Why is my Laptop Charger slow and how to fix it?

Using a laptop for a significant amount of time allows one to realize the optimum charging speed for it. Usually, this speed can vary anywhere from one to two hours. A full battery should last anywhere from one to ten hours.

If the laptop charger is taking unusually long to charge the laptop, there may be various reasons for it. These reasons can include the following:

The battery of your laptop is damaged or old
The charger is not compatible with the laptop
The charger might be from different manufacturing company
The charger is not powerful enough
The charger is not connected properly to the charging port on your laptop

There is an abundance of solutions that can fix the issue that you are having. And based on which particular issue you’re having we’ll discuss some of them within this article.

How to fix a slow laptop charger?

If you’re facing any of the problems that we’ve mentioned above then you’re sort of in luck. This is because these issues are extremely easy to fix and you should have your laptop charging at full speed once again.

Throughout the following we list down several methods and checks you can do to improve or fix your laptop’s charging speed.

Check your Battery

There are certain applications or tools available online which can be used on the laptop to assess battery health. If they show that the battery’s health is not optimal, the users may need to replace the battery on their laptop.

To assess the battery life of your laptop, you can follow the PowerShell option that has been detailed in the following section:

Click the Start menu on your laptop.
Search for PowerShell and then click on the PowerShell option that appears.
Once it appears, type the following command: powercfg /batteryreport.
Press Enter, which will generate a report that includes information on your battery health.
Search for the folder in your user accounts directory with the name: C:\Users[YourUsername] to access the report.

Based on the results of your report you will be provided various options to optimize your battery usage and charging. If there is a grave error in your laptop battery then we recommend switching it out for a newer version.

Check the Voltage

This check is used to ensure the functionality of a charger. If the laptop’s battery health is fine and the charger is from the right manufacturers, and the charging is still slow, the charger may be faulty.

For this, the user needs to perform a voltage test using a multi-meter or a voltage tester. The manual of the charger would suggest an optimal voltage reading. If the test reveals a voltage reading lower than the one mentioned in the manual, the charger needs to be replaced.

The simplest method of doing so is using the multi-meter. Follow the instructions given ahead to check the voltage that runs through your laptop charger.

Separate the chord attached to the main body of your charger.
Insert one end of the chord to the wall socket and keep the other end disconnected (Earth)
Insert the two rods of the digital multi-meter into the other end of the chord
You will now receive a voltage current amount in amperes on your multi-meter screen

If the voltage value that you received on your multi-meter exceeds or is far lesser than the recommended amount prescribed by the manufacturer of your laptop charger then consider using an inverter to regulate voltage from the main power supply before attaching it to your laptop charger.

Calibrate your Battery

Usually, users do not have a schedule for charging their laptop batteries. This can result in an irregular charging pattern which disrupts the normal battery functions. As such, the user needs to recalibrate their battery.

This can be done by completely discharging the battery. After that is done, the laptop will turn OFF. In this mode, the laptop’s charger should be plugged in long enough for it to charge completely. It is suggested to leave it on charge for a little longer than its usual charging time.

The laptop should, then, be turned on, while still plugged in, to make sure it is fully charged. After that, the user needs to remove the charger to use it. If this fixes the problem, this method should be followed to always charge the laptop.

Hard Reset your laptop battery

The hard reset is only possible with a laptop that has a removable battery. If the user has a device with a removable battery, there may be a chance that being constantly plugged in has caused it to charge slowly.

To perform a hard reset, the user needs to switch off the power of the device. The charger needs to be disconnected and the battery needs to be removed. After this, the power button of the laptop needs to be pressed down for at least half a minute.

The capacitors of the motherboard will discharge, in this manner. Additionally, the memory chips, which had been constantly active will be reset. After this, the battery can be reinserted and the charger should be plugged back in.

Update the BIOS of your laptop

If these things did not work, the user needs to check the BIOS of their laptop. It needs to be updated to the latest version available. If the user does not know how to update the BIOS or check its versions, there are multiple guides on the internet about this specific problem.

Once the BIOS has been updated by the user, this should fix the charging problem. The user needs to go through all of these steps for their laptop if they find that it is charging slowly. If these solutions do not work, the user will need to show their laptop and its charger to a professional.

Note

Brand specificity is an important factor when dealing with electronic devices. If a person’s device such as their laptop is from a certain brand or franchise, their charger should be from the same brand or franchise.

This charger needs to be compatible with their device and it is ideal if the making of the charger is for that version of the laptop. This will provide the user with optimal results in regards to charging their device.

Additionally, if the user requires professional help, they should only take their devices/laptops to specific brand stores/franchises. These items are not only highly particular in their make but they are also very expensive. Their maintenance should not be the site of the user’s stinginess.

If a person/user finds their PC to be charging slowly, they should follow the instructions mentioned above. These instructions are not in any order, which means either one or all of them can help in optimizing the charging speed.

The user should always be mindful of the compatibility of their PC/device with the charger being used. The charging of the device should follow a routine and should not be plugged all the time, as this can reduce its efficacy and the efficacy of the battery and charger, as well.

If these instructions do not prove useless, it is high time for the user to visit a professional for their device.