Lenovo laptop's plugged in, but battery won't charge and is slowly decreasing.

[Valden21]

Here's my setup:
Computer Information:
Manufacturer: LENOVO
Model: 81WE
Form Factor: Laptop
Touch Input Detected

Processor Information:
CPU Vendor: GenuineIntel
CPU Brand: Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-1005G1 CPU @ 1.20GHz
CPU Family: 0x6
CPU Model: 0x7e
CPU Stepping: 0x5
CPU Type: 0x0

Operating System Version:
Windows 10 (64 bit)
NTFS: Supported
Crypto Provider Codes: Supported 311 0x0 0x0 0x0

Video Card:
Driver: Intel(R) UHD Graphics
DirectX Driver Name: igdumdim32.dll
Driver Version: 27.20.100.8729
DirectX Driver Version: 27.20.100.8729
Driver Date: 9 28 2020
OpenGL Version: 4.6
Desktop Color Depth: 32 bits per pixel
Monitor Refresh Rate: 59 Hz
DirectX Card: Intel(R) UHD Graphics

Okay, I just got this laptop this past Friday, and it's brand-new. On Saturday, I noticed that even though it was plugged in, and was registering as plugged in, the battery charge was at 99% and slowly decreasing. Right now, it's at 97% percent. I want the battery to start charging to 100% again and stay there, but I have no idea how to do that. Could someone help, please? I've gone online to seek help at different computer support sites, even from Lenovo's own support site, but none of the information they provided was of help because none of the examples the sites provided matched my own. Conservation Mode is on, and I have Lenovo Vantage installed, but no other power management software.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Contact Lenovo Support or place of purchase

[Valden21]

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

Contact Lenovo Support or place of purchase

Like I said, I've already looked up my issue on Lenovo's support page. It doesn't help, as they want me to create an account and I don't want to do that just to get an answer to one question. Also, the Lenovo Support's Knowledge Base automatically assumes that certain software packages are installed, and I don't have these software packages on my computer. There seems to be no place for me to download them, either.

What little information I HAVE been able to gather is that by design, my computer will apparently only charge once it reaches low battery power, and only charge to a certain point. It will drain any battery charge past that point. Is that true, and is there a way for me to get my battery to automatically charge back to 100%? Anyone who has one of these laptops, please provide an answer.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

You just bought it. Go back to the place of purchase. Plus I never meant to go look on Lenovo support website, but to actually call them. But using their support shouldn't be needed this early as you have a retailer return policy you can use this early on.

Honestly it sounds to me like it's running off battery the entire time and that the wall adapter simply is not plugged in all the way. Laptops will charge regardless of where the battery % is at. Once it's at 100% it will stop charging. As Laptops by default run off wall power as the primary and battery as secondary, unlike Phones/Tablets.

[Valden21]

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

You just bought it. Go back to the place of purchase. Plus I never meant to go look on Lenovo support website, but to actually call them. But using their support shouldn't be needed this early as you have a retailer return policy you can use this early on.

Honestly it sounds to me like it's running off battery the entire time and that the wall adapter simply is not plugged in all the way. Laptops will charge regardless of where the battery % is at. Once it's at 100% it will stop charging. As Laptops by default run off wall power as the primary and battery as secondary, unlike Phones/Tablets.

The wall adapter IS plugged in all the way. From the information I've been able to get, stuff like this is normal because of software that's pre-loaded on the computer. Go back to the place of purchase is unrealistic because we bought it from Amazon.com, and from what online support tells me, there's a specific program that controls battery charging to prevent the battery from being overcharged. I have no experience with Lenovo laptops, so I don't precisely know what to do.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Nope, no such app.
It might have software on there but it has nothing to do with any of that. As all of that works just the same when the laptop is off, in the bios, in another OS (such as Linux). All software does is handle driver/software updates, as well as allow for various power plans.

What was going to be the intended use of this laptop?

Seriously if not happy with it, return it back to Amazon. Their returns are easy and fairly hassle free.

[Valden21]

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

Nope, no such app.
It might have software on there but it has nothing to do with any of that. As al that works just the same when the laptop is off, in the bios, in another OS (such as Linux). All software does is handle driver/software updates, as well as allow for various power plans.

