How to Make Your Laptop Charge Faster

We’ve all been there — rushing out for work, class, or a meeting, only to realize your laptop battery is running low and the charging is painfully slow. The good news? There are simple tricks you can use to make your laptop charge faster without needing advanced tech skills.

In this guide, we’ll cover practical methods you can apply today to speed up your charging time, extend your battery’s lifespan, and keep your laptop ready whenever you need it.

Why Your Laptop Charges Slowly

Before you learn how to make your laptop charge faster, it’s important to understand why it charges slowly in the first place. Some common causes include:

Using the wrong or low-quality charger.
Charging while running heavy apps or games.
Too many background programs draining power.
Outdated battery drivers or firmware.
A worn-out or old laptop battery.

By fixing these issues, you can drastically improve charging speed.

Practical Ways to Make Your Laptop Charge Faster

1. Use the Original Charger and Cable

The fastest way to make your laptop charge faster is by using the charger that came with it. Third-party chargers often provide less power output, which slows charging.

Check your laptop’s wattage requirement (e.g., 45W, 65W, 90W).
Use a charger that meets or exceeds this power rating.
Avoid cheap, unbranded chargers that could damage your laptop.

2. Plug Directly Into a Wall Socket

If you’re charging through an extension cord, surge protector, or docking station, your laptop may not get full power. For the fastest charging:

Always plug directly into a wall outlet.
Avoid charging from USB hubs or low-power ports.

3. Close Background Programs

The more apps running, the more power your laptop consumes, which slows down charging.

Close unnecessary apps and browser tabs.
End background processes using Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (Mac).
Pause software updates or downloads while charging.

4. Switch to Battery Saver or Airplane Mode

Enabling power-saving features reduces background activity, making charging faster.

On Windows: Enable Battery Saver mode.
On macOS: Turn on Low Power Mode.
Enable Airplane Mode to turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other connections.

5. Shut Down or Put Your Laptop to Sleep

The absolute best way to make your laptop charge faster is to stop using it while it’s charging.

Shut it down completely for the fastest boost.
If you still need it, put it in Sleep Mode.

6. Keep Your Laptop Cool

Heat slows down charging and damages batteries. If your laptop feels hot, it might charge more slowly.

Place your laptop on a hard surface, not a bed or pillow.
Use a cooling pad if possible.
Clean dust from vents and fans.

7. Update Battery Drivers and Firmware

Outdated battery drivers can cause charging inefficiency.

On Windows: Go to Device Manager → Batteries → Update Driver.
On macOS: Updates are handled automatically with system updates.

8. Disable Unnecessary Peripherals

External devices like USB drives, external hard disks, or phone chargers connected to your laptop consume power while charging.

To make your laptop charge faster, unplug all unnecessary devices.

9. Calibrate Your Battery Occasionally

Over time, batteries lose calibration, which affects charging performance. To recalibrate:

Fully charge your laptop.
Use it until the battery drains completely.
Charge it back to 100% without interruption.

This helps your system read the battery more accurately and may improve charging speed.

Bonus Tip: Consider a Battery Replacement

If you’ve tried all these methods and your laptop still charges slowly, your battery might be worn out. Laptop batteries degrade after a few years, and replacing them can instantly restore fast charging.

Conclusion

You don’t have to sit around waiting forever for your laptop to charge. By following these simple steps — like using the right charger, closing background apps, and keeping your laptop cool — you can make your laptop charge faster and extend its battery life.

Remember: