Windows 11 Laptop won't turn on unless plugged in (2024)

If your Windows 11 laptop won’t turn on unless the adapter is connected, this article will help you fix the issue. This issue can occur due to a faulty battery, outdated battery drivers, power issues, etc.

Windows 11 Laptop won't turn on unless plugged in (1)

Windows 11 Laptop won’t turn on unless plugged in

Before you proceed with further troubleshooting steps, we suggest you run the Power troubleshooter. This action will scan your system for common power-related issues. If your Windows 11 Laptop won’t turn on unless plugged in, here are some fixes to help you resolve the issue:

  1. Hard reset your laptop
  2. Check your battery health
  3. Disable Fast Startup
  4. Update or reinstall your battery driver
  5. Roll back your battery driver
  6. Calibrate your laptop battery
  7. Reseat RAM
  8. Update the BIOS
  9. Your battery might be faulty

Let’s start.

1] Hard reset your laptop

The residual charge in capacitors can be one of the possible causes of this problem. In such cases, draining the capacitors’ residual charge can fix the problem. We suggest you perform a hard reset and see if it helps. Use the following steps mentioned below:

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  • Firstly, turn off your laptop completely (if it is turned on).
  • Disconnect the charger and all the peripherals from your laptop.
  • Now, remove the battery. If your laptop has a non-removable battery, you can skip this step.
  • Press and hold the power button for up to 30 seconds.
  • Insert the battery and reconnect the charger.
  • Turn on your laptop and check if it brings any changes.

2] Check your battery health

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It is possible that your laptop’s battery is not working properly. In this case, check your battery health. You can generate a Battery health report with the Power Efficiency Diagnostic Report Tool. This will help you determine whether your laptop battery is working fine or not.

You can also install free battery test software.

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Many computer manufacturing brands provide dedicated software. These tools or software help users keep their systems healthy by installing the required updates. Based on your laptop manufacturer, you can also run a battery health checkup with the help of any of these tools:

  • HP Support Assistant
  • MyASUS app
  • Dell SupportAssist.

3] Disable Fast Startup

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Sometimes Fast Startup can create this problem. Disabling the Fast Startup from the Control Panel can fix this issue. Use the below steps:

  • Open the Control Panel.
  • Click on the Power Options.
  • Click on Choose what power button does and then on Change settings that are currently unavailable.
  • Now, uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended).
  • Click on Save changes.

Read: Laptop battery light blinking while charging in Windows 11

4] Update or reinstall your battery driver

A corrupted or outdated battery driver can create a problem with the battery. Make sure your battery driver is up to date. You can try to reinstall the Battery driver. Follow the steps provided below:

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  • Go to the Device Manager.
  • Expand the Batteries section.
  • Right-click on your battery driver and click on Uninstall device.

To reinstall the battery driver, restart your PC. Your driver will automatically be installed. Also, you can do a Scan for hardware changes to reinstall your battery driver. To do so, click on the Action tab and click on Scan for hardware changes.

You can also download the latest Battery driver from the official website of your laptop manufacturer (if available) and install it.

5] Roll back your battery driver

You can try to roll back your battery driver. Use the following instructions mentioned below:

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  • Go to the Device Manager.
  • Expand the Batteries section.
  • Right-click on your battery driver and select the Properties option.
  • Select the Driver tab.
  • Check if the Roll Back Driver button in your battery driver properties is clickable or not. If yes, click on that button.
  • Follow the on-screen instructions.
  • Restart your computer.

6] Calibrate your laptop battery

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We also suggest you calibrate your laptop battery and see if the issue gets fixed or not.

7] Reseat RAM

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Sometimes, this type of issue occurs due to bad RAM or if the RAM is seated improperly. We suggest you reset your RAM and see if the issue persists. You can also test your RAM health with the help of a built-in Memory Diagnostic Tool.

8] Update the BIOS

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You can also check for BIOS updates. Before updating the BIOS, you need to check the version of BIOS from the System Information or Command Prompt. If an update is available, install it. You can download the latest BIOS update from the official website of your computer manufacturer.

9] Your battery might be faulty

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If you are still facing the same issue after attempting the above solutions, then there is a possibility that your battery is faulty. In this case, we suggest you replace your battery. Before any repairs or replacements, ensure your important files are backed up to avoid data loss. Get professional help to confirm whether your battery is faulty or not.

Related:Windows laptop turns off when unplugged even with new Battery

What are the signs of a dead laptop battery?

If the laptop battery is dead, your laptop will not turn on, unless you connect the charger. To check this, you can run battery health with the help of tools developed by your computer manufacturer (if available) or a third-party battery health checking tool.

How to test a faulty laptop battery?

You can test a faulty laptop battery using two methods. First, check your battery health using the System Diagnostics tool, which is a built-in battery health check feature. The second method is to calibrate your laptop battery.