What was going to be the intended use of this laptop?

There IS an app like that. It's part of the Lenovo Vantage software package, and it's called Conservation Mode. Look, here is what it says: "This function is useful to extend the lifespan of your battery when plugged. When this mode is enabled, the battery will only be charged to 55-60% of capacity and the battery lifespan can be maximized. However, this will shorten the time you use your computer after it is disconnected from the AC power source."

That's the information I'm getting, both from Lenovo Support and from my computer itself.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Best bet with any Laptop is wipe the drive 100% clean and clean install the OS. Such as Win10 64bit 2009 via making your own Win10 usb flash drive.

[Valden21]

That's WAY too drastic for my taste. Look, all I'm trying to do is to figure out how to solve this issue without resorting to anything really drastic, and everything you've suggested so far falls into what I regard as the "last resort" category.

Here's what the Lenovo Support site is telling me:
"Battery charge stops at 60% (plugged in, not charging) - Windows - ideapad
Symptom
The battery charge stops at 55%-60% even with the AC adapter plugged in and shows a plugged in, not charging message. The battery cannot be fully charged.
Applicable Brands
ideapad
System Is Configured With
Lenovo Energy Management
Lenovo Power Manager
OneKey Optimizer
Lenovo Settings
Operating Systems
Windows 7
Windows 8/8.1
Windows 10
Solution
Method One
Many systems support power management programs that can either extend the run time of the battery or extend the life of the battery. The 60% available (plugged in, not charging) message indicates that this sort of setting may be enabled. Under this setting, the battery does not charge to 100% when connected to an AC adapter in order to preserve the battery’s life. arrowFor models with Lenovo Energy Management preloaded arrowFor models with Lenovo Power Manager preloaded arrowFor models with OneKey Optimizer preloaded arrowFor systems with Lenovo Settings installed arrowFor systems with Lenovo Vantage installed Note:
If Conservation Mode is turned off and the AC adapter is added when the battery capacity drops from 100% but is still more than 95% (95% - 100%), the battery will not start charging. This is not a bug. It is due to the battery charge self-protection feature. This works by design.
Method Two
Go to Lenovo support website to download and install the latest BIOS. Reboot the PC and try again. If the problem persists, go to the next step.
Shut down the computer.
With the battery in (remove the AC adapter), attempt to turn on the computer by holding down the power button for 30 seconds. This should not turn on the computer.
Remove the battery (if the battery is not detachable, skip this step).
Again, attempt to turn on the computer (AC adapter is not plugged in) by holding down the power button for 30 seconds. This should not turn on the computer either.
Re-attach the battery, plug in the AC adapter, and turn on the computer. The battery should begin charging.
There are other possible causes for plugged in/not charging conditions. Please refer to Related Articles for more scenarios or contact the Lenovo local service provider by clicking Contact US from the top on this page."

This is the closest I can find to what is going on with my own computer, and it's a make where this would happen.

[xSOSxHawkens]

Man, looks like I might be the only other lenovo user here from the replies thus far.

@OP - Yes, this is normal behavior. Has been in most upper end lenovo's since the second gen i7 era.

Li-Ion batteries used in laptops dont like being stored at top voltage for extended time. Even worse is to put them into a charge state with postitive current applied while also being at or near max state. It hurts the battery and reduces total charge cycles over the battery life span signifigantly. This applies to any Litium type batter, Li-Ion, Li-Po and Li-FE, though to differeing degrees and cuttoffs. They also dont like being too discharged.

Lenovo began building in, both at a BIOS level and windows app level, auto managment features for the batteries. If you have not recently discharged the battery it will charge it up once, then discharge it to around 90 % as you are seeing, while drawing on AC for primary power. It wont discharge until it has stayed at 100 for an extended time while plugged in. So if you are unplugging and using it as a mobile PC daily (as intended) you would likely never see this feature. But if you plug in for a weekend and let it sit for days on AC is when it kicks in.

