Symptoms
- Message explicitly says 'slow charging' or 'low power charger connected'
- Battery percentage rises much slower than expected
- Message appears with a specific third-party or borrowed charger
- Original charger doesn't trigger the same warning
Likely causes
- CommonCharger wattage below what the laptop needs for full-speed chargingA lower-wattage charger can still charge, just more slowly.
- CommonUsing a phone or tablet charger instead of a laptop-rated onePhone chargers typically max out well below what laptops need.
- PossibleA USB-C hub or dock limiting pass-through powerCharging through a hub can bottleneck the wattage that reaches the laptop.
- PossibleNon-certified charger not fully compatible with the laptop's charging protocolSome laptops are picky about recognizing non-original chargers at full power.
What to do
- Check the wattage rating on the charger you're using against your laptop's required wattage, found on the original charger or in the manual.
- Switch to the laptop's original charger, or one explicitly rated for laptop charging, and see if the message disappears.
- If charging through a hub or dock, connect the charger directly to the laptop instead to test.
- Reduce laptop workload while charging with an underpowered charger, since heavy use can outpace the slow charge rate.
- Buy a charger rated at or above the wattage of your laptop's original adapter if you need a permanent replacement.
Tools and parts
- None required
Laptop-rated USB-C PD charger matching required wattageSearch: “USB-C PD charger 65W 90W 100W laptop”
When to call a pro
This usually isn't a fault to repair, just a mismatch to fix by using an appropriately rated charger.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.