While using your Dell or Lenovo laptop, you may notice the plugged in, not charging message when you hover over the battery icon in Windows 10.

As the message indicates, this error usually occurs if the system battery is not charging despite the AC adapter being connected to the laptop.

In this article, we have put together a few troubleshooting steps to help you resolve the plugged in not charging battery issues with Dell and Lenovo laptop.

How do I fix the Plugged in not charging battery issue?

1. Check the AC adapter connection

Makes sure the AC adapter is firmly connected to the laptop. Check the DC port for dust or debris. You can clean the port by blowing into it or using a can of air.

After cleaning the DC port, plug in the AC adapter firmly into the port. Check if the plugged in not charging issue is resolved.

Remove and reinsert AC adapter

Even if you have tried it already, remove and reconnect the AC adapter to DC port. Try this multiple times as your system may fail to recognize the adapter properly.

Personally, removing and reconnecting the DC adapter plug a few times helped resolve this issue on my Lenovo laptop.

Also, make sure you haven’t accidentally hit F8. F8 on some Lenovo laptops may disable the battery and stop charging it altogether.

2. Perform a power reset

If your laptop has a removable battery, do the following to perform a power reset.

1. Shut down your computer.
2. Unplug the charger.
3. Remove the battery.
   
4. After removing the battery, check if your laptop has a power reset button.
5. The Power reset button (a small hole) is either placed on the bottom or the side of the laptop.
6. Use a paper clip and press and hold the button for about 10 seconds.
7. Press the Power reset button will reset the CMOS battery.
8. Pressing and hold the Power button on your laptop for about 30 seconds to drain residual power.
9. Reinsert the battery and power on the laptop.

Disable conservation mode

If your Lenovo laptop battery only charges up to 55-60%, check if the Conservation mode is enabled.

When enabled, conservation mode stops the battery from charging more than 60% to improve the battery’s life span.

1. Launch Lenovo Vantage.
2. Go to Hardware Settings.
3. Click on Power.
   
4. Scroll down to Conservation Mode and disable conservation mode.
5. Reconnect your AC adapter charger.

Lenovo conservation mode is useful for users who use their laptops plugged into AC most of the time. However, if enabled accidentally, it will stop charging your laptop battery to its full capacity.

3. Run Power troubleshooter

Windows 10 comes with a built-in power troubleshooter. It will check the device for any issues with the battery and power supply.

1. Click on Start and select Settings.
2. Go to Update and security.
3. Select Troubleshooter.
   
   
4. Scroll to the Power section and click on Power.
5. Click Run the troubleshooter.
6. Follow on-screen instructions and apply any recommended fixes.

4. Reinstall Microsoft ACPI Compliant Control Method Battery

If the issue persists, uninstall, and reinstall Microsoft ACPI Compliant Control Method Battery device from Device Manager.

1. Press Windows Key + R to open Run.
2. Type devmgmt.msc and click OK.
3. In Device Manager, expand the Batteries category.
4. Right-click on Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery.
5. Select the Uninstall device option.
   
6. Click Uninstall to uninstall the selected device from your system.
7. Click on Action and select Scan for hardware changes.
   
8. Windows will reinstall the Microsoft ACPI device automatically.
9. Reboot the computer and check for any improvements.

5. Update BIOS

Lenovo and Dell recommend updating the BIOS to fix plugged in, not charging battery issue on their system. You can update the BIOS from the laptop manufacturer’s website.

1. Go to the Dell Download page or Lenovo support page.
2. Let the page detect your system/ product or enter the model number.
3. Download the latest version of BIOS to your computer.
4. Follow the instructions on the website to install and update BIOS.

6. Check battery health and replace

Lenovo laptops come with the Lenovo Vantage software, which allows the users to check hardware health. Open the software and check the battery condition.

If the battery condition is poor, consider replacing the battery.

1. Launch Lenovo Vantage.
2. Click on Hardware Settings.
3. Open Power option.
   
4. Under Power Status, check the battery condition.
5. If the battery condition shows Good, you don’t need to replace the battery.
6. If the battery condition is poor, consider replacing the battery.

I have listed all the possible solutions to help you resolve plugged in, not charging battery issues in Lenovo and Dell laptops. If you have any other tips, leave it in the comments.