Dell's guide for a battery that does not charge starts with the charger and the charge port: try different combinations of charging port, outlet and cable to find the faulty part. The Precision 5690 charges over USB-C with a Dell adapter of 130 W or more, and a smaller adapter lets it run but not charge under load. A charge threshold can also explain the symptom:
The checks in more detail
Dell notes that a custom charge threshold set in the BIOS, or in Dell Power Manager, stops charging below 100 percent on purpose, which looks like a fault. Check the battery's status in Dell Power Manager and in the BIOS, which show whether the battery is recognized, and run Dell's built-in diagnostics from F12 for a battery test. A power drain, disconnecting the adapter and holding the power button for fifteen seconds, resets the charge controller.
If the battery is not recognized or the adapter is flagged as non-Dell, the laptop may limit charging. Update the BIOS. A battery that fails the diagnostics or has swollen needs service. Watch for a message at start-up that the adapter cannot be identified, which appears when a non-Dell or low-power adapter is used, and which makes the laptop limit charging; in that case the BIOS offers to continue. Replace the adapter with a genuine one to remove the limit and avoid a slow charge. Windows may show the battery status as Plugged in, not charging with a plain explanation: a battery that is hot pauses charging until it cools, so move the laptop to a cooler place and charge it unloaded.
A battery near full also pauses, which is normal.
Differential
Likely causes of “Dell Precision 5690 will not charge”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A faulty adapter, cable or outlet
What separates it Charging drops in and out
How to confirm Swap each in turn
- 2
A charge threshold set in the BIOS or Power Manager
What separates it Charging stops below 100 percent
How to confirm Remove or raise the threshold
- 3
A low-wattage adapter
What separates it It runs but does not charge under load
How to confirm Use the 130 W adapter
- 4
A stuck charge controller
What separates it Plugged in, not charging
How to confirm Power drain: unplug, hold power fifteen seconds
- 5
A failing battery
What separates it The diagnostics reports a fault
How to confirm Contact Dell
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The adapter wattage and whether it is genuine
- The charge thresholds in the BIOS and Power Manager
- The result of the battery diagnostics
- Whether the case or battery is swollen
Try in this order
0 of 8 completedTry another outlet and cable
ReversibleRule out the simple parts.
Check the thresholds
ReversibleIn Dell Power Manager and the BIOS.
Use the original adapter
Reversible130 W or more.
Do a power drain
ReversibleUnplug, hold power for fifteen seconds.
Run the battery diagnostics
ReversibleF12, Diagnostics.
Update the BIOS
ReversibleFrom Dell's support page.
Look for the adapter warning at start-up
ReversibleNote any message that the adapter cannot be identified.
Use a genuine Dell adapter
ReversibleIt removes the limit.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Thresholds
- A BIOS setting can stop charging early.
- Adapter wattage
- A weak adapter limits charging under load.
- Adapter identification
- Dell checks the adapter's wattage.
- Non-Dell chargers
- They can lead to limited charging.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the diagnostics fails the battery, contact Dell
- !If a good adapter is flagged, update the BIOS then ask Dell
- !A swollen battery means stop
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does my Precision 5690 stop charging at 80 percent?+
A charge threshold may be set.
Which adapter does it need?+
A 130 W or larger USB-C adapter.
How do I test the battery?+
Dell's built-in diagnostics.
Is a swollen battery urgent?+
Yes.
Why does the laptop limit charging with my charger?+
It could not identify the adapter.
Can I use a third-party charger?+
It may be limited.