A Chromebook that will not charge
How do I fix a Chromebook that will not charge?
Written by The CommonFixes team · fact checked by CommonFixes review desk
Last updated
Short answer
Chromebooks charge over USB-C on nearly every recent model, and USB-C charging depends on a small negotiation between the charger and the machine. Lint in the port, a cable that only carries data, a charger with too few watts, or the power controller getting confused will all stop that negotiation. A hardware reset clears the last of those in seconds. The quickest thing to try first: do the chromebook hardware reset — This is the official first step and it fixes a large share of these cases. Leave the charger plugged in, hold Refresh, the circular arrow key, and press Power at the same time. Let go when the Chromebook starts up. On models with a removable battery, unplug the charger, take the battery out for thirty seconds and put it back instead. Most people are done in about 15 minutes.
Full walkthrough below: 6 steps for Windows and Mac, rated easy.
Sounds like this
- •No light on the charging port
- •The battery percentage keeps falling while plugged in
- •The Chromebook only charges in one particular position
Why it happens
Chromebooks charge over USB-C on nearly every recent model, and USB-C charging depends on a small negotiation between the charger and the machine. Lint in the port, a cable that only carries data, a charger with too few watts, or the power controller getting confused will all stop that negotiation. A hardware reset clears the last of those in seconds.
Work through these in order
0% done- 1
Do the Chromebook hardware reset
This is the official first step and it fixes a large share of these cases. Leave the charger plugged in, hold Refresh, the circular arrow key, and press Power at the same time. Let go when the Chromebook starts up. On models with a removable battery, unplug the charger, take the battery out for thirty seconds and put it back instead.
- 2
Look inside the charging port with a torch
Pocket lint packs into the bottom of a USB-C port and stops the plug from seating fully. Shut the Chromebook down, take a wooden toothpick or a plastic pick, and gently scrape the debris out. Never use anything metal and never poke hard. A plug that now clicks in firmly instead of sitting loose is the sign you got it.
- 3
Use the original charger and check the wattage
A phone charger rated 5 watts or 18 watts will not keep a Chromebook alive while it is on. Look at the small print on the charger for the watt figure and match it with the one your model shipped with, usually 45 watts or 65 watts. Also make sure the cable is a charging cable, because cheap USB-C cables that came with an accessory often carry data only.
- 4
Try the other USB-C port
Most Chromebooks have a port on each side and either can charge. If it charges on the left but not the right, the port is the fault and everything else is healthy. That also tells a repair shop exactly what to replace.
- 5
Leave it on charge for a full hour before judging
A battery that has been flat for weeks goes into a deep sleep and shows no light and no screen for as long as thirty to sixty minutes while it takes a trickle charge. Plug it in at the wall, not into a monitor or a hub, and walk away. Wall sockets on extension leads with a switch are worth double checking too.
- 6
Check the battery health inside ChromeOS
If it does charge but drains fast, press Control, Alt and T to open Crosh, type battery_test 1 and press Enter. It reports the battery health as a percentage. Below about 70 per cent means the cell is worn out and a replacement battery, not a charger, is what you need.
If none of that worked
If the hardware reset, a known good 45 watt or 65 watt charger and both ports all fail, the charging board inside has gone. Chromebooks carry an auto update expiry date, so before paying for a repair, open Settings, About ChromeOS, Additional details and look at the update schedule. Paying to fix a machine that stops receiving updates in a few months is rarely worth it.
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Who wrote this and how we checked it
The CommonFixes team
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We are a small group of people who spend our days repairing laptops and desktops for family, friends and small offices. Every guide here starts with a problem someone actually brought to us, and we only write down the steps that put the machine right.
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CommonFixes review desk
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This guide was last updated on 13 August 2026. If a step no longer matches what you see on screen, tell us on the contact page and we will test it again.
A gentle reminder: back up anything you cannot afford to lose before major repairs. If a step ever feels risky, stop and ask a technician. There is no shame in that.