.

  2. Inspect the port & cable
    Look for wobble, lint, bent pins, or scorching on the DC jack/USB‑C. Clean a USB‑C port gently with a wooden toothpick; avoid metal tools.

  3. Power/EC reset
    Shut down → unplug AC → if removable, take out the battery → hold the power button 15–20 seconds. Reconnect AC and boot. Some models have a tiny reset pinhole on the bottom—press it per the manual.

  4. Check wear and policies

    • Windows: run powercfg /batteryreport and open the HTML to compare Design Capacity vs Full Charge Capacity.
    • Vendor apps (Lenovo Vantage, Dell Power Manager, ASUS, etc.) may have Conservation/Battery Care modes that cap charge at 60–80%. Toggle off to test.

  5. BIOS/UEFI & EC update
    Install the latest stable BIOS/EC firmware. Some updates explicitly fix adapter recognition or charge thresholds. Prep checklist before firmware work: /posts/prepare-for-computer-repair/

  6. Try a known‑good adapter/cable
    If possible, test with an identical OEM adapter. If it starts charging immediately, your original brick or cable is at fault.

  7. Observe behavior on AC‑only (if possible)
    On models with removable batteries, run on AC with the battery out. Stable operation here but refusal to charge with the battery installed points to the battery or charge path.

  8. USB‑C port roulette
    Some laptops charge on one USB‑C port only. Try all USB‑C ports and both cable orientations.

Patterns that point to the cause#

  • “Adapter not recognized” in BIOS → non‑OEM brick/cable or jack/ID‑line issue.
  • Stuck at exactly 60–80% → vendor conservation mode active.
  • Runs fine on AC, won’t increase % → worn battery or failed charge FET.
  • Charges on OEM but not third‑party → PD negotiation/ID mismatch.
  • Charges after EC reset, then fails again → firmware/EC quirk; update time.

For aging‑hardware context and when to retire parts, see: /posts/top-problems-10-year-old-pcs/

When to pause and get hands‑on help#

  • DC jack is loose or shows heat damage.
  • Battery is swollen (chassis bulge, wonky trackpad)—power down and replace safely.
  • BIOS won’t recognize any adapter and resets don’t help (board‑level charge circuit).
    A bench test with a lab power source, jack inspection, and known‑good adapters separates charger, jack, battery, and board quickly.

Insight#

“Plugged in, not charging” is the firmware protecting your battery and board when the negotiation isn’t right. Think of charging as a contract: identity + wattage + healthy cells + sane EC. If any clause fails, charging halts. Verify the adapter, clean the physical path, reset the controller, and then judge the battery by its numbers—not by the icon.

Need precise charging diagnostics, jack repair, or a safe battery swap in Kirksville?
See /services/repairs/.