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Dell XPS 13 Shows 'Battery Not Charging' After BIOS Update, Despite New Charger

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I recently updated my Dell XPS 13 (late 2020 model) to the latest BIOS version because I was having some random sleep issues. After the update, my laptop started showing "Battery Not Charging" even though the battery percentage increases slowly. I swapped to a brand-new Dell 65W USB-C charger (official one), and the cable and port seem fine because it charges other devices without a problem. I’ve already tried a full power reset and checked Dell Power Manager settings, but nothing changes. The battery health is still good (85% capacity) and Windows reports no errors in Device Manager. Has anyone else seen this issue after a BIOS update? Could the BIOS be misreading the charger or battery? Is there a way to roll back the BIOS safely, or maybe a hidden setting that controls charging behavior on newer Dell models? Would really appreciate tips on how to fix this without replacing the battery or laptop.

On 02/23/2026 at 6:10 PM, oq45 said:

I recently updated my Dell XPS 13 (late 2020 model) to the latest BIOS version because I was having some random sleep issues. After the update, my laptop started showing "Battery Not Charging" even though the battery percentage increases slowly. I swapped to a brand-new Dell 65W USB-C charger (official one), and the cable and port seem fine because it charges other devices without a problem. I’ve already tried a full power reset and checked Dell Power Manager settings, but nothing changes. The battery health is still good (85% capacity) and Windows reports no errors in Device Manager. Has anyone else seen this issue after a BIOS update? Could the BIOS be misreading the charger or battery? Is there a way to roll back the BIOS safely, or maybe a hidden setting that controls charging behavior on newer Dell models? Would really appreciate tips on how to fix this without replacing the battery or laptop.


That "Battery Not Charging" message combined with slow percentage increase after a BIOS update sounds like the system is being overly cautious, maybe due to a new charging algorithm or calibration tweak in the firmware. Dell sometimes implements battery preservation modes that limit charging speed or cap charge levels to extend battery life, which might explain the slow charge despite the official charger.

Rolling back the BIOS is possible but can be tricky - Dell’s support site usually has detailed steps and older BIOS versions available. Just make sure to follow their instructions carefully to avoid bricking the system. Also, double-check Dell Power Manager for any new or hidden settings related to charging thresholds or battery health that might have appeared after the update.

One other thing I’d try is resetting the embedded controller (EC) by unplugging the laptop, removing the battery if possible (or just holding the power button for 30 seconds with no power connected), then plugging everything back in. That sometimes clears weird charging flags

  • 2 weeks later...
On 02/23/2026 at 6:10 PM, oq45 said:

I recently updated my Dell XPS 13 (late 2020 model) to the latest BIOS version because I was having some random sleep issues. After the update, my laptop started showing "Battery Not Charging" even though the battery percentage increases slowly. I swapped to a brand-new Dell 65W USB-C charger (official one), and the cable and port seem fine because it charges other devices without a problem. I’ve already tried a full power reset and checked Dell Power Manager settings, but nothing changes. The battery health is still good (85% capacity) and Windows reports no errors in Device Manager. Has anyone else seen this issue after a BIOS update? Could the BIOS be misreading the charger or battery? Is there a way to roll back the BIOS safely, or maybe a hidden setting that controls charging behavior on newer Dell models? Would really appreciate tips on how to fix this without replacing the battery or laptop.


That slow battery percentage increase despite the "Battery Not Charging" message usually means the system is limiting charging to protect battery health - something BIOS updates sometimes tweak without clear user options. Since you already tried the Dell Power Manager and a full power reset, the next step I'd try is rolling back the BIOS to the previous version if you still have it available. Dell's support site usually has older BIOS versions, and flashing back is pretty straightforward but make sure the laptop is plugged in and don't interrupt the process.

Also, double-check if any new BIOS settings related to battery charging or thermal management appeared after the update - sometimes Dell adds "adaptive charging" or "battery conservation" modes that can cause this behavior. If nothing shows up, you might want to reach out to Dell support or forums specifically for your XPS model, as they sometimes release hotfixes for these BIOS quirks.

Charging gif

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