There’s little as irritating as starting your workday with a laptop that isn’t cooperating. Maybe the battery is draining faster than your coffee maker is working, or the M key has decided to take a day off. But when you realize that on a gray Tuesday morning your laptop won’t charge at all and you end up staring at a black screen alone, the tendency is to throw it straight through the window. Don’t panic! At ThePhoneLab, we understand that your laptop is a lifesaver on such a rainy Tuesday. That’s why in this blog we tell you what could be wrong and, even better, how to fix it yourself.

• Why does my laptop no longer charge?
• Short tricks you can do yourself
• Maintaining your laptop over the long term
• At your wit’s end? ThePhoneLab got you!

Why does my laptop no longer charge?

If your laptop stops charging, there could be several culprits. Perhaps your charger is broken or the cable is worn out, causing it to stop doing its job. It could also be due to the charging port, accumulation of dust or crumbs can block the connection (those snacks were probably worth it). We’ll tell you in a moment how best to fix this and avoid it in the future. In addition, the battery may simply be at the end of its life. Batteries have an expiration date, and over time it stops responding to the charging cable connection or simply stops working. Sometimes the problem is on the software side, an outdated update or wrong settings can throw a spanner in the works. And let’s not forget overheating, laptops are sensitive and can protect themselves by not charging if they get too hot. Computer overheating naturally occurs when the laptop is running full speed in a hot setting, what you may not have known is that this can also happen when your laptop has heavy applications running around the clock. Want to know more about how long your laptop lasts and how to extend its life? Then read: How long does a laptop last?

Short tricks you can do yourself

Reading this from your desk at work or school and don’t have much time? No worries, we’ve got your back!

Follow these quick tricks to discover what’s wrong with your laptop. As simple as it sounds, sometimes a broken outlet is the culprit. Plug your charger into another outlet and see if your laptop charges. Is it still not doing it? Then the problem is probably in the charger itself or your laptop. To be sure, try your charger on a colleague’s or classmate’s laptop. Does it work there? Then your charger is okay. Does it not work there either? Then it’s time to say goodbye to your (probably non-original) charger. Do you have USB sticks, external hard drives or other peripherals plugged in? Unplug them and restart your laptop. If your laptop still won’t cooperate then, the problem really lies in your trusty device.

Okay, time to take your laptop in hand yourself.

Start by checking your charging port. Use compressed air or blow (without saliva, please) to remove dirt and dust from it. This is old-school troubleshooting, but trust us, it still works. If this doesn’t help, try a power reset. Hold down the power button for at least 30 seconds, and give your laptop a fresh start. Is it still not working after that? Chances are the battery is burned out and in need of replacement.

Maintaining your laptop over the long term

Your laptop is one of your most valuable tools, so it is important to maintain it properly and extend its life. With a few simple steps, you can avoid many problems and ensure that it continues to work reliably.

Start by keeping your laptop clean. As we already mentioned, dust and dirt can accumulate in the vents and charging port, causing overheating and connection problems. Avoid dusty places and from now on, eat your cookie over a plate instead of your laptop, it can be that easy! The battery also requires attention. Avoid having your battery constantly fully charged or completely drained; this puts unnecessary strain on the battery and reduces its life. Ideally, keep it between 20% and 80% charged. Use heavy apps or processes sparingly if you don’t have a charger handy, so your battery will drain less quickly. Software maintenance is just as important. Make sure your operating system and drivers are up to date. This will prevent compatibility issues and keep your laptop performing optimally. Finally, it is important not to keep your storage constantly full all the time; this causes sluggishness and, in the long run, another battery failure. If you want to know more about what makes your laptop slower and how to fix it, read on: Is your laptop slow? this is how you fix that in no time

At your wit’s end? ThePhoneLab got you!

None of the tricks work? Then the problem probably lies with your battery, which is difficult to fix yourself. Don’t worry, you really don’t have to throw it through the window (as tempting as that may be). At ThePhoneLab, we’re here to help, no matter how hopeless the situation may seem.Our experts have seen it all: from batteries that refuse to charge, to charging ports full of dust, to laptops that have given up completely. We work with original parts and our specialists have the skills to give your laptop a second life again.

Make an appointment quickly and easily through our website or just walk in. In no time, you’ll have your trusty laptop back, working as if nothing was ever wrong.