How to fix a MacBook that cannot charge
If your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air won’t charge. In this article we’ll look at the possible reasons why your Mac laptop might not be charging, and how you can fix it.
Why is my MacBook not charging?
There could be a simple reason why your MacBook not charge. Start off with these simple checks to establish what the issue is:
First, we have to ask, Is the MacBook definitely plugged in? Disconnect the charging cable from the laptop and plug it in again.
Second, check the plug socket too. Is the socket turned on? Try using a different wall socket. We know all this sounds a bit basic, but double-check before you go any further.
Third, make sure your power adaptor is connected properly. Each Apple laptop adaptor comes in two parts, the square adaptor and its removable plug that connects to the wall, and the charge cable. Pull the two apart and put them back together.
Fourth, Make sure you are using the correct power adapter and cable. For example, you may have a Mac that charges via USB-C, but not all USB-C cables are equal. Some cannot be used for charging. There are also various types of MagSafe cables that your Mac might require for charging – there are no less than three versions of MagSafe for Mac. You need to make sure you are using the correct one. See our guide to MagSafe. You should ideally use the charger that came with your Mac, including the included power brick.
Speaking of the power brick – is it overheating? If your power adapter is getting too hot it may not function. Make sure it isn’t covered by anything. Check the power port on your Apple laptop for dust. This can prevent the connector from making a clean connection to the Mac and stop you from charging it up correctly.
5th. Reset the battery
The method you follow to reset the battery in your MacBook, MacBook Pro or MacBook Air will be determined by the age of your Mac, and whether it has an Intel chip or an Apple chip inside.
If it’s old enough to have a removable battery (unlikely if was bought after 2012) you can actually remove the battery. After doing do, disconnect the power adapter and hold down the power key for 10 seconds before replacing the battery and then plugging the power adapter back in. Restarting the Mac should fix the problem.
But it’s unlikely that your Mac has a removable battery, so how can you reset the battery? In this case you will need to reset the SMC, which stands for the System Management Controller, a chip on your Mac’s logic board that controls the power.
The above checks may enable you to fix the problem. But if they don’t work we recommend that you contact us for support.