Why does my Dell laptop keep shutting off?
The reason your Dell laptop keeps shutting off is because of dirty fans, a dying battery, or a possible problem with its power adapter.
Table of Contents
Possible Reasons
- Overheated power supply
- Displaced RAM sticks
- Overheating
- Outdated firmware or drivers
Faulty power supply
Any faults in your external power source can cause frequent shutting down of your laptop. Using a higher current or lower voltage adapter can cause this problem if your device is charger-dependent.
Overheating/dirty fans
When you have multiple applications in the background, your laptop’s fans constantly work to keep the heat off of critical components.
Corrupted hardware
Corrupted hardware drivers are a big nuisance. It is better to get your hardware component checked for any malware that can be detrimental to its performance.
Malware infection
Viruses can easily seep into your system. Malware infection usually stops the laptop from working smoothly. Constant restarts are a sign that something is not right with your PC. Run a thorough virus scan and check for any corrupted files or malware.
Dust and dirt
Dust in the laptop’s internal system often causes your laptop to force restart. To resolve the issue, get your internal hardware cleaned and free from any debris buildup.
How To Fix A Laptop That Keeps Restarting?
To fix a laptop that keeps restarting, disable the automatic restart feature, check for possible hardware issues or update the device’s drivers.
There are multiple methods that can help you fix this issue:
Disabling The Automatically Restart Feature [Method 1]
- Enter the Safe Mode of your computer.
- Press the Windows logo key + R.
- Now type sysdm.cpl.
- Click OK,
- Click Settings in the Startup and Recovery section under the Advanced tab.
- Uncheck the Automatically Restart feature.
- Save your changes.
Check For Possible Hardware Issues [Method 2]
Faulty hardware can cause your laptop to restart continuously. To fix the issue:
- Check the RAM sticks and see that they are properly seated in their slots.
- Check the CPU for any dust buildup and clean it. Also, clean the processor’s fan and reboot the computer to check if the problem has been resolved.
- If the peripheral devices are connected, unplug them all. Plug them one by one to see which device is causing the problem.
Update Drivers [Method 3]
The problem gets resolved to a large extent once you have updated the drivers. For that:
- Go to your drivers’ manufacturer’s website.
- Follow the instructions to install the driver.
- You can also update it automatically through a third-party app.
- Restart the PC and see if the problem has been fixed.
Run The Virus Scan [Method 4]
Another method to fix the problem of constant laptop shuts down is by running a virus scan.
- Go to the anti-virus program.
- Run a complete check.
- Fix the problem detected by the scan.
- Restart the computer.
DELL Laptop Keeps Turning Off When Starting Up
If your DELL XPS 14 Z Laptop keeps turning off when starting up, it probably has displaced RAM sticks or faulty RAMs.
The problem can be resolved:
- If RAM sticks are checked to see if they are in the correct slot.
- Regularly take out the sticks to clean them.
- Update RAM if you are playing some graphics-intensive games.
DELL Laptop Keeps Turning Off Randomly
If your Dell laptop keeps turning off randomly, it is probably because of incompatible drivers, clogged fans with dust or debris buildup, or a faulty power supply.
To fix the issue:
- Check if RAM sticks are sitting perfectly in their slots.
- If the laptop is charger-dependent, ensure that the charging cable or the port is not damaged.
- Ensure that the laptop’s software is updated.
- Update all drivers.
- Unplug the laptop and fix the fans and remove the dirt off of them.
The intermittent shutting down of the laptop may be resolved through this method as well:
- Click Start.
- Go to Settings.
- Select Update and Security.
- Choose the Troubleshoot tab.
- Select the Power option that you will find under the Find and fix other problems tab.
- Choose Run the Troubleshooter.
- Follow the subsequent on-screen instructions to fix the problem.
DELL Laptop Keeps Shutting Down When the Lid Is Closed
If your Dell laptop shuts down whenever its lid is closed, it is probably because of the current power settings of the laptop.Adjusting it will help resolve the issue.
- Go to Settings.
- Select System Icon.
- In the left pane, choose the Power and Sleep option.
- Go to Related Settings in the right pane.
- Click on the Additional Power Settings link.
- In the left pane, click on the Choose what closing the lid does option.
- Now set the “On Battery” and “Plugged In” options to Sleep.
- Click on “Save Changes”.
DELL Laptop Keeps Turning Off When Plugged In
The reason your Dell laptop keeps turning off when plugged in is because of malfunctioning power outlets, a faulty power adapter, and defective batteries.Another possible cause for this problem could be malfunctioning RAMs or motherboards.
To resolve the problem:
- Check if you need a replacement for either the motherboard or RAM.
- Connect the laptop with a working power outlet.
- Change the laptop charger as it is possible that the fault lies in the charger.
- Worn-out batteries also cause this problem; it’s better to get them changed timely.
- Multiple apps at a time may overheat the laptop, resulting in constant turning off. Manage your activities better and get the fans checked.
- Check the port and charger cable for any damages.
DELL Laptop Keeps Turning Off During BIOS Update
If your DELL laptop keeps turning off during BIOSupdate then there is something wrong with the CMPS battery.
If your laptop keeps turning off during the BIOS update, you should:
- Consider removing the CMOS battery.
- Placing it back again.
Note: There are a few instances where you should never turn off the power of your computer. One of them is when you are getting the BIOS update. If you have accidentally shut down the system during the update, you can try the following steps to fix it:
- Clear the NVRAM/CMOS.
- Power off the system, unplug and remove the coin battery.
- Wait for 10 seconds.
- Insert the battery again.
If these steps don’t work, it’s time to get a replacement for your motherboard.
DELL Laptop Turning Off When Unplugged
The reason your DELL laptop is turning off when unplugged from a power source is because of a faulty or overused battery.This problem is common across almost all models, from Inspiron 5593 to Latitude E5570.
This shows that:
- Your battery is not working
- Your battery has reached its useful life
To fix this issue, replace the laptop’s battery to ensure optimal performance.
DELL Laptop Keeps Turning Off Due To Overheating
If yourDELL laptop keeps turning off due to overheating, it is probably because of clogged fans, debris or dust buildup that blocks air vents or insufficient airflow.
Overheated laptops have multiple performance issues, and they keep shutting down intermittently because of it.
To fix the issue:
- Ensure that all drivers and the BIOS are updated.
- Clean clogged fans.
- DELL laptop turning off when unpluggedPerform a Windows system restore.
- Run the hardware diagnostic test.
- Restore the computer to factory default.
DELL Laptop Turns Off When Moved
If yourDELL laptop turns off when it is moved then chances are its motherboard loosens from its position because of being overheated. Another possibility for this could stem from the SSD.
Some laptops like Dell XPS 13 require ultra-thin SSD. In some cases, the SSD’s bare metal back gets dangerously close to the tiny electronics on the motherboard, resulting in constant shutdowns.
To fix the problem, here’s what you can do:
- Run the hardware diagnostic test.
- Restart the laptop and press F12 as soon as it boots.
- On the One-time boot menu, choose Diagnostic – it will run the test on hardware.
The test will give you the error code informing you what’s the reason for frequent turning off. If the test passes, you can:
- Restart the laptop.
- Press F8 as soon as the Dell logo appears on the screen.
- It will lead to the Advanced Boot Option.
- Select Safe Mode with Networking.
- Press Enter.
The problem usually disappears when you are running the laptop in safe mode.