The “Plugged in, not charging” message on an HP laptop points to battery protection settings, charger mismatch, firmware or driver faults, or a worn battery.
If your HP notebook sits on power yet the charge level won’t climb, don’t panic. That message has a few common roots: a smart charging limit, an under-rated or failing adapter, Windows power management glitches, outdated BIOS, or a battery that’s reached the end of its cycle life. This guide walks through quick checks first, then targeted steps that solve the issue for most users. You’ll also learn when it’s time to book a repair or order a replacement pack.
HP Shows Plugged In Not Charging — What It Means
Modern HP models protect the battery by pausing charge at a set percentage during AC use. If yours sits at, say, 80% and holds, that can be a feature, not a fault. You might also be seeing a mismatch between the charger’s wattage and what the laptop expects, a loose barrel tip or USB-C PD profile mismatch, or a problem with the AC adapter ID pin. On the software side, Windows can misread the battery controller until drivers reset. Less often, a swollen or fatigued battery won’t accept charge at all.
Quick Checks That Fix A Big Share Of Cases
Confirm The Adapter And Port
Look at the rating on the power brick and compare it to the label on the bottom cover or the HP product page. If your laptop shipped with a 65W or 90W adapter, a lower-watt spare can power the system but stall charging. For USB-C, try the port with the power icon; not every Type-C port negotiates power input. If you use a hub or dock, plug the brick directly into the laptop for this test.
Inspect The Cable And Connector
Gently wiggle the barrel tip or USB-C plug. Any flicker in the charge LED means poor contact. Check for a bent center pin on barrel tips and debris inside Type-C ports. If you own a second HP-rated adapter with the same wattage, swap it in to rule out a failing brick. Borrowing a friend’s generic charger can be misleading; the wattage and PD profile must match.
Let The System Cool
When the pack or VRM area runs hot, charging may pause until temps drop. Give the vents space, lift the rear a bit, and blow out dust with short bursts of air. After a few minutes, check if charging resumes.
Run HP’s Built-In Battery Tools
HP builds diagnostics right into Windows through HP Support Assistant. Open the app, go to My Dashboard > Battery, and run Battery Check. The tool reports capacity, cycle count, and status, and it can kick off a calibration if needed. You can start from HP’s official page for battery and adapter issues, which links to these steps and repair options if hardware fails.
When Calibration Helps
If the laptop shuts off at 20% or sticks at one level, the battery gauge may be out of sync. HP’s calibration routine fully charges, fully discharges under control, then recharges, which aligns the gauge with the pack’s controller. HP documents the process here: testing and calibrating the battery. Expect that process to take hours; start it when you won’t need the computer.
Try A Safe Power Reset (EC Reset)
A power reset clears residual charge from the embedded controller. Shut down the laptop. Unplug the adapter. If the battery is removable, take it out. Hold the power button for 15–20 seconds. Reinsert the battery, plug in, and boot. HP’s guide for a power reset covers variations for models with sealed packs. This single step often restores charging after a brownout or static event.
Reset Battery And Adapter Drivers
Windows can latch onto a bad reading from the battery controller. A quick driver refresh clears it.
Device Manager Steps
- Right-click Start > Device Manager.
- Expand Batteries.
- Right-click Microsoft AC Adapter > Uninstall device.
- Right-click Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery > Uninstall device.
- From the Device Manager menu, select Action > Scan for hardware changes, or simply restart.
Windows restores those entries at reboot. This is a standard fix referenced across Microsoft Q&A threads and HP community replies. If the entries don’t return, reboot again, then run Windows Update.
Optional: Use A Copy-Paste Command To Create A Battery Report
Generate a health snapshot and keep it for reference.
powercfg /batteryreport /output "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\battery-report.html"Open the HTML report on your desktop. You’ll see design capacity vs. full charge capacity and recent charge sessions. Microsoft documents this feature under battery care in Windows.
Update BIOS And HP Firmware
Charge control lives partly in firmware. If your notebook is a few releases behind, odd charging behavior can pop up with new packs or new adapters. Open HP Support Assistant and check for updates, or visit your model’s page on HP’s site and install the listed BIOS and power-related firmware. Keep the laptop on AC during the update and don’t interrupt the process.
Check Smart Charging Limits And Battery Care Modes
Some HP apps cap charge around 80% to extend lifespan. Open HP Support Assistant or HP Power Manager if present. Look for a setting such as Battery Health Manager, Adaptive, or Maximize My Battery Health. Switch to a mode that allows a full charge when you need it. If you keep the laptop docked most days, leaving the cap in place is fine.
USB-C PD Quirks: Use The Right Port And Brick
USB-C power delivery involves a short negotiation. If your dock tops out at 45W and the notebook requests 65W, the system may run yet skip charging. Try the HP-branded brick that shipped with the machine. Use the port marked with a power icon. Avoid inline adapters until charging works reliably.
When Windows Power Plans Or Fast Startup Get In The Way
Fast Startup can cache device states across reboots. If charging keeps failing after shutdowns, try a full reboot (Shift + Restart), or turn Fast Startup off for testing: Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do > Change settings that are currently unavailable, then clear the Fast Startup checkbox. Switch back once you’re done troubleshooting.
Signs Your Battery Has Aged Out
Most packs are rated for a few hundred cycles. In the battery report, compare Full Charge Capacity to Design Capacity. If you’re under 60–70% and the charge LED blinks or the laptop dies quickly on AC removal, the cells are tired. Swelling, gaps at the palm rest, or a spongy touchpad are red flags—power down and service the unit immediately.
Advanced Steps For Stubborn Cases
Clean Install Of The Battery Controller
Uninstall the two entries under Batteries as shown earlier, then also expand System devices and locate ACPI-compliant power entries. Don’t remove chipset entries you don’t recognize. After a reboot, recheck charging. If you prefer commands, you can rescan hardware from an elevated prompt:
devmgmt.msc
# In Device Manager: Action > Scan for hardware changesRun HP UEFI Hardware Diagnostics
Most HP laptops ship with UEFI tests. Power off. Tap Esc at power-on, then F2 for System Diagnostics. Run the battery test. If it returns a failure code, save that code and contact HP for service with the exact result.
Try A Different Wall Outlet And Remove Line Filters
Some surge protectors or smart outlets throttle current. Plug straight into a wall outlet during testing. If you’re in a region with frequent voltage dips, a simple line-interactive UPS can smooth power during charge, but test first with no extra gear attached.
Common Scenarios And The Fastest Fix
Stuck At 80% While On AC
Likely a health mode cap. Change the battery care setting in HP software. If no setting appears, check for BIOS updates that add it.
Drains On AC Under Load, Charge Level Declines
The adapter can’t keep up. Use the original HP brick and match the wattage. For USB-C setups, confirm the dock’s power budget and move the cable to a PD-capable port.
LED Blinks, Windows Shows Zero Percent, Won’t Rise
Run a power reset. Then refresh the drivers. If the battery report shows a large gap between design and full charge capacity, plan for replacement.
Worked Yesterday After Windows Update, Broken Today
Roll back the last battery or power driver in Device Manager, or reinstall the AC adapter and ACPI battery entries. Check Windows Update again after a reboot; recent patches may include a correction.
Table: Fast Clues To Cause And Fix
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Stuck near 80% on AC | Battery care cap active | Change HP Power Manager / Support Assistant setting |
| Charge drops while gaming | Under-rated adapter or dock | Use HP-rated wattage, direct plug, correct USB-C port |
| No rise from 0–5% | Controller glitch or aged cells | Power reset, driver refresh, check battery report |
| LED flickers on touch | Loose connector or bent pin | Inspect tip/port; try a second adapter |
| Stops charging when warm | Thermal pause | Cool the chassis; clear vents; resume later |
| Battery test fails | Hardware fault | Record code; book HP service |
When Replacement Makes Sense
Once full charge capacity slumps and runtime tanks, a fresh pack is the clean fix. For models with user-replaceable batteries, order an HP part that matches the spare number on your original pack. For sealed designs, HP service can handle the swap and verify the thermal pads and adhesive. Swollen packs need prompt attention—do not keep charging or using the machine until it’s inspected.
Safe Charging Habits That Prevent Recurrence
- Keep the original wattage adapter near the laptop, and label its wattage so spares don’t get mixed up.
- If you dock daily, leave the health cap enabled and remove it only before travel.
- Give vents airflow; a slim stand helps.
- Run a battery report a few times per year and note the trend in capacity.
- Install BIOS updates from HP Support Assistant during normal maintenance.
Step-By-Step: A Complete Fix Flow
- Confirm the adapter wattage and plug into the correct barrel or USB-C PD port.
- Test without docks, hubs, or surge strips; move to a plain wall outlet.
- Cool the system; watch for charging to resume as temps drop.
- Open HP Support Assistant > Battery > run Battery Check.
- If prompted, perform a calibration during off hours.
- Do a power reset (hold power 15–20 seconds with AC removed; follow HP’s method for your model).
- Refresh drivers under Batteries in Device Manager; reboot.
- Generate a battery report and compare design vs. full charge capacity.
- Update BIOS and embedded controller firmware from HP.
- Recheck for health caps; switch modes if you need a full charge today.
- If the battery fails HP’s tests or capacity is badly degraded, schedule service or order an OEM pack.
Copy-Paste Tools You May Need
Create A Fresh Battery Report
powercfg /batteryreport /output "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\battery-report.html"Shut Down Fully (Bypass Fast Startup)
shutdown /s /t 0Open Device Manager Fast
devmgmt.mscIf You Still See The Message
At this point you’ve ruled out adapter wattage, ports, heat, drivers, and health caps. Failures in HP’s UEFI battery test or a battery report that shows low capacity confirm a hardware path. Use the repair options on HP’s battery and adapter help page, which provides warranty routes and part sourcing. Keep the machine unplugged if the pack bulges or the touchpad lifts.
Why These Steps Work
The fixes target the real choke points: power delivery limits, firmware state, thermal holds, and battery controller desync. HP’s tools read the same smart data the pack exposes to the system, while Windows reports offer a clear capacity trend. If the electronics are fine, charging returns the moment the controller resets and a proper adapter is in play. If the cells are worn, the diagnostics surface that truth so you can act with confidence.