Dell adapter not detected. Plugged in, not charging.

 First thing to try is a new, OEM Dell adapter (or test yours on a system not known to have the issue;  if it works there, or the replacement adapter fails to show up),

Replace the DC jack in the system:

https://www.parts-people.com/index.php?action=item&id=16298

If that doesn't get the adapter recognized, replace the mainboard(motherboard) - it's the charge circuit that's bad (which cannot be replaced separately from the mainboard).

You may also use the "Get Help Now" option at the bottom right to chat with a Dell technician right away.

I just fixed this issue last night with my Inspiron 15 7559 with the original 130W adapter, about the same age as yours. For the last weeks I tried followed all the troubleshooting guides, uninstall/reinstall drivers, tried friend's same-model charger, running Dell Diagnostics, all Windows/Program set to stock settings. No luck. What weirdly ended up working right away was disabling the Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method driver with the battery and charger installed as normal, then just reenabling the driver. 

Worth a try for anyone else I suppose.

Sooo i have an Inspiron 14r n4110 and I'm having the exact same problem i need my laptop to do my homework and yes I know its an old laptop but i game on it with an mini pcie egpu setup with a 1070 ti. Anyways it shows that same thing and it lowers my cpu and gpu clock speeds so it makes my gaming experience horrible worse than intel graphics. HELLLPPPPPPP

I've had this problem since I first bought my laptop. Dell even replaced the motherboard while it was still under warranty, but the problem came back. Apparently it's a common problem with Dell laptops. I can't tell you what to do to fix it, but I know that I won't be buying another Dell computer after this.

I have bought 3 new ac adapters for my wife's dell laptop within the past month trying to resolve the unknown adapter issue.   I will not be buying another Dell either.  We both bought the same model at Best Buy a few years ago.  So angry at dell, I bought an Accer and haven't had any problems with it.  Not sure what to do about my Wife's laptop.  Might try unplugging and re-installing the battery.   Dell should drop the price of all of their computers to a few hundred dollars or advertise them as disposable computers.  They last a month or two after warrentie and die after that.  The laptop I bought my daughter will be the last.  Accer from now on.

Same problem. Dell 5568 Inspiron 2-in-1. 2 yrs old. Battery would not charge, AC adapter not recognized, but would still allow laptop to power up. This is the original AC adapter.

Tried the "uninstall Microsoft ACPI Compliant Control Method Battery" driver solution - didn't work.

Updated BIOS (had to forceit since battery was < 10%) - this worked for a day, then problem reappeared. 

The AC adapter works fine on a different Dell Laptop.

Tried a different Dell AC adapter (also 45 watt / 19.5v - same as OEM), would not work. 

Tried a 130 watt 19.5v Dell charger, and it works!

The problem, in my opinion, is obviously a firmware / driver / BIOS issue with the Dell laptop. I'm not impressed.

My only resort will be to find a similar 130watt AC adapter  (can't keep the one I tested with)  and use it instead of the OEM 45 watt.

Hi Ychan,

Thanks for posting.  Apologies that your system is not performing as expected.

When the service center tested your system did they use your ac adapter or a different one?  If so, is the adapter you have grounded?  Does it have 3 prongs or 2?  Sometimes if the plug is not grounded properly it may not work as designed.

How to Troubleshoot AC Adapter Issues?

If you need additional assistance and the system is under warranty, please contact me privately. Be sure to include your personal information (name, address, telephone, email) and your computer's service tag number in your message. Thanks.

If there is no warranty, then you could contact our Out of Warranty team to get a quote for a paid service call.

Although your post is old, I wanted to add my 2 cents. I bought my Dell XPS 15 L502x in 2011-2012. It became unusable within the year....the jack for the adapter.  A tech couldn't replace it because it's part of the motherboard. I opted not to pay to ship it off for tech service, and got a new laptop. I've used the Dell as backup, so light use. Shortly after the jack problem, I had to replace the battery, which I did. But then it started the "plugged in, not charging" thing. I had that on another computer, so I thought I could fix it (in the other laptop I had, it was an icon thing; the laptop was really charging. It just SAID it wasn't charging. So I just had to turn the icon on and off.) That wasn't the problem with the Dell, though.

My BIOS is outdated, so it could be that, but you have to have both adapter & charged battery to do that, so I can't update BIOS unless I buy a charged battery.  BUT here's a message I did find that is perplexing. I right click on the icon, click on DELL BATTERY METER, and at top it says "Battery Charging Disabled."  There is a box at bottom to click on to disable battery charging, but that box is not checked.  

In setup (click on F2 at startup), it says my adapter is "UNKNOWN." My adapter is an official Dell brand 130W for my XPS 15 L502x (identical to the one that came with the laptop). It was a replacement. It powers the laptop just fine. But the laptop just will not charge a battery.

So I am guessing it's rigged to where I had to buy a certain adapter directly from Dell (?), so the laptop won't recognize the adapter, or it could be that jack issue I had early on (which would be too expensive to fix, esp now that my laptop is older). 

All the fixes that people recommend & use about taking battery out, plugging & unplugging things, and such. I've done all that numerous times. That's not the issue with mine.

I may buy another replacement adapter. If that doesn't work, I'll just continue to use it with the adapter only, as a backup laptop. I'm using my new laptop for everyday business, so that's fine. It's an ASUS. I also had a Toshiba after the Dell, which was great until I dropped it.  I won't be buying another Dell. This laptop has had serious issues ever since about 10 mos. after I bought it.  It was pretty pricey at the time, but my

Same problem Inspiron 17 model 5759... Bought a new battery thinking the battery wasn't taking a charge. Same problem with new battery.  Tried the suggestion of removing battery then starting up on just power adapter. I went ahead and installed the battery without shutting computer down and battery started charging.

There seems to be multiple causes for this.

I had a Inspiron 15 7559 and after about six months the cables just fall apart. Previously they've always lasted a couple of years or more. I'm hoping that Dell have got that sorted out now.

Yours did it!! I tried 10 other ones that didn't work and almost gave up. Thanks!!