Read next: Windows Laptop Battery drains in Sleep Mode.

Windows 11 Laptop won't turn on unless plugged in (2024)

FAQs

Why wont my laptop turn on unless the charger is plugged in? ›

The laptop won't turn on without the charger plugged in issue can be caused by wrong power settings. You can fix this issue quickly by running the power troubleshooter and disabling fast startup. Another solution to this problem is to uninstall the Microsoft ACPI battery driver.

Why the laptop is turning on only when plugged in? ›

Clean the battery contacts and the laptop's battery terminals if necessary. Power settings: Check the power settings on your laptop. It's possible that the power plan is set to "Plugged in" mode, which could cause the laptop to not utilize the battery power properly.

Why does my laptop turn off when I unplug the charger? ›

Most likely the battery is dead, and resistive. When the charger is connected, it holds the battery voltage up and it appears to be fully charged. As soon as you unplug, the voltage plummets and the laptop stops working.

How to fix a Windows 11 laptop that won't turn on? ›

Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options and click Startup Repair. This option will fix the most common issues that prevent your computer from loading correctly.

How to fix a laptop that only works when plugged in? ›

Disconnect the power adapter, remove the battery (if it's removable), and hold down the power button for about 15-20 seconds. This will discharge any residual power and reset the power management settings. Then reconnect the battery and power adapter, and try turning on the laptop.

Why is my laptop not starting but the power light is on? ›

If your laptop won't turn on but the power light is on, this could be due to a faulty motherboard or a faulty power supply. If the motherboard is faulty, you may need to replace it or have it repaired. If the power supply is faulty, you may need to replace it or have it repaired.

Why does my laptop need to be plugged in all the time? ›

In conclusion, a balanced approach should be used for laptops, with time spent on battery power and time spent plugged into an outlet. Keeping a battery at 100% will shorten its lifecycle, but so will repeated charge/discharge cycles and large discharges.

Why is my laptop fully charged but not turning on? ›

There are a lot of potential causes for a laptop not turning on. These may include a problem with the power adapter, laptop screen, battery, or even a faulty component on the motherboard.

Why does my Gateway laptop only turn on when plugged in? ›

Faulty Battery

If the laptop only powers up when plugged into the charger, regardless of how long the device has charged, then the battery is faulty. You can Replace your device's battery this guide.

How to reset laptop battery? ›

Shut down the laptop and disconnect the adapter. Remove the battery and long-press the power button for 30 seconds. Restore the battery and turn it on. Your battery should start working properly.

Is it bad to leave your laptop plugged in all the time? ›

If you leave your laptop plugged in all the time, there's no danger of overcharging the battery. This is because as soon as it hits 100 percent, it will stop charging until the voltage falls below a certain level.

Why does my laptop shut down when the battery is fully charged? ›

There are two options: the battery is faulty, or the power conversion circuitry in your laptop is faulty. Batteries can develop faults where they work fine under light load, but a sudden or sustained heavy load can cause them to fail.

Why is my laptop not turning on without a charger? ›

It's possible that the new battery you installed might not be communicating properly with the laptop's BIOS, causing it to only turn on when plugged in. You could try updating your BIOS to see if that resolves the issue.

How do I force my laptop that wont turn on? ›

Unplug the power adapter and remove your laptop's battery or batteries. Once all power sources are gone, hold down your computer's power button for 15 to 30 seconds. Finally, plug the adapter back in, without reinstalling the battery, and try to turn on the machine regularly.

How do I know if my laptop battery is bad Windows 11? ›

Get a detailed battery report in Windows 11

At the command prompt, type powercfg /batteryreport, then press Enter. The battery report will be an HTML file that's stored in a folder on your PC.

Why won't my laptop turn on even though it's charged? ›

It could be anything from a memory issue to a video card problem or processor error. Remove any residual electricity by removing the battery, disconnecting the power adapter, and pressing and holding the power button for 30 seconds. Connect the power adapter again, wait 30 seconds, and then turn on the system.

Why is my Acer laptop not turning on without a charger? ›

There are many reasons why an Acer laptop might not turn on, but the cause is usually one of these three key problems: An issue with the laptop's boot sequence. A problem with the battery or power supply. A hardware failure.

Why is my laptop not starting with battery? ›

If your laptop still doesn't start while on battery but starts when plugged in, the battery itself may be faulty. To fix this, you'll need to replace the battery. If you're sure it is not a battery issue, use the following solutions to fix the problem: Reset Windows default power plans.

How to turn on a laptop without a charger? ›

Car battery and USB-C charging

As long as you've got a USB-C cable on you, you'll be sorted. Plug one end into the laptop and the other into the port, switch on the ignition and voila. Now you'll be able to fire up your laptop and take it for a spin.

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