Laptop’s Charging Port Broken? Here’s How to Charge


The main benefit of using a laptop is that it allows you to stay productive on the go. A broken charger port can be quite troublesome because it would prevent you from using your computer. A fully charged battery is vital to your laptop’s functionality, and this can be compromised if your charging port is broken.

If you think that you can charge your laptop without a charging port, you will face several difficulties. Your charger is essential because it converts AC from your power outlet into DC, which your laptop needs for its battery to charge. Hence, a broken charging port can be a serious issue because it will make it more difficult for you to make the all-important AC to DC conversion. Luckily, there are a few workarounds for this issue that we have discussed below.

 Use USB-C Charger

USB has undergone a revolution these past few years. While USB Type-A was reasonably practical, it also had some limitations regarding what it could do for you. Type A is slowly becoming obsolete nowadays thanks to the introduction of USB Type C technology.

One advantage of USB Type C is that it facilitates faster data transfer between two systems, managing speeds of up to 20 gigabits per second. That’s not all. Type C can also control power input, which means that you can charge your laptop from any of its USB ports as long as they are Type C.

There is a caveat, though. It’s that you can only use this method if you have Type C ports. Those with Type A ports would not be able to charge their laptop using a Type C cable, but they can use a couple of other methods, which we will get into shortly.

Another problem you could face is that you might only have Type A cables that would not fit into a Type C port. If you want to charge your laptop using a USB port, try using a Type A to Type C converter. It should work as long as your charging source is offering the right level of voltage.

Pay Attention to Voltage

Voltage is another essential factor to consider while using this method to charge your laptop. You will need eight volts of power at minimum to successfully charge your computer. Anything less than this would not result in a transfer of power. Be wary of exceeding twelve volts, though. Voltage over twelve volts can result in overcharging, which can weaken your battery over time.

Once you have a USB cable, all you need is a power source to charge from. Since you are using a USB cable, the most logical power source would be a power bank. Plug your cable into the power bank, and place the other end inside your laptop’s USB port. It should start charging immediately, but if it doesn’t, there are a couple of other things that you can try out.

Charge Battery Separately

The most common way to charge a laptop battery is through a charging port, but did you know that you can charge it separately as well? By that, we mean charging your battery after extracting it from your laptop. Most laptops have a removable battery, and you can use this method if that’s the case with your machine.

You can take the battery out even if your laptop doesn’t have a removable battery. All you need to do is undo a few screws on the base plate and disconnect the battery from the motherboard. There is no need to worry as long as you do this carefully. Make sure that you extract the battery carefully. Otherwise, there is a chance that damage could occur.

An essential tool for you to get if you want to charge your laptop’s battery using this method is an external battery charger. It is a tool that you can connect directly to the battery and replenish its power supply without going through a charging port. An external battery charger will convert AC from your power outlet into DC that your battery can use.

Once you have removed your battery, connect the external battery charger to its charging pins. It should slot in similarly to the motherboard. You can connect the other end of the charger to a power outlet or a power bank. Either of these will work, although you would need to charge a power bank beforehand, so using a power outlet can help you skip a few unnecessary steps.

Keep a Backup Battery

Another method that people with removable laptop batteries can use is to put a backup battery in. Once your laptop runs out of charge, you can pop the battery out and replace it with a fully charged battery instead. It can be beneficial, especially if you are on a road trip and don’t expect to access a power outlet anytime soon.

You can use the same external battery charger that we mentioned above to keep your backup charged. When you take the spent battery out and put the charged battery in, put the former on charge with the external charger. That will allow it to replenish its power while you get work done using your backup battery.

Once your backup is out of charge, your original battery should be done charging. You can swap the batteries back and keep doing this until you find the time to get your charging port repaired. Repairing your charging port is essential if you want to avoid damaging your battery. Remember that this is a stopgap solution, not something that you can do permanently. It would be best to temporarily use one of the methods outlined above while you find the time to take your laptop to a professional to get it fixed.


Q. Why is my charging port not working?

A. There are a lot of factors that can cause your charging port to stop working properly. One minor issue that could be causing the problem would be dust or debris inside the port. Clean this out with a piece of tissue paper or a cotton swap. If this doesn’t work, the problem might be internal. It could potentially be a wiring issue or perhaps a damaged cable.

Q. Is it safe to charge my battery externally?

A. You can charge your laptop’s battery externally as long as you carefully follow the instructions we have provided above. External battery chargers are specially designed to charge a battery that is not attached to a laptop, and their manufacturing involves the proper safety protocols. You should also follow the safety guidelines that you would have received when you purchased the external charger.

Q. How can I prevent charging port damage?

A. The most common cause of a broken charging port is overcharging. Make sure you take your laptop off charge when you’re not using it, and don’t leave it on charge overnight under any circumstances. Also, avoid dropping your computer, as this can cause structural damage that can stop your charging port from working correctly.

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