Battery

Lithium Ion or Li-ion batteries are the most commonly used batteries in laptops and other devices. Dell laptop batteries are designed specifically for each Dell laptop. See the suggested quick steps below if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms.

CAUTION: Dell recommends using a compatible battery purchased from Dell that is designed to work with your Dell laptop. Using a third-party or non-Dell battery, or an incompatible battery may increase the risk of fire or explosion. Do not use a battery from other computers with your computer.

NOTE: If you see that the battery pack is swelling, Dell recommends discontinuing using the battery and replacing it with a Dell-authorized battery. To learn more, see the Swollen battery information and guidance article.

• The laptop battery does not charge or does not hold a charge.
• The AC adapter is plugged in but not charging the battery.
• The battery is not recognized by the laptop.
• The battery discharges quickly or does not last.
• The battery charge is stuck at a certain percentage.
• The battery indicator LED does not glow, blinks in a specific pattern, or always blinks.

Follow these quick steps to help resolve your battery issue.

Fix 1: Inspect the AC adapter and power port on the laptop for damage.

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

Fix 2: Verify that the AC adapter is working correctly.

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.

1. Remove the AC adapter from the wall outlet or surge protector.
2. Remove the DC power cord from the computer.
3. Remove the AC cord from the AC adapter brick and wait two mins.
4. Reseat the AC cord into the AC adapter brick (ensure it goes all the way in).
5. Plug the AC cord into an AC outlet that you know works (not into a surge protector for this test).
6. Check to see if the LED light comes on.

For more information, see our AC Power Adapter Help and Support site.

Fix 3: Ensure you use the correct Dell AC adapter for your computer.

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.

Fix 4: Test with another AC wall outlet.

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.

1. Remove the AC adapter from the wall outlet or surge protector.
2. Plug the AC cord into another AC outlet that you know works (not into a surge protector for this test).

NOTE: When there is a difference in charging it may be the surge protector or something interfering with the outlet making good contact.

Fix 5: Connect the DC power cord directly to the laptop.

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.

Fix 6: Charge the battery with the laptop turned off.

Several settings in the operating system, such as power management settings and drivers, may impact the battery’s performance.

Fix 7: Check the battery’s health status.

Checking the health of your battery will tell you if the battery is working correctly and helps identify if an aging battery requires a replacement.

See Dell Knowledge Base article How to Check Battery Health Status on Dell Laptops for step-by-step instructions.

To improve your battery performance, see Dell Knowledge Base article How to Improve the Performance of a Dell Laptop Battery.

Fix 8: Optimize your Dell computer using the SupportAssist application.

This application ensures your computer has the latest Dell driver and BIOS updates and checks settings to keep your computer efficient and reliable.

1. Press and hold the Windows key (Windows Button), and then press the Q key.
2. Type SupportAssist in the search box.
3. Select SupportAssist (App) in the list of results in Figure 5.

NOTE: If SupportAssist does not show up in the search results, go to the SupportAssist for Home PCs page to download and install SupportAssist.



Figure 5: SupportAssist Search Results

4. Click Start Now to run the tests, Figure 6.

NOTE: You can touch or click the down arrow and then run the individual test. Dell recommends running a full computer test.



Figure 6: SupportAssist Main Screen

5. SupportAssist runs the tests one by one and provides the results and suggested actions.

Fix 9: Run the battery diagnostics.

Running the battery diagnostics ensures that your battery and the hardware that supports it is working correctly.

To run the diagnostics, browse to the SupportAssist battery 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.