If your laptop is slow or lagging while charging on Windows 11, you are not alone. This has become a common problem that users face when they plug in their laptops. In this article, we will discuss in detail the causes and solutions that can eliminate this problem.
Check the Power Settings
The power modes in Windows 11 have a direct impact on the performance of your system, especially when the laptop is on charge.
Solution: Change power mode
1. Click the Start button and open Settings.
2. Go to System > Power & battery.
3. Go to the “Power mode” section and set it to “Best performance”.
This setting ensures that your system works at its full capacity even while charging.
Update or reinstall the battery driver
Sometimes battery drivers get corrupted, which can cause lag issues while charging.
Solution: Update the driver from Device Manager
1. Press Windows + X and open Device Manager.
2. Click on “Batteries” and right-click on Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery.
3. Select “Update driver”.
4. If the problem persists, restart the system by “Uninstall device”.
Check for CPU Throttling
When the laptop is on charge, it may overheat, which leads to CPU Throttling and slows down the system.
Solution: Use ThrottleStop
ThrottleStop is a third-party tool that lets you monitor and control throttling.
> Note: Be careful while using this tool as it directly affects the system performance.
Monitor the Temperature
Overheating can be a major reason for a laptop slowing down while charging.
Solution: Check the temperature with tools like HWMonitor or Core Temp
If the CPU temperature is going above 90°C, you should consider a cooling pad or thermal paste replacement.
Clean the fan and vents.
Update the BIOS or UEFI firmware
An outdated BIOS can also affect performance while charging.
Solution: Update BIOS from the manufacturer’s website
1. Check the BIOS version with your laptop’s model number.
2. Visit the manufacturer’s official website and download the BIOS update.
3. Install as per the onscreen instructions.
BIOS updates often resolve throttling and power management issues.
Control background apps and startup programs
When charging, Windows 11 starts prioritizing many background processes that can cause lag.
Solution: Close background apps from Task Manager
1. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
2. Go to the “Startup” tab and disable unnecessary apps.
3. Close apps with high CPU/memory consumption by going to the “Processes” tab.
Check graphics settings and drivers
In some cases, the dedicated GPU gets activated while charging, which can slow down the system.
Solution: Update graphics driver
Download the latest driver from the official site of NVIDIA / AMD / Intel.
Update the driver by going to Device Manager > Display Adapters.
Control Windows Update and Background Services
Windows 11 may run automatic updates or services while charging, causing the system to lag.
Solution: Temporarily pause Windows Update
1. Go to Settings > Windows Update.
2. Select “Pause updates for 7 days”.
Also, turn off “Delivery Optimization”:
Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Delivery Optimization > Allow downloads from other PCs.
Perform Disk Cleanup and Storage Optimization
The overfull disk can also affect performance.
Solution: Turn on Disk Cleanup and Storage Sense
1. Type “Disk Cleanup” in Start and run it.
2. Select and clean temporary files, thumbnails, etc.
3. Turn on Settings > System > Storage > Storage Sense.
Run Power Troubleshooter
Windows has an option to automatically fix power-related problems.
Solution: Run the troubleshooter
1. Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
2. Click on “Power” and press the “Run” button.
Conclusion
When you put the laptop on charging in Windows 11 and it starts lagging, the reason for this can be power settings, driver, throttling or overheating. By trying all the methods given above, you can solve this problem permanently.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Why does my laptop slow down just on charging?
Answer: There can be many reasons behind a laptop slowing down while charging, such as – power mode being on “battery saver”, CPU throttling, overheating, battery or BIOS driver problems, or incorrect configuration of power management settings.
Question 2: Can updating the BIOS improve performance?
Answer: Yes, if your BIOS is out of date, then updating it can solve many issues related to power and performance of the laptop. It can also reduce CPU throttling and power delivery related problems.
Question 3: Can a faulty charger also cause a slow laptop?
Answer: Yes, if you are using a low voltage or duplicate charger, the laptop does not receive enough power, and this can lead to slow performance.
Question 4: Can changing the power mode solve the problem?
Answer: Absolutely. Choosing the “Best Performance” power mode in Windows 11 makes the CPU work faster, and the laptop performs well even when charging.
Question 5: Can I turn off throttling?
Answer: Yes, you can monitor and control throttling using tools like ThrottleStop, but use it with caution, as incorrect settings can damage the system.
Question 6: Will this problem be solved if I stop using the laptop while charging?
Answer: In some cases, yes, as it reduces heat generation. But this is not a permanent solution. You should follow the technical solutions given above.
Question 7: Can Windows Updates be responsible for this problem?
Answer: Sometimes Windows Updates are running in the background, especially when charging, which can cause system slowdown. You can test by temporarily pausing the updates.