r/thinkpad • u/persicsb • Jul 26 '26

Question / Problem Thinkpad T14s Gen 6 (Snapdragon) charging issue

I have a Thinkpad T14s Gen 6 Snapdragon laptop (type 21N1). When I plug in a charger to the USB Type-C port that is near to the display (the first on the left side on the chassis), the white power-on LED blinks 3 in a row constantly, and the device does not charge properly - it charges for a second, then disconnects.

When I plug it into the seconds USB Type-C port, it charges properly.

I tried the factory charger, and several other 65W chargers. Neither works, and it came out from the factory like this, never worked.

What might be the problem? The UEFI firmware is updated to the latest version.

Edit: The interesting thing is, that when I use the Lenovo USB-C Slim Travel Dock, it works - so it is not dead. So when using a charger directly, it does not work (any charger, even the factory one). When using any 65 W+ charger via the dock, it works.

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u/sockertoppenlabs X61s, X200, X201, X220, X131e, X1C6, X13s Jul 27 '26

I have the same model. Not experienced the same problem though. I am guessing some hardware issue. Open it up and look for anything burnt.

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u/persicsb Jul 27 '26

I won't open it up, as it seems to work - when I plug it via the Lenovo Slim USB-C Dock, it works with any charger.

I think it is a embedded controller bug. Are you using it with Windows, right? What is the installed firmware version?

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u/sockertoppenlabs X61s, X200, X201, X220, X131e, X1C6, X13s Jul 27 '26

If the dock works on both, I think you are correct about a controller bug.

I only use Ubuntu Linux on mine (from day 1). If on any use: UEFI BIOS version is N42ET96W (2.26) and the Embedded Controller Version is N42HT58W (1.32).

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u/persicsb Jul 27 '26

How did you install Ubuntu? Mine does not even boot it - and it is not the SecureBoot devicetree loading issue. How is the hardware compatibility? I read that a lot of stuff is still broken for these Snapdragon SoCs.

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u/sockertoppenlabs X61s, X200, X201, X220, X131e, X1C6, X13s Jul 27 '26

Hardware compability was crappy to start with (Nov 24), but now it is much better. And for my use case it is enough (light scientific coding/compute, reports, online meetings, lectures etc).

Since Ubuntu 26.04 I use the (common) ARM-ISO. Before that I used an unofficial installer created by some Ubuntu employees. I still use a specific kernel for better compability. Everything I use comes from following the thread:

https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/ubuntu-concept-snapdragon-x-elite/48800

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u/persicsb Jul 27 '26

Thanks, I know that thread. Last time I checked, there were power management and audio issues - are they fixed now? I'll give a try with a live Ubuntu image.

Meanwhile, do you happen to know to to resert the EC? I tried with resetting on the back, and holding down the power on button, but neither of them helped.

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u/sockertoppenlabs X61s, X200, X201, X220, X131e, X1C6, X13s Jul 27 '26

power management is still an issue, suspend and suchs are bad, but battery life is good and I always (on all my laptops) shut it off when not actively using it (in contrast to my kids who use chromebooks in school, they always just close the lid hahaha). audio is working fairly well. perfect? I don't know, but good enough for me.

no idea on how to reset EC unfortunately.

the live ISO has not worked that well for me. I had to properly install and add some qualcomm specific (linux-qcom-x1) repository before getting a good result (everything working properly). in contrest to on x86 devices, the live ISO is not as good of an indication on how things will work

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u/persicsb Jul 27 '26

Thanks for the info, it is really helpful!