A laptop charger rarely fails all at once — it degrades gradually, and most people keep using one well past when they should.
- The brick makes an audible buzzing or clicking sound
- The cable insulation feels sticky or is visibly cracking
- The laptop reports ‘not charging’ despite being plugged in
- The connector feels loose in the port
Bottom line
Any single sign on this list is worth paying attention to; two or more together is a clear signal to retire the laptop charger.