The AC adapter, also called a power adapter or laptop charger is used to provide sufficient power to operate the laptop for extended periods and to recharge the laptop battery. See the suggested quick steps below if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms.
When there is damage to the wiring of your AC power adapter, it can cause a short, which can damage your computer or fail, leaving you without a means to charge your battery. Look for frayed cables (Figure 1), exposed wires (Figure 2), a cut in the cable (Figure 3), or a pin that is bent or broken (Figure 4).
For more information, see Dell Knowledge Base article How to Identify AC Adapter Damage on Dell Systems.
Figure 1: Example of a frayed cable on an ac adapter
Figure 2: Example of an exposed wired on the ac adapter plug
Figure 3: Example of a cut in the cable
Figure 4: Example of a pin that is bent or broken inside the ac adapter plug
Dell AC power adapters have a LED light to indicate whether the AC adapter is getting power and is on. The LED light may be on either the AC adapter brick or the adapter (DC) plug.
If the LED light is not on, perform the following steps to help resolve the issue.
For more information, see our AC Power Adapter Help and Support site.
The AC adapter that came with your computer provides the correct voltage and amperage needed to work correctly. Ensure you are using the AC adapter shipped with your computer or another of the same model.
Dell does not recommend using incompatible or third-party AC adapters with Dell laptops.
The following information only applies when you are using a docking station.
The AC adapter that came with your docking station provides the correct voltage and amperage needed to power the computer and docking station. Ensure you are using the AC adapter shipped with your dock or another of the same model.
Dell does not recommend using incompatible or third-party AC adapters with Dell laptops or docking stations.
For more information on the power requirements when using your Dell docking station, see the User Manual of the docking station.
When the computer seems to be taking longer than normal to charge the battery, it may be due to a poor connection.
Perform the following steps to help resolve the issue.
Another poor connection could be caused by your docking station if you are using one.
Plug the DC power cord directly into the laptop, bypassing the docking station to see if the battery charges quicker and the computer works better.
On some newer computers, the USB-C port is used to power the computer and charge the battery. On these newer computers, there may be more than one USB-C port. Not all USB-C ports can be used to power the computer. Ensure that the USB-C AC adapter is connected to the correct USB-C port on the laptop that supports charging. See the User Manual of the Dell laptop to identify which USB-C port supports charging.
This application ensures your computer has the latest Dell driver and BIOS updates and checks settings to keep your computer efficient and reliable.
Running the AC adapter diagnostics ensures that your AC adapter and the hardware that supports it is working correctly.
To run the diagnostics, browse to the SupportAssist AC adapter hardware test page (the test starts automatically).
If the test fails, contact Dell Technical Support.
If these quick steps did not resolve your issue, we have more detailed information in the Other Resources section. You can also search for content related to the issue using the search bar at the top of this page.