MacBook Won’t Charge — A Troubleshooting Guide
No one likes being stuck on the black screen when MacBook won’t charge, and we’re here to help you out with that. Before you apply any heavy-duty cleaning, tools and run a system clean-up, go through this article and see how some of these ideas and solutions can significantly help you.
Apple has been known for keeping itself at the doorstep of minimalism ever since it came up with its first iPhone, rocking the mobile world to its core. However, the Cupertino Company originated dates back to the times to compete against Microsoft’s heavy house as a famous manufacturer for computer hardware.
Talking about modern laptop technology innovation, part of science and technology laid the foundation for the first portable computer from Apple, the MacBook. The feature that sets the latest MacBook M1 or any other laptop apart is its portability and mobility. You can unplug your laptop and use it whenever you want it to.
Provided the battery of your device is charged up. That is why a MacBook that is not charging can put users in a distressing situation nullifying all its mobility factors. In this article, we’ll cover all the methods in a convenient step-by-step process to fix your MacBook that won’t charge or some charging issues. But before jumping into the ways, let’s look at reasons, the practical ones for which your laptop battery isn’t charging.
Again, even though the guide may have been created to keep the Apple MacBook in mind, you are free to implement similar troubleshooting steps for resolving the charging issue within another laptop available out there.
Why MacBook Won’t Charge: The Reasons
Whether it be the motherboard circuit or something related to the computer’s power adapter, hardware issues can lead to charging problems.
Another factor that can lead to charging issues is broken connections with the loose battery connector. The MagSafe cable of the charging adapter might not be holding up with the charging port properly.
Moreover, batteries could be in critical condition either due to improper charging cycles over the years or due to some other external factors. This may also affect the battery housing integrity
Another frequent issue that affects MacBook laptops’ performance and may even cause various battery issues leading to shutting down and preventing charging as a defense mechanism is overheating.
How to troubleshoot when MacBook doesn’t charge
Here are five ways to fix your charging problem with various Mac devices: the MacBook, the MacBook Air, or the MacBook Pro.
Get your MacBook Restarted
Just like the regular apps on your MacBook that can get frozen or stuck, the hardware that controls your notebook’s charging can also get stuck at times. That might be a reason why your MacBook won’t charge; All you need to do then is try to restart it. A simple restart will reset the entire hardware and can fix the charging problem.
1. The first thing you need to do is hover over to the left side of your MacBook screen and click on the Apple icon.
2. Click the “Restart” button.
3. Wait for the system to reboot and then attempt charging your MacBook again.
Although it is the most basic instruction to follow, 90% of the time, it tends to work!
At least for the time being, you know what you must do with your frozen device before you ask yourself, “Why isn’t my laptop charging?”
Run through your hardware physically
Before you look for any other process, you need to get the basic things sorted. If you suddenly wake up to find your MacBook’s battery is not charging, check the power cable. Take proper notice and check your whole cable. Precisely look for damaged or torn spots or any dark stains within its surface; if by any means you find any damage, then good luck you have located your culprit, which is causing the problem.
The next thing you should do check the ports for any foreign objects and look for debris or any possible obstacle. Even a few specks of dust built up in the charging port may lead to blocking the entire connection. If you find something that seems unhealthy for your device, remove it (for your safety, it is recommended, please use a wooden object, or you can use a toothpick).
Another thing you can look for is the power socket. Inspect whether you are plugged into the wall socket or not. Make sure it is not turned off, or try shuffling the electric socket in use. Yes, this might sound a bit basic, but it’s always better to be sure about the basics first.
Make Sure your Laptop battery’s health is fine
A compared to other laptops, the MacBook battery has a tendency to wear out faster than usual, but only if you overload it and use it intensively. It is always recommended to keep an eye on its status, or you may be risk yourself having a non-working notebook at the time you need the most. Checking your battery’s health regularly is recommended when the battery fails to charge even with a cable.
To inspect the battery’s health, what you need to do is,
● Press and hold the Alt (option in MacBook) key
● Click the icon of the battery that appears in the Menu Bar.
You will then see all the advanced options from the appeared menu. There are four states of battery: Every indicator has its significance
“Normal” means that your battery functions perfectly; you don’t need to worry.
“Replace Soon” — This indicates that the battery is working fine for now but is potentially under threat. It holds the charge less than usual, and you might need to replace it soon.
“Replace Now” — This indicates the situation that you are required to replace your battery as it has ceased to perform.
“Service Battery” — This calls for an urgent replacement of your battery.
Get your SMC reset to default
The System Management Controller (SMC) holds the responsibility for battery management and its status, like the indicator lights. Therefore, when your MacBook’s battery is not charging, resetting the SMC can help to a certain extent.
Note: The process of resetting the SMC for the MacBook with a removable battery and a non-removable battery is a bit different. That is the reason why first you need to check whether your battery is removable or not.
Mac notebooks that generally have non-removable batteries include MacBook Pro (early 2009 and later), all models of MacBook Air, and MacBook from late 2009.
For a non-removable battery, please follow the following steps:
1. Firstly, shut down your MacBook.
2. Then press Shift + Control + Option and a Power button simultaneously and hold it for 10 seconds.
3. Release the keys.
4. Finally, you need to press the Power button and turn your device on.
Performing these steps will help you reset your MacBook’s SMC, which might well be the reason you were encountering charging issues with your MacBook.
Let your MacBook Cool Down
Although it might