Nobody wants to be caught with a Chromebook that’s got a dead battery.
Finding that you’ve either lost or damaged your charger can suddenly turn this situation into your worst nightmare. Especially if you’ve got a big presentation or if you’re traveling, you’ll find that buying an original charger is close to impossible.
Thankfully, there are many ways to power up your Chromebook in the meantime.
This article will discuss five different ways to charge a Chromebook without a charger.
The ideal option would be to charge your Chromebook using a Type-C cord. You can plug it directly into an outlet or a portable charger, like a power bank or your smartphone.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Diagnose your Chromebook Battery and Charger
Before looking for an alternative charging solution, diagnose your battery and charging cable to see what kind of problem you’re dealing with.
Battery
Check your Chromebook’s battery life by clicking the time button on the bottom right corner of your screen. This will give you an idea of how much time you have until the battery goes dead.
Charger
Check if your original charger is really broken. In some cases, you might just have failed to assemble it correctly.
- Chromebook chargers have two parts: the power adapter and the transformer. Untangle the cords and make sure that the power adapter is securely plugged into the transformer.
- Check if the charger is plugged into the outlet.
Replacing your Chromebook Charger
However, do keep in mind that using alternative charging methods won’t be healthy for your battery and charging port in the long run. The ideal permanent solution would, of course, be to buy an original charger.
The solutions we’ll introduce in this article are suitable only for emergencies.
Whether you’re looking for an original Chromebook charger or a temporary replacement, you can always find a quick solution on Amazon.
5 Easy Ways to Charge a Chromebook without a Charger
Use a USB Type-C Charging Cable with Plug Adapter
One of the best things about Chromebooks is that most come with a USB Type-C port.
Some Chromebooks even have this port as their main charging outlet.
Type-C ports and cables are preferred by many laptop users because of their reliably fast transfer and charging speeds.
If your Chromebook has a built-in Type C port, you can get a Type-C cable with a plug adapter online. Just remember to check if the Type-C power adapter is compatible with your laptop’s manufacturer and model.
To use a USB-C charger, follow these simple steps:
- Click Time in the lower right corner of your screen.
- Navigate to the Settings menu.
- Click Power.
- Choose USB-C port as your Power Source.
- Plug your Type-C charger into a power outlet.
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Use a USB Type-C Charging Cable with Plug Adapter
If you’re looking for a more versatile option than the previous tip, you can get a Type-C cable with a wall plug. Since it’s lightweight, you’ll find it helpful too if you do a lot of traveling and commuting.
You can even use the cable and wall plug to charge your smartphone.
It’s a handy accessory for emergencies.
Use a Car Charger
This is another convenient way to keep your laptop running while you’re on the road.
Cars are powered by electricity, so you can use their battery as you’re looking for an alternative power source. However, keep in mind that you’ll have to keep the car running while you’re charging.
There are two ways to charge your Chromebook using your car:
AC/DC Car Charger
Some laptops come with an AC/DC car charger.
You can plug this into your car’s charging ports then directly into your laptop’s charging port.
There are lots of different models available online, depending on the laptop brand and model. You won’t have any trouble finding AC car chargers for No products found., No products found.and the like.
Make sure that you get the right one!
Type-C Car Charger
Just like we said, your USB-C cable is a versatile accessory that’ll get you out of trouble in more ways than one!
You can charge your Chromebook by plugging the Type-C car charger directly into your car’s charging ports.
Some USB-C car chargers come with an integrated Type-C chord, but you can always get Type-C car chargers separately if you already have a USB-C chord.
Use a Power Bank
Here’s another convenient way to charge your Chromebook if you’re traveling.
There are lots of high-tech power banks specially engineered for laptops and Chromebooks.
When choosing a power bank for your laptop, make sure it’s compatible with your Chromebook’s specific brand and model.
Most Chromebooks today have a 5,140 mAh battery capacity. To ensure that you can use it for multiple recharges, look for a power bank with a higher power capacity.
Crave 500000mAh Power Banks are a heavy-duty option that can offer up to a week’s worth of battery power.
However, if you’re looking for a lightweight and compact option, go for the Krisdonia 25000mAh laptop power bank.
Use a Smartphone
There’s another power source that we bet is readily available to you.
That’s right; you can use your smartphone to charge your Chromebook.
We’ll start by saying that this last method isn’t the most ideal. Your smartphone has a much smaller battery capacity compared to your laptop, so don’t expect to fully charge your laptop using this method.
If your laptop comes with a built-in USB-C port, it’s likely that it supports USB charging.
- Plug your USB-C cable into your smartphone and Chromebook
- A notification will appear on your phone. Choose the option to supply power to the other connected device.
While a dead phone is no better than a dead laptop, this trick might be useful for you in the future. Make sure you close down any non-essential apps to conserve as much power as possible. If you are easily distracted then we recommend blocking Youtube on your Chromebook (at least until you get a new charger!).
Conclusion
If you have a Chromebook, we recommend buying a USB Type-C cord as soon as possible. You can plug the Type-C chord into a wall outlet, a car charger, and portable power sources, like a power bank or smartphone.
We’ll go as far as to say that it’s the most convenient option if you don’t have your original charger.
While these methods aren’t ideal for long-term use on your Chromebook, they’re the best ways to get you out of a tight spot.