Laptop not charging

Plugged in, but the battery percentage will not rise, or the laptop dies the moment the charger comes out. The charger is the cheap answer; it is not always the right one.

Likely causes

• Charger. Cable damage near the plug is the most common fault of all.
• Charging socket. Loose, bent or broken away from the motherboard.
• Battery. Worn out and no longer accepting charge.
• Charging circuit. A fault on the motherboard between the socket and the battery.

Try this first

1. Try another wall socket and look along the cable for kinks or exposed wire.
2. Wiggle the plug gently in the laptop: if charging comes and goes, the socket is loose.
3. On USB-C laptops, try the other USB-C port and a charger of the right wattage.

What it costs

A bench diagnostic is £54, deducted from the repair if you go ahead, and you get the price before any work starts. A socket replacement is a routine repair; board-level charging faults are quoted after diagnosis. Send an enquiry, or see the price list.