Symptoms
- Charger works but charging is unusually slow
- Battery percentage may even drop while using the laptop despite being plugged in
- Charger brick is noticeably smaller/lower-rated than the original
- Charging is fine when the laptop is idle but not under load
Likely causes
- CommonCharger wattage below the laptop's requirementA 45W charger on a 65–90W laptop will charge slowly or only while idle.
- CommonUsing a phone or tablet charger by mistakeThese are typically far below what a laptop needs.
- PossibleCharger correctly rated but degraded with ageAn old charger can lose efficiency and effectively underperform its rating.
What to do
- Find your laptop's required wattage, usually printed on the bottom of the original charger or in the laptop's specifications.
- Compare that to the wattage printed on the charger you're currently using.
- If underpowered, avoid heavy tasks (gaming, video editing) while charging, since the laptop will draw more than the charger supplies.
- Replace the charger with one rated at or above the laptop's original wattage for reliable, full-speed charging.
- For USB-C laptops, confirm the replacement supports Power Delivery (PD) at the needed wattage, not just standard USB output.
Tools and parts
- None required
Correct-wattage laptop chargerSearch: “[laptop model] charger wattage watts”
When to call a pro
This is a simple mismatch to correct by buying the right charger, not something that needs repair.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.