It’s frustrating when your laptop runs out and you’ve forgotten the charger.Try these ways to recharge your laptop without the power adapter.
If your MacBook, Lenovo, HP, Dell, or similar laptop runs out of juice, but you’ve forgotten the charger, try these ways to recharge its battery without the original power adapter.
It’s easy to forget to take a laptop charger with you. Notebook batteries hold enough charge for a few hours of run time, so you should keep your laptop charged to do the work you need.
Follow along for alternative ways to charge your laptop without its original charger. We’ll also discuss whether it’s safe to recharge a laptop without its official charger in the first place.
1. Charge YourLaptop Using a Power Bank
Much like how you’d charge your smartphone via a power bank when there’s no other way to recharge it, you can also use a power bank to charge your laptop.
Anker’s PowerCore+ power bankAnker’s PowerCore+ 26800mAh PD power bank is a great choice to charge up your Apple, Dell, Lenovo, or another laptop, as it outputs approximately 20 volts of power. Also, you’ll save a few bucks by consulting our roundup of the best power banks on sale.
As a rule of thumb, avoid power banks that put out only 5V, as most laptops need 8V-12V power. Choose ones that support laptop charging and USB-C (early generations of laptops with USB-C don’t support charging).
2. Charge Your Laptop Using a Car BatteryCar hood open, with the battery being chargedIf you can’t manage a power bank, your car’s battery can charge your notebook without a charger, but you’ll need a power inverter to convert the DC power from your car to AC.
An accessory like the BESTEK 300W Power Inverter outputs up to 300 watts—more than enough to power a laptop! Although you’ll need to leave the power inverter somewhere on the vehicle floor, you can still take your laptop inside and out—which is excellent for beginners.
3. Purchase a USB-C Power Delivery ChargerIf you don’t have a power bank or can’t charge your laptop using a car battery, another good solution is a USB-C power adapter with multiple ports, sometimes referred to as a USB PD charger.
The front of Satechi’s 108-watt USB-C desktop charger with two USB-A and two USB-C ports
Of course, these things must be plugged into power vs. being a power source by itself, like a power bank. Satechi’s 108W USB C PD Desktop Charger (or your favorite brand) would recharge your laptop the same as a power bank.
Choose a charger with the right mix of USB ports to support all your devices. USB-C has a smaller oval-shaped connector that’s reversible and designed to conduct much more power at higher speeds than the older USB-A port. This makes it an excellent alternative for charging your computer when you don’t have a charger. Furthermore, power adapters compatible with the USB Power Delivery protocol (USB PD) feature protections against overcharging, overheating, etc. As such, they’re among the safest methods to charge via USB-C.
There are plenty of different chargers out there. To help you choose the right one, see our roundup of the safest and best USB-C chargers you can buy today.
4.Invest in a Universal Power AdapterWhile it’s great to know that there’s another option to charge your laptop battery without needing the official charger, you’ll probably end up with a dead or failed battery if you set the voltage too high when using a universal power adapter.
Universal power adapter with interchangeable tipsIt usually comes with interchangeable tips, with many different brands supported. Some battery packs even work with your car’s 12-volt cigarette lighter, making them truly portable.
5. Use a Super Battery for Your LaptopSuper batteries are like second or spare batteries for your laptop. They have different charging cables, and they replace your original laptop battery.
Ensure it fits your laptop and is the right size when you get one. Super batteries are brand-specific and may not work with your laptop if they weren’t explicitly designed for it. This method isn’t efficient, so it’s only for emergencies .
6. Keep a Spare Battery for EmergenciesA laptop with a dead battery can kill your productivity. Plan ahead by investing in a spare battery, but pick one for your specific laptop brand and model.
Dell Latitude Battery ReplacementUnlike super batteries, these are regular batteries that don’t require different charging cables. A spare battery is a life-saver for those times when your laptop’s battery has run out, and none of the alternative charging methods are currently available.
7. Use Your Computer’s USB Port for ChargingYou can charge its battery by connecting your laptop to another computer’s USB-C port via a cable high quality AC adapter. The USB-A port doesn’t work, so be sure to plug your laptop into your computer’s USB-C port.
However, you should note that if the charger or charging port cannot provide the required voltage, the laptop willCharging is slower than usual. This is normal and nothing to worry about.
8. Buy an external battery chargerWhen your laptop’s battery cannot be charged due to a motherboard or DC socket failure, you can use an external battery charger to charge your laptop’s battery.
External battery charger for Lenovo Thinkpad laptopsIf your computer has a user-removable battery, remove it and install it on an external charger. Connect the charger to a power source and wait for the flashlight to indicate the process is complete, then reinstall the battery into the laptop. That’s it – you’re good to go!
Choose an external battery charger designed specifically for your machine. External battery chargers are not universally compatible between laptop brands.
9. Use your phone or tablet to charge your laptopiPad with keyboard case next to MacBookMany smartphone brands, such as Samsung, and some tablets, such as the iPad, support reverse charging, meaning they act like a USB power bank.
On Android, you may need to enable this feature in settings. Otherwise, connect your laptop to your tablet’s USB-C port for a quick battery boost when you need it most.
However, you should limit reverse charging to emergencies to avoid overheating your phone or tablet’s battery, shortening its lifespan.
Is it safe to charge a laptop without an official charger?If the voltage and wattage do not match the specifications of the laptop’s original charger, it may not be safe to use a different charging method. An official charger or its approved replacement is the best way to safely power your laptop in all situations. Another common question we’ve discussed before is, “Should you leave your laptop plugged in all the time?”
Unfortunately, there are no easy answers:
Will leaving my laptop plugged in damage the battery? Yes, it does. But so does charging every day. Oddly enough, the industry doesn’t seem to have a unified answer to the question of whether laptops should run on AC power or battery power .
Most manufacturers recommend not leaving your laptop powered on all the time.
Don’t leave your laptop charger at home!Some of the above methods may not be safe for the life of your laptop battery, so avoid using them regularly unless it’s an emergency. Always use your laptop’s official charger; use these methods only when necessary.
To avoid interruptions in your work, it’s wise to invest in an external power adapter or USB-C charger and always carry a spare battery. It’s so annoying to forget your charger at home! The next time you pack your luggage, put the laptop adapterand charger in it first, then worry about other things.