HP Probook won't charge via 'most' USB-C power supplies?

[anonymous-user]

Hopefully someone far more knowledgeable than me can give me some help with this issue, because it is confusing me...

For years, I have always used a MacBook for work (bought by myself) but recently my employers again offered me a HP Probook, which I took as I thought I might as well drop/bash/spill coffee on/use on theirs instead of mine.

I only ever carried a USB-C cable with my MacBook, never a power adaptor, and charged it off any of the USB-C power points all over the office and the desks. Depressingly, the HP came a 1990's looking power brick adapter and plug, but I was hoping not to have to carry it with me or use it, as I noticed the HP had a USB-C port.

I tried to charge it by doing the same thing as my MacBook, just using a USB-C cable to plug it into a USB-C desk socket, but nothing happened. I tried a couple of different USB-C cables and power supply sockets but nothing.

I then plugged it into my Dell D6000 USB-C dock at home and it charged just fine via USB-C (as well as connected to all the other peripherals plugged into the dock).

Anyone know what is going on as I would really like to not carry a big of brick of an adaptor with me...

Thanks!

[Dave.]

Is there more than one usb c socket on the laptop?

[anonymous-user]

No, there is just the one, and it has the ‘SS’ and ‘DP’ logos next to it.

It has 3 other USB A ports with the SS logos next to them.

The power adaptor it came with plugs into an ‘old school’ circular power adaptor socket.

I can’t work it out, as it charges/powers fine from my Dell USB-C dock connector, but I can’t seem to get it to charge from another USB-C source.

Edit: if it helps, the model of laptop is HP ProBook X360 440 G1

[C3ntaur2084]

Try a 65w charger to confirm, Google suggested these won’t charge from a 45w or less source.

I use a HP Probook as my daily at work, I never charge via usb, only on the charger brick it came with.

[Mr Pointy]

Some of the 45W chargers aren't too brick-like:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/usb-c-charger-45w-Compute...

[vaud]

It'll probably be insufficient wattage.

[anonymous-user]

C3ntaur2084 said:

Try a 65w charger to confirm, Google suggested these won’t charge from a 45w or less source.

I use a HP Probook as my daily at work, I never charge via usb, only on the charger brick it came with.

Thanks for that suggestion! It has solved the conundrum.

I just tried a slimline 45w Anker USB-C power supply I had lying around and it worked just fine. Looks like it’s a wattage issue as you say. I’m just used to MacBook Air M1’s being able to trickle charge from pretty much any low wattage outlet/power supply.

The USB-C outlets in the office and on the desks clearly aren’t 45w.

Anyway, at least I’ve found a solution. Take the 45w Anker charger in my bag as it’s a heck of a lot smaller than the HP brick…

[parabolica]

I got an official HP usb-c charger off Amazon; looks like the first item on Pointy’s link and it works fine and the ‘power brick’ part of the charger is condensed and forms part of the plug-end of the cable. The only thing that lets it down/makes it bulky is being hobbled by the uk-plug layout. Wish they would have made it with flip-out prongs like you get on the iPad chargers nowadays.

[wyson]

Will it charge at the max rate from usb c? Quite common they are limited to 30w with the expectation the power brick is used.

[mikey_b]

wyson said:

Will it charge at the max rate from usb c? Quite common they are limited to 30w with the expectation the power brick is used.

Depending on laptop model, USB-C is the charger input from the power brick - my Dell is one example, with no traditional 19V round two-pin cable input. USB-C goes up to 20V and 4-5A, which is 80-100W of charging power. USB-C is capable of much higher power outputs than earlier USB implementations, and the power provided is negotiated between the device and charger.

Most likely the OP's laptop is expecting to be able to negotiate something more like 60-90W with the charger, and whilst a docking station designed for such laptops will be fine providing that, a cheap USB-C phone charger will not. Hence not charging.

[e-honda]

USB-C can operate at regular 5v or 20v for laptop chargers and other higher power devices, but only high power chargers will give your 20v
some laptops will try to run and charge off of 5v, some will run but not charge, other just won't work.

[Shiv_P]

Sounds like you'll need a USB C PD 45W+ then - I'm slowly upgrading to 90W/100W across the board so I can charge my laptop and fast charge S23 Ultra at same time

[anonymous-user]

Hi all, thanks for the help. Now solved.

The issue was, as several of you have advised, that the laptop is expecting a minimum of 45w from the USB-C cable otherwise it doesn't even recognise that it is on charge.

This was my mistake as I was used to my Air M1 charging from pretty any USB-C/A outlet. It will charge whilst still being used, on as little as 15-18w.

The original HP charger brick says 45w, and I'm now going to use an Anker slim 45w charger as it is a lot slimmer and lighter. The Anker also has an extra port for charging my phone as well, so an extra bonus there over the HP brick.

The laptop charges fine on my Dell dock as I checked and it says 65w, so no issues there.

Thanks again.