When your laptop is not charging, you lose the benefit of portability that the device is supposed to provide. Unfortunately, determining the specific problem isn't always straightforward, as there are several issues that can prevent your Acer laptop from charging.
Here, we'll look at five of the most common problems and some steps you can take to fix them.
Acer laptop not charging when plugged in
If your Acer laptop is not charging when plugged in, start by performing the following steps to troubleshoot your hardware:
- Plug the laptop into a different power outlet to make sure it's not the original outlet that's the problem.
- Check that all your cables are securely connected.
- Examine the battery to confirm that it is properly seated in its compartment. A loose battery can cause connection problems at the laptop's contact points.
- Check the charging port for any signs of dust. If you find it, use a clean, dry cloth to wipe off the dust.
- Check if the laptop shows signs of overheating. If so, try removing the battery and letting it cool for about five minutes before reconnecting it.
Assuming you've done these checks and the laptop still won't charge, there are three potential solutions you can try:
- Update battery drivers
- Update your BIOS
- Reset battery
Fix #1 – Update Battery Drivers
You can update your battery drivers, as well as the rest of your Acer drivers, by following these steps.
- Head to the Acer Drivers and Manuals website.
- Select your location and region.
- Enter your device information. You can choose to enter your laptop's model number, serial number, or SNID number.
- Click on the “Search” button. This will take you to a product page.
- Locate the "Drivers" option and click on it.
- Choose your operating system. You should have the choice between Windows 7, 8 and 10.
- Click on Drivers to start downloading.
Fix #2 – Update your BIOS
If the drivers aren't the problem, you may have a problem with how your hardware boots. The laptop's BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) handles the boot process of the device. Updating your BIOS using the following steps may help:
- Simultaneously press the "R" and "Windows logo" keys on your keyboard.
- Type "msinfo32" in the field and press the "Enter" key.
- Record the BIOS version and date information you see.
- Head to the "Support" section of Acer's website and insert your BIOS information. You may find that you can download a new BIOS update.
- Download the file and install it.
- Restart your laptop and check if the charging issue is resolved.
Fix #3 – Reset Battery
This fix only works if you can access and remove your Acer laptop battery. Here are the steps:
- Turn off your laptop and unplug it from the power outlet.
- Remove your Acer's battery from its compartment.
- Press and hold the power button on your laptop for about 20 seconds. This should drain any residual power it carries.
- If your laptop has a pinhole reset button, use a paperclip to hold it down for five seconds. Note that not all Acer laptops have this button. If not, wait five seconds.
- Insert your battery into your laptop.
- Plug the laptop back in and turn it back on to check if it is now charging.
Hopefully one of these solutions will help resolve your charging issues. If they don't, you may need to talk to a professional.
Acer laptop not charging no light
If you don't see a charging light when you plug your charger into your Acer laptop, you may have a hardware or battery problem.
Fortunately, some of the solutions listed above can help here. Start by performing the hardware checks mentioned above. These include:
- Check that the battery is connected.
- Change to another outlet.
- Make sure all cables are securely connected.
- Remove dust from laptop charging ports.
- Examine the laptop for signs of overheating.
If none of these steps solve the problem, try the battery reset fix above. The basic steps for this are:
- Unplug your Acer laptop.
- Remove the battery from the laptop.
- Press and hold the power button on your laptop for at least 20 seconds.
- Press and hold the pin reset button on your laptop if it has one.
- Reconnect the battery.
- Plug the laptop back in.
If the light still does not come on, you may need to take your laptop to a professional.
Acer laptop not charging orange light
Typically, a solid amber light on your Acer laptop simply indicates that the battery needs to be recharged. In most cases, you can plug in your adapter and let the laptop charge. The light should turn blue after an hour or two, indicating that the laptop now has a full charge.
The orange light may also appear if you left the laptop plugged in and entered sleep mode. In this situation, the laptop's alarm clock should see the amber light turn blue.
If the laptop keeps showing a solid amber light after several hours of trying to charge, try the fixes mentioned above. However, you will usually find that a solid amber light is not related to a charging issue. This changes if the light starts flashing, as shown below.
Acer laptop not charging non-removable battery
In some cases, you may not be able to remove the battery from your Acer laptop without disassembling the machine. Beware of this approach, as dismantling the machine will likely void your warranty. If you are having charging issues and cannot remove the battery from the laptop, try the following two fixes.
Fix #1 – Update Your Drivers
- Visit the Acer Drivers and Manuals website and enter your region and location.
- Provide the site with your laptop's model number, serial number, or SNID number.
- Click on “Search”.
- Locate the "Drivers" option and click on it.
- Choose your laptop's operating system.
- Click on Drivers to start downloading.
- Install the new drivers.
Fix #2 – Update your BIOS
- Simultaneously press the "R" and "Windows logo" keys on your keyboard.
- Type “msinfo32” in the search field and press “Enter”.
- Write down your laptop's BIOS information.
- Go to the Acer support website and enter your BIOS information. You may find that a BIOS update is waiting for you.
- Download and install the update.
- Restart your laptop to see if the update resolves the charging issue.
If none of these fixes work, take your laptop to a professional. They will be able to check the battery without voiding your warranty.
Acer laptop not charging flashing amber light
The orange battery light on your Acer laptop will start flashing when the charge is very low, meaning it is below 5%. When this happens, you need to plug your charger into an outlet. If the amber light continues to flash, it suggests the laptop is not charging. Two issues usually cause this issue:
- Your laptop is getting low power from your power outlet. Try switching sockets to see if the problem resolves.
- Your laptop's adapter or charger may be faulty. Consider replacing it with an equivalent charger that meets the same specifications.
If none of these fixes work, consider using the three fixes in the "Acer laptop does not charge when plugged in" section to see if there is a problem with the drivers, BIOS, or hardware. battery connectivity.
Solve your charging problems
Faulty hardware, outdated drivers, and outdated BIOS can prevent your Acer laptop from charging. In some cases, the problem may be caused by a bad connection between the battery and the laptop. The fixes offered above can help you fix the problem without the need of calling a professional.
But now we want to hear from you. Have you had problems with charging your Acer laptop? Have you tried any of the fixes above or do you have one to recommend? Tell us in the comments section below.