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The AC adapter, commonly called a laptop charger, is used to provide sufficient power to operate the laptop for extended periods and to recharge the laptop battery. When the AC adapter fails to work, the laptop battery does not charge, and the laptop does not turn on or operate unless the battery is sufficiently charged.
Follow the instructions in this article to troubleshoot AC adapter issues, if you notice the following symptoms:
AC adapter issues can occur due to a faulty AC adapter, faulty power cable, damage to the power or AC adapter cable, faulty DC-in connector on the laptop, and so on.
If the Dell laptop can turn on with the AC adapter only, and if you notice the battery symptoms that are mentioned below, see the Dell knowledge base article How to Troubleshoot Dell Laptop Battery Issues.
Expand the sections below for more information about how to troubleshoot AC adapter issues.
The AC adapter cable and the power cable may get frayed or cut, and the wires may become exposed at either end of the cable. This may happen due to the way the cable is wrapped around the AC adapter, or if the cable is subject to undue stress. If the damage is severe enough to expose the wires, you must discontinue using the AC adapter. To check the AC adapter, cables, and the adapter port on the laptop for any damages:
For more information, see the Dell knowledge base article Identify AC Adapter Damage on Dell Systems.
If you find damage, contact Dell Technical Support for repair options. If you do not find damage, go to the next step.
If the AC adapter works correctly when you bypass the power regulator or the docking station, the issue is with that specific device.
If the AC adapter is still not able to turn on the laptop, go to the next step.
After the residual power has been drained, if the laptop does not turn on with the AC adapter, go to the next step.
USB-C is a cross-platform standard connector for charging, connecting devices, and transferring data. Select Dell laptops use a USB-C port to provide power and charge the laptop. It is essential to ensure that the USB-C charger is connected to the correct USB-C port that supports charging, especially on a laptop that has more than one USB-C port.
After reseating the power cable and AC adapter cable, if the laptop is not able to turn on with the AC adapter, go to the next step.
Reset the AC adapter by following these steps:
If the LED indicator on the AC adapter LED indicator turns on, go to the next step.
If the LED indicator on the AC adapter is off or turns off when it is connected to the laptop, contact Dell Technical Support to learn more about repair options that are available in your region.
Using an AC adapter that has a lower wattage may cause one or more of the following issues:
Each Dell laptop uses an AC adapter that is of different wattage. This can depend on the hardware configuration of the laptop. Dell laptops come with a 45 W, 65 W, 90 W, 130 W, 180 W, or 240 W AC adapter. For optimal performance, Dell Technologies recommends using the original AC adapter that came with the Dell laptop. The AC adapter's wattage information is printed on a label on the bottom of the AC adapter.
To verify if the laptop is recognizing the AC adapter correctly:
Running a hardware diagnostic test can help identify what the issue is and provide you troubleshooting steps to help resolve the issue. Dell offers both integrated and online diagnostics. The Dell preboot computer assessment checks if the AC adapter is recognized by the system board correctly.
To run the Dell SupportAssist Preboot System Assessment or ePSA test:
The BIOS (also called System Setup) is firmware that is embedded onto the system board (motherboard) of the computer. Updating the BIOS to the latest version helps the computer recognize the AC adapter correctly.
Learn more about Dell BIOS Updates.
If the AC adapter type is not recognized by the laptop, see the Dell knowledge base article Forcing a BIOS Update without the AC adapter that is attached on a Dell Laptop. Before trying to force the BIOS update, read the disclaimer below.
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