Nothing is worse than using your laptop for a project when suddenly your battery runs low. You rush to plug it in, but nothing happens.
Assuming the wall outlet is working just fine, chances are there’s a problem with your charging port. Here are some tips on how to tell if your laptop charging port is broken and what you can do to fix it.
Clean Out Any Dust or Dirt
The first thing you should do is clean out the port as best as you can. There’s a possibility that the problem with the power connection has to do with dust or dirt inside of the port.
The actual process for cleaning your charging port will depend on the type of laptop you own.
Compressed air can be bought at any electronics or office supply store near you. Using the straw, you shoot air into the charger port in 1 to 2-second bursts.
However, it’s recommended that you don’t use these cans for Apple lightning ports.
If there is noticeable lint in the port, you can use a toothpick with a bit of cotton on the end to wipe it away.
Check the Plug
Another thing to do before using a laptop repair shop is to check the actual plug and power brick for any defects.
If there’s nothing visibly wrong with it, try it out on another device and see if it delivers a charge. You could always visit a local repair shop to check if it’s working if you don’t own a voltmeter yourself.
It can often be much cheaper and easier to replace the power brick than to repair the charging port.
Battery Malfunctions
The issue with your laptop might be battery related.
You can run scans with your computer to check your battery’s health. If the battery is removable, you could also take it out, drain residual power in your device, and try the plug again.
If the laptop powers on without the battery, then you now know the culprit. For non-removable batteries, you’ll likely have to get some help.
Faulty Laptop Charging Port
If all else works or functions properly, check if your laptop charging port is loose or broken. Unfortunately, it’s not an easy task to do at home.
For those more technically inclined, you can find many guides online that can outline how to take apart your specific laptop. In some cases, a loose port can be soldered back onto the motherboard.
As for anyone not willing to break their warranty and risk damaging their sole computers, you should look into getting professional repairs.
At ifixomaha.com, you can get tips for repairing your devices at home. You can also visit one of their multiple locations in Omaha to fix your PC or Mac.
Get Your Laptop Powered On
Don’t let a faulty laptop charging port ruin your day. Either fix it yourself or get it repaired professionally and bypass sending it in the mail to the manufacturer.
For more similar tips and information, check out our other articles.
