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When attempting to charge my laptop via the USBC-7N1E adapter, my laptop does not charge or reports that it is charging at a slower than expected rate. Why is this?

Last Update: July 2nd, 2026
Article ID: 899132

Summary

The Plugable USB-C 7-in-1 Hub with Ethernet (USBC-7IN1E) supports USB-C Power Delivery (PD) pass-through charging. It does not include its own power adapter and does not generate power on its own.

When a compatible USB-C PD charger is connected to the USB-C Power Delivery port on the USBC-7IN1E, the hub can accept up to 100W from the charger and pass up to 92W to the connected laptop. Because a small amount of power is reserved for the hub and connected devices, the laptop may report that it is charging slowly if the connected charger does not provide enough power for the full setup, or if the laptop requires more power than the hub can pass through.

If the laptop does not start charging through the hub, disconnect the hub from the laptop, connect the USB-C charger to the hub first, and then reconnect the hub to the laptop.

Applicable To

  • Plugable USB-C 7-in-1 Hub with Ethernet (USBC-7IN1E)
  • Laptops, tablets, and other host devices that support USB-C Power Delivery charging
  • USB-C Power Delivery chargers connected to the USB-C Power Delivery port on the USBC-7IN1E

Answer

This behavior is usually related to USB-C Power Delivery pass-through limits, charger wattage, cable capability, host charging requirements, or the order in which the charger and hub were connected.

The USBC-7IN1E is a pass-through charging hub. This means power comes from an external USB-C PD charger, passes through the hub, and then reaches the connected laptop. The amount of power available to the laptop is limited by the lowest-power part of the charging chain:

  • The wattage of the USB-C PD charger
  • The wattage rating of the USB-C charging cable connected to the charger
  • The USBC-7IN1E pass-through charging limit
  • The amount of power used by the hub and connected USB devices
  • The charging capability of the laptop's USB-C port
  • The laptop's current power usage

For example, if a 100W USB-C PD charger is connected to the USBC-7IN1E, up to 92W can be available to the laptop. If a lower-wattage charger is connected, less power will be available to the laptop after the hub reserves power for its own operation.

Requirements for Charging Through the USBC-7IN1E

To charge a laptop through the USBC-7IN1E, all of the following must be true:

  • The laptop must support charging over USB-C Power Delivery.
  • The USB-C port used on the laptop must support charging. Some USB-C ports support data or video but do not accept charging.
  • A USB-C PD charger must be connected to the USB-C Power Delivery port on the USBC-7IN1E.
  • The charger should provide enough wattage for both the laptop and the hub. For best results, use the laptop's original USB-C charger or a USB-C PD charger rated at or above the laptop manufacturer's recommended wattage.
  • The USB-C cable between the charger and the hub must be rated for the intended charging wattage. For charging above 60W, use a USB-C cable rated for higher-wattage USB-C PD charging.

For the most reliable charging behavior:

  1. Connect the USB-C PD charger to AC power.
  2. Connect the charger's USB-C cable to the USB-C Power Delivery port on the USBC-7IN1E.
  3. Wait a few seconds.
  4. Connect the built-in USB-C cable from the USBC-7IN1E to the laptop.
  5. Confirm that the laptop reports that it is charging.
  6. Connect HDMI, Ethernet, USB-A devices, SD cards, or microSD cards as needed.

Connecting the charger to the hub first helps ensure that the laptop and hub start a fresh USB-C Power Delivery negotiation when the hub is connected to the laptop.

Why the Laptop May Report Slow Charging

A slow-charging warning can appear even when the hub and charger are working normally. Common causes include:

  • The USB-C PD charger is lower wattage than the laptop's original charger.
  • The laptop requires close to or more than the USBC-7IN1E can pass through.
  • The hub is reserving part of the incoming power for itself and connected devices.
  • Connected USB devices are drawing power from the hub.
  • The USB-C charging cable is not rated for the charger's full output.
  • The laptop is under heavy CPU or GPU load and is using more power than it can receive through the hub.
  • The laptop manufacturer uses a warning threshold that triggers when the available wattage is below the original charger rating.
    • This does not necessarily indicate a defect. It means the laptop is receiving less charging power than it expects for full-speed charging.

TroubleShooting 

What to Try if Charging Is Slow

  1. Use the laptop's original USB-C PD charger when possible.
  2. If the original charger is lower than 100W and the laptop supports a higher USB-C PD input, test with a compatible higher-wattage USB-C PD charger and a cable rated for that wattage.
  3. Disconnect high-power USB devices from the hub and check whether the charging warning changes.
  4. Reduce heavy system load, such as gaming, rendering, or other high CPU/GPU activity, and check whether the battery begins gaining charge.
  5. Connect the charger directly to the laptop. If the laptop also charges slowly when connected directly, the behavior is likely related to the charger, cable, laptop settings, or laptop power requirements rather than the hub.
  6. Check the laptop manufacturer's specifications to confirm the required charger wattage and whether the USB-C port supports USB-C PD charging.

What to Try if the Laptop Does Not Charge

  1. Disconnect the USBC-7IN1E from the laptop.
  2. Disconnect the USB-C charger from the hub.
  3. Wait 30 seconds.
  4. Connect the USB-C charger to AC power.
  5. Connect the USB-C charger to the USB-C Power Delivery port on the USBC-7IN1E.
  6. Connect the USBC-7IN1E to the laptop.
  7. Confirm whether the laptop begins charging.

If the laptop still does not charge

  • Confirm that the laptop charges when the same USB-C charger and cable are connected directly to the laptop.
  • Try another USB-C port on the laptop if one is available.
  • Confirm that the laptop's USB-C port supports USB-C Power Delivery charging.
  • Try a different compatible USB-C PD charger and cable.
  • Remove other devices from the hub and test charging with only the charger, hub, and laptop connected.

Important Notes

  • The USB-C Power Delivery port on the USBC-7IN1E is for charging input only.
  • The USB-C Power Delivery port does not support USB data, video output, or USB-C accessories.
  • The USBC-7IN1E does not include a USB-C power adapter.
  • A higher-wattage USB-C PD charger does not force that full wattage into the laptop. USB-C PD charging is negotiated between the charger, hub, and laptop, and the laptop draws only the power it can accept.
  • Laptops that require more than 92W may charge slowly, maintain battery level without gaining charge, or slowly drain under heavy load when connected through the hub.
  • For laptops that require more than 92W for full-speed charging, connect the laptop's original charger directly to the laptop, or use a docking station or hub designed to provide the laptop's required charging wattage.

Need Further Assistance?

If you still have questions or the behavior continues, please contact Plugable Support at support@plugable.com. Include the hub model, laptop model, USB-C charger wattage, USB-C cable rating if known, and a description of the connected devices.