How to Charge a Chromebook Without a Charger

This article explains how to charge your Chromebook without its original AC charge cable. If you have misplaced, forgotten, or damaged your original power cord, or if the charging port itself is damaged, there are still ways to power up.

Charge Your Chromebook Using USB Type-C Cable

If your Chromebook has a USB Type-C port, you may be able to charge your Chromebook using that as well. There are a few caveats to this. If you want to use the Chromebook while it charges, you'll need a charger that supports USB PD (USB Power Delivery). If USB Type-C power is an option, you'll find that option in Settings.

1. Click the Time > Settings, denoted by the gear symbol.

2. Click Power.

3. Next to Power source, click the USB-C port from which you would like to receive power.

Low Power Options

Other chargers, such as portable battery packs or phone chargers will charge your Chromebook, but very, very slowly. In fact, if you were to use the Chromebook while it was connected, the battery would still drain. In a pinch, you can also use your phone to charge your Chromebook. If you have a phone that supports two-way power delivery, and if your Chromebook has a USB type-C port, your phone can deliver power to your Chromebook. You would set it up the same way as above.

The same restrictions apply—it would be a trickle charge. Your USB Type-C port needs to be able to accept power. Plus, your phone's battery is significantly smaller than your Chromebooks, so your phone will run out of power much quicker than your Chromebook. It's not a great solution, but it might just get you a few extra precious minutes of uptime.

Know Your Battery Situation

Click the time in the bottom right corner. Right next to the date, you'll see a readout of your current battery power. This will show you how much battery life and approximately how much time you have before the Chromebook will die.

You should try to replace your charging cable as soon as possible. None of the alternative ways to charge your Chromebook are desirable, so you should try to get a replacement as soon as you can. A site like Amazon will usually carry a suitable replacement. Search for your Chromebook by manufacturer and model number to find a replacement. But shipping takes time. How do you get by in the meantime?

How to Charge Your Chromebook With Your Car Charger

Some Chromebooks ship with both an AC power cord and a DC power cord for the car. If your Chromebook shipped with an air/car charger, you can use that to charge your Chromebook. The obvious disadvantage here is this requires being in your car to use, which is not ideal. But it will keep your Chromebook up and running while you wait for a replacement cable.