Many chargers feature a small LED light to indicate that they're receiving power, and some laptops have an LED to signal that the charger is on. To rule out an issue with the charger itself, check sure it is lighted.

Not all of the ports on current laptops, particularly the new USB-C connections, are designed to receive power. If inserting the charger into one port doesn't appear to be working, try plugging it into a different port to see if it makes a difference.

When it comes to USB-C chargers, don't just plug your laptop into any charger that has a USB-C cord. Laptop chargers,for example, have a specified wattage that differs significantly from that of a smartphone charger. Always use the charger that came with your laptop; otherwise, the charger may not provide enough power to protect the laptop from toppling over.