My Lenovo thinkpad E45 is not charging when its on and the LED does not turn on during charging

Question

My laptop does not charge when its own and also does not show that its charging when Iturn it on what can I do?

Answer 1

1

Open Device Manager (accessible by right clicking your Start Button)

Expand the Batteries section

For each device in that section:

Right click and choose Disable

Wait a second or two, then right click and choose Enable

Close Device Manager

Restart (not shut down) your laptop and check if the battery is charging correctly.

2

If not, open the Lenovo Vantage utility and in there, there should be a diagnostics option, run that to test if there is any indication of a problem with the battery or power board in your laptop.

Answer 2

On Windows devices, charging is expected to work whenever the PC is connected to a proper charger, regardless of whether it is on, sleeping, or shut down. If the battery is not charging when the laptop is on and the LED does not indicate charging, focus on the power source, charger, and hardware.

Try these steps in order:

1. Verify charger and cable
   • Use the original Lenovo charger and cable that came with the laptop.
   • Make sure the charger is firmly plugged into the wall and into the laptop’s charging port.
   • If the charger or cable is damaged, frayed, or loose, stop using it and test with another compatible Lenovo charger.
2. Check the correct charging port
   • Ensure the charger is connected to the actual charging port on the laptop (some USB-C or USB ports may not support charging).
3. Test the power source
   • Plug the charger into a different wall outlet.
   • If possible, test the charger on another compatible device, or test a known-good charger on this laptop.
4. Reduce power usage while testing
   • Shut down Windows completely, then connect the charger and leave it connected for at least 30–60 minutes.
   • If the battery is very low, the system may need some time before it can power on.
5. Look for any charging indication
   • When the charger is connected, check for any LED on the power brick, cable, or connector (if present) and any on-screen battery icon changes once Windows is running.
   • In Windows, select the battery icon on the taskbar to see if it shows “Charging” or any status message like “Plugged in, not charging” or “PC is charging slowly or discharging.” If it shows slow charging or discharging, the charger or cable may not meet the power requirements.
6. Use a proper high‑power USB/USB‑C source (if charging via USB)
   • If the laptop charges via USB-C, ensure the charger and cable support the required voltage and current for the PC. Low‑power phone chargers or non‑PD chargers may not charge the laptop properly.
7. If there is still no charging or LED
   • If the laptop never shows any charging status (no LED, no change in the Windows battery icon) with a known‑good charger and outlet, this points to a hardware issue with the battery, charging circuit, or port.
   • In that case, contact Lenovo support or a qualified repair technician for hardware diagnosis and possible battery or mainboard service.

If the battery appears swollen (case bulging, touchpad or keyboard lifting, gaps opening in the chassis), stop using the device immediately and seek professional service, as a swollen battery is a safety risk.

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References:

• User experience principles for battery charging
• Battery and charging
• Battery and power subsystem hardware design
• PC is charging slowly or discharging while it’s plugged in
• Troubleshoot Microsoft adaptive accessories
• My battery expanded in my Notebook and popped open the cover. This is not good - Microsoft Q&A