How to Charge Smartphone even When Laptop is Powered off/Lid is closed

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In this tutorial, you‘ll learn how to use eSATA/USB port available on your laptop to charge your smartphone using a USB data cable even when the laptop is powered off. And how to charge a phone when the laptop lid is closed/screen is shut.

How to charge phone when laptop is powered off/lid is closed
How to charge phone when laptop is powered off/lid is closed

Sometimes your smartphone battery is drained out or your iPod battery is drained out and an AC power source is not available or an AC travel charger is not available. In such a situation, you can use your laptop to charge your phone or other device of course via a USB data cable. But what if you do not want to turn on your laptop to charge your phone? Or you don’t need to open your laptop screen?

Enabling USB power settings may lead to faster laptop battery drain. So use these settings as per your requirements and priorities. The settings and features explained in this article can be model/Windows version dependent, hence you should test and apply only what works for your setup.

Charge Smartphone even When Laptop is Powered Off

First thing you need to make sure that eSATA/USB port is available on your laptop. You can easily figure this out by noticing the following image like port on your laptop.

eSATA/USB port

So eSATA/USB port is available on your laptop, right?

That’s good news.

Don’t be sad if eSATA/USB is not available on your device. You can check if USB Powershare option is available for regular USB port under your BIOS Setup, if it is there you can follow the next steps.

Next, you need to check in your “BIOS Settings” whether the necessary setting is “Enable” to get power through eSATA/UBS port even when laptop is powered off. Follow these steps to enable USB Powershare option under your device BIOS setup:

Step 1: Turn off your laptop.

Step 2: Turn it on and press F2 key to enter into BIOS Setup.

(In case of DELL Devices F2 is the key to enter into BIOS Setup, if your laptop is of other make, after pressing power key to turn it on, keep your eyes on the screen and see which key is to be pressed to enter into BIOS Setup. You can also Google the procedure to enter into BIOS setup of your device. For example BIOS setup of DELL xps 14, BIOS setup of HP 14S, etc.)

Step 3: Navigate to Advanced tab using the arrow key & select the USB Powershare option and Enable it. If it is already not Enable.

Step 4: Save Changes and Exit BIOS Setup. It’s done. You are ready to go.

USB Powershare - BIOS Advanced Setting
USB Powershare – BIOS Advanced Setting

Now Turn Off your laptop and plug in phone’s USB data cable to eSATA/USB port and connect it to your phone. Your phone should start charging.

Using this port you may also charge other devices like iPads, Tablets, etc, the devices which can be charged using a USB data cable.

I have tested this method with DELL XPS 14 and DELL Inspiron 14, and it works like a charm. I hope this guide will be useful for you. Please share your experiences in the comment section below and also mention Brand and Model of your device.

Charge Phone When Laptop Lid is Closed/ Screen is Shut

If your laptop stops charging your phone via USB when laptop lid is closed (sleep state)/ screen is shut, you can try following tweaks to enable USB power when the laptop is in sleep state/screen is shut.

Disable USB Power Save Setting

  • To disable USB Power Save setting you need to open Device Manager:
    Right-click on Start Menu icon in Windows 11/10. (Or you can access Device Manager from This PC/My Computer properties menu.)
  • Then click Device Manager to open it.
  • In Device Manager, click the arrow (>) before Universal Serial Bus Controller to open its drop-down menu.
  • From drop-down menu go to USB Hub Properties then click Power Management tab.
  • Next, disable the option “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” by unchecking the box before this option.
  • Then click OK to save changes.
  • You have to disable the above-explained option for different USB hubs like Generic USB, USB 3.0, USB 3.1, etc., or all, one by one depending on the hardware configuration of your machine.
Disable "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" option
Disable “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” option

Disable USB Selective Suspend Setting

  • To disable USB Selective Suspend Setting you need to go to Power Options:
  • Search Control Panel in Windows search bar in Windows 10/11.
  • Click Control Panel to open it, then click Power Options.
  • Now click Change plan settings next to the currently active power plan.
  • Next, click Change advanced power settings, then click USB Settings > USB Selective Suspend Setting.
  • Now disable On battery and Plugged in options one by one.
  • Click Apply then OK to save changes.
Disable "USB Selective Suspend Setting" under Power Options
Disable “USB Selective Suspend Setting” under Power Options

What other methods work for you to enable USB power in sleep mode/ lid closed state, share those methods with others and us through the comments section below. Also, mention the brand and model number of your laptop so that others can apply those methods.

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Shashank Singh
Shashank is a web addict and amateur blogger. His current interests include blogging, SEO, and WordPress. See his social profiles to know him even better.
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14 thoughts on “How to Charge Smartphone even When Laptop is Powered off/Lid is closed”

  1. Avatar of chandu

    i dont have esata/usb port. mine is inspiron 15R

    Reply
    • Hey Chandu,
      Check if ‘USB Powershare’ option is available under BIOS settings. If it is there. You can enable this option and can check if you are getting power via USB port in power off state. Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  2. Avatar of Arundev Silwal

    I tried in DELL Lattitude 3340, it worked only when I connect the laptop in AC.

    Reply
    • Hey Arundev,
      Glad that you made it. It may also depend on the hardware configuration of your machine.
      Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  3. Avatar of Geofrey Kazaula

    I tried it as well, works only when connected to ac power, Dell Latitude E6440.
    Is there a way to let it charge when not connected to power?

    Reply
    • Hey Geofrey,

      It should work when laptop is on battery backup. However, these features are model dependent. May be your model is designed to work that way only.
      Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  4. Avatar of Yash chauhan

    sir ye kaam sare laptop me ho sakta hai ya sirf dell me hi

    Reply
  5. Avatar of Arunav

    Works in my Acer Predator Helios 300.

    Reply
    • Hey Arunav,
      Glad that I could help.
      Thanks for dropping by!

      Reply
  6. Avatar of Kholly-jay

    I tried with my Toshiba Satellite C55-B5300, it works fine. But it only works when I connect it to AC. Thanks

    Reply
    • Hey,
      Glad that you found it useful.
      Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  7. Avatar of Blyat

    To those who have it working but need the AC power plugged in, have the laptop in sleep mode (not shut down). Worked for Dell G5.

    Reply
  8. Avatar of Franklin Vidal

    Thanks, it worked for my Dell Inspiron 15 7000.

    Reply
    • Avatar of Shashank Singh

      Hey Franklin,

      I glad that I could help.
      Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply

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