How to Troubleshoot Dell Laptop Battery Issues

To ensure that the Dell battery is getting charged correctly, the AC adapter should be functioning normally. Verify that the PC recognizes the AC adapter.

To verify that the PC is recognizing the AC adapter correctly:

1. Restart the PC.
2. When the Dell logo appears, tap F2 key until the message Entering Setup appears.
3. Verify the AC Adapter Type in the BIOS options.
   • If AC Adapter Type is None - Ensure to connect the AC adapter to the PC.
   • If AC Adapter Type is Unknown - Follow troubleshooting steps to resolve AC adapter issues. If AC Adapter Type is recognized correctly, proceed to the next step.

There are several settings with the operating system like power management settings, device drivers, etc., that may impact the performance of a battery. Charging the laptop battery outside the operating system can help isolate hardware-related issues.

1. Turn off the Dell PC.
2. Try one of the following combinations:
   • While the PC is off, charge the battery for a while.
   • Or, restart the PC and tap F2 key to enter BIOS or System Setup. Charge the battery within BIOS.
3. Verify if the battery charge percentage has increased.
4. Restart the PC, and proceed to the next step.

Running a hardware diagnostic test can help you identify what the issue may be and provide you troubleshooting steps to help resolve the issue. Dell offers both built-in and online diagnostics. It is essential to run a hardware test on the PC and/or the battery to identify which device is causing the issue.

To run an online hardware test on the battery, visit the Battery Diagnostics page.

To run the Dell ePSA built-in hardware diagnostics:

1. Turn on the PC, and tap F12 key.
2. Choose Diagnostics from the menu.

Note:

• When the diagnostics reports an issue, refer to the Reference Table of ePSA, PSA Error Codes and Troubleshooting Steps section, for the meaning of the code and any additional troubleshooting steps to perform, to help resolve the issue.
• When no issue is reported by the diagnostics, it means that no hardware issues were found. This most likely means your are having an issue with the Operating System on your computer.

Note: Running an online hardware diagnostic test on the PC requires you to download and install Dell SupportAssist application.

For more information about running hardware diagnostics on a Dell PC, refer to the Dell knowledge-base article Resolve Hardware Issues With Built-in and Online Diagnostics (ePSA or PSA Error Codes).

If the Dell ePSA or online hardware diagnostic test passes, proceed to the next step.

If the Dell ePSA or online hardware diagnostic test fails, contact Dell Technical Support.

Checking the laptop battery health status can help determine if the battery is operating normally or if it needs to be replaced. Battery health status can be checked both inside and outside the operating system.

Notes:

• Battery life or battery capacity is the amount of time the PC can run on a fully charged battery. It is normal for all types of batteries to lose some battery life over time. Every time a battery is charged or discharged, the battery loses a small amount of capacity. This is considered a normal characteristic of a rechargeable battery and is not covered by the warranty.
• For more information, browse to the Dell Knowledge Base article Dell Laptop Battery - Frequently Asked Questions. Refer to the What are the guidelines for handling worn-out and swollen batteries, and then replacing the battery on a Dell laptop? section.
• For more information, refer to Dell Knowledge Base article Swollen Battery Information and Guidance.

There are several ways to check the battery health status. For more information, refer to the Dell knowledge-base article Guide on Checking Notebook / Laptop Battery Health Status.

If the battery health status is normal, proceed to the next step.

The BIOS is firmware that is embedded onto the System Board of your computer. Updating the BIOS to the latest version may help the PC recognize the AC adapter. Updating the BIOS to the latest version requires the laptop PC to be powered by the AC adapter and battery.

To update the BIOS to the latest version, refer to the Dell knowledge-base article. How do I download and install the latest BIOS for my Dell computer?

If the AC Adapter Type is not recognized by the PC, refer to the Dell knowledge-base article Forcing a BIOS Update without the AC adapter attached on a Dell Laptop. Before forcing the BIOS update, read the disclaimer below.

Caution: If the battery charge is less than 10%, you may be able to force the BIOS to update from within a DOS environment. A failure during this process may result in your system becoming unusable and users must proceed at their own risk. Dell shall not be liable for any loss, including but not limited to loss of data, loss of profit, or loss of revenue, which customers may incur by following any procedure or advice set out in this article.
See the following article for more details:
How to update your System BIOS using a USB Flash Drive

Dell Quickset

Quickset is a suite of software applications that provide enhanced functionality to your Dell computer. Dell QuickSet utility provides easy access to configure settings for power management, the battery health meter, and other functions on most Dell PCs. It provides easy access to several functions that would normally require several steps. Some of the features that you can access using Dell Quickset include:

• Disable or enable battery charging
• Change Function (Fn) key behavior
• Configure wireless shortcut key

Installing or updating the Dell Quickset application can help resolve issues with battery charging. To download and install Dell Quickset application, visit Dell Drivers & Downloads website. Dell Quickset application can be found under the Application category.

Note: Dell Quickset application is available and supported by select Dell PCs.

You can run the Windows Hardware and Devices troubleshooter which is built in to Microsoft Windows. The Hardware and Devices troubleshooter is available in Microsoft Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, and Windows 10 only.

To run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter:

1. Press the Windows key + R on the keyboard.
2. In the Run dialog box, type Control and press the Enter key on the keyboard.
3. On the top-right corner, in the Search box of Control Panel, type Troubleshooter and then click Troubleshooting.
4. Under System and Security item, click Power.

Note: You must log in to Windows with an account with administrator privileges. If you get any prompts from User Account Control while running the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter, click Yes.

If running Microsoft Fix-It or Windows Troubleshooter did not resolve the issue, proceed to the next step.

1. Press the Windows key + R on the keyboard.
2. In the Run dialog box, type devmgmt.msc and press the Enter key on the keyboard.
3. In Device Manager, click > or + sign next to Batteries.
4. Right-click Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery, click Uninstall.
5. Click OK to confirm uninstalling the driver.
6. Restart the PC.

Dell Product Bulletin website helps check if your battery model may be affected. Check if the specific battery PPID (Dell Part Piece Identification) is affected. This step is necessary to identify if your battery is affected. If the battery is subjected to a recall, you will be automatically connected to a replacement order form.

You need your Service Tags and/or PPIDs for this process. You may also be asked for your contact information and a shipping or service address.

1. Visit Dell Product Bulletin website.
2. Click Lookup.
3. Type the Battery PPID (Figure 1) and enter the Security Code.
4. Click Next to check if the battery is under recall.
   If the battery is under recall, you must provide your contact information.