Laptop won't charge? Tests and the right charger
First: where's the problem?
"Won't charge" can be three different things. Let's take them one at a time:
- Does the charger's light come on? If it stays off in every socket, the charger is dead.
- Wiggle the cable near the tip. If charging comes and goes as you move it, the cable is broken inside — common near the connectors.
- Is the laptop's port loose or crooked? Often it's the charging port (DC jack) broken inside the laptop from being yanked.
Charging but stuck at 0%?
If the laptop recognises the charger ("plugged in") but the percentage won't climb, it's usually the battery at the end of its life — and then the charger isn't the problem. See our laptop battery guide.
How to choose the right charger
The wrong charger won't charge — or worse, it can damage the laptop. Three things have to match, and they're printed on the old charger's label or on the bottom of the laptop:
- Voltage (V) — for example 19V or 20V. It has to be the same.
- Amperage (A) — equal or higher; never lower.
- Tip — the right pin size and shape (many Asus and Acer tips look the same but aren't).
Newer laptops charge over USB-C — there what matters is the power in watts (W). Tell us the model and we'll confirm the compatible charger. Browse ours:
If the laptop's charging port is broken, that's a repair, not a new charger. We handle that in the shop.
Rather we did it for you?
We do this work every day at our shop in Entrecampos (Rua de Entrecampos 34A, Lisbon — right by the Entrecampos metro and train station). Over 8,000 devices repaired since 2023 and 4.9★ on Google.
New parts come with a 3-year legal guarantee (Portuguese law DL 84/2021). Tell us the model and we'll give you the price on the spot.