I was given a ROG Zephyrus M16, but I don't have its original DC power adapter. When I connect a USB-C charger, an indicator light near the charging light briefly turns on, then eventually shuts off. The laptop was working earlier, but it crashed shortly after I opened Firefox and now won't power on. Could the USB-C charger or cable be underpowered, and what should I check or do to fix this?
3 Answers
Try disconnecting the USB-C charger, hold the power button for about 30–60 seconds, then connect the proper adapter and try starting it again. If it still won’t boot with the correct charger, the crash may have exposed a battery, charging-port, or hardware problem that needs further testing.
Check the exact model number on the label underneath the laptop and use it to find the required ASUS power adapter and wattage. Also verify the USB-C charger’s output rating and the cable’s supported power level. The safest fix is to use a compatible DC adapter designed for that specific M16 model rather than relying on a basic USB-C charger.
The most likely issue is that the USB-C charger doesn’t provide enough power for this laptop. Gaming models like the Zephyrus M16 commonly need a much higher-wattage adapter—often around 200–240 W—while many USB-C chargers only provide 45–100 W. A low-power charger may light the charging indicator but still be unable to run the laptop or recharge it reliably.
It was running about 30 minutes ago, but it crashed when I opened Firefox. That could have pushed the system beyond what the USB-C charger could supply, especially if the battery was already low.