FWIW - Check any laptop manual and it tells you (normally) to remove the battery both for extended storage and for extended AC use. Though this doesnt always get stated, and in some more modern devices might not work (or be possible with integrated battery).

Point is it is working as intended. I am not sure if there is a way to turn it off for your model, and if there is, you probably shouldnt. If you are already unplugging it rarely enough that you are seeing this, turning it off will just kill the battery due to poor usage habits (in terms of battery health, not saying you use the PC poorly). Its doing you a favor by tending to the needs of the battery while letting you use the device how you want to.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Just uninstall all the Lenovo junk-ware. Other then that, not sure what you wish to do. As you said, Lenovo says it's normal

[Valden21]

Originally posted by xSOSxHawkens:

Man, looks like I might be the only other lenovo user here from the replies thus far.

@OP - Yes, this is normal behavior. Has been in most upper end lenovo's since the second gen i7 era.

Li-Ion batteries used in laptops dont like being stored at top voltage for extended time. Even worse is to put them into a charge state with postitive current applied while also being at or near max state. It hurts the battery and reduces total charge cycles over the battery life span signifigantly. This applies to any Litium type batter, Li-Ion, Li-Po and Li-FE, though to differeing degrees and cuttoffs. They also dont like being too discharged.

Lenovo began building in, both at a BIOS level and windows app level, auto managment features for the batteries. If you have not recently discharged the battery it will charge it up once, then discharge it to around 90 % as you are seeing, while drawing on AC for primary power. It wont discharge until it has stayed at 100 for an extended time while plugged in. So if you are unplugging and using it as a mobile PC daily (as intended) you would likely never see this feature. But if you plug in for a weekend and let it sit for days on AC is when it kicks in.

FWIW - Check any laptop manual and it tells you (normally) to remove the battery both for extended storage and for extended AC use. Though this doesnt always get stated, and in some more modern devices might not work (or be possible with integrated battery).

Point is it is working as intended. I am not sure if there is a way to turn it off for your model, and if there is, you probably shouldnt. If you are already unplugging it rarely enough that you are seeing this, turning it off will just kill the battery due to poor usage habits (in terms of battery health, not saying you use the PC poorly). Its doing you a favor by tending to the needs of the battery while letting you use the device how you want to.

So this is happening because I'm keeping it plugged in all the time?

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

Just uninstall all the Lenovo junk-ware. Other then that, not sure what you wish to do. As you said, Lenovo says it's normal

Look, I don't know what you have against Lenovo, and it doesn't really matter to me. It's your opinion, but your opinion isn't mine. Can't we just accept that?

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Like I said... accept the fact that you don't like it, return it for a refund and buy another or better laptop that you do like. I'm not letting my opinions get in the way or steering you in any means a bad way. Plenty to choose from but you picked a rather low quality model with very poor specs, bottom line. I've answered your questions and all, so take it as you will.

[Raoul]

Conservation mode is to stop charging past 60% or so which is a good thing if you end up having your laptop plugged in all the time. This feature is inbuilt to protect lithium batteries which can stay healthier and last longer term if kept between 20 - 80% at all times whether used or in storage.
It's always better to have it stop charging once at 100% especially if you are using it at the same time which can cause more heat and stress for the battery reducing it's lifespan.

What xSOSxHawkens says above is completely accurate.

[xSOSxHawkens]

Yeh OP, this is because its plugged in all the time. Its so that when you do want to use it as a laptop the battery still works right.

Either dont worry about it, as it actually is a good thing, or unplug the laptop once every day or two and use it on the couch or bed for awhile till its down to sub-50% then plug it back in to charge it back on up, just know that if you leave it plugged in again long term it will go back down to 90.

[Valden21]

Originally posted by xSOSxHawkens:

Yeh OP, this is because its plugged in all the time. Its so that when you do want to use it as a laptop the battery still works right.

Either dont worry about it, as it actually is a good thing, or unplug the laptop once every day or two and use it on the couch or bed for awhile till its down to sub-50% then plug it back in to charge it back on up, just know that if you leave it plugged in again long term it will go back down to 90.

Last question. Will the battery start charging on its own eventually? Currently, the charge is 96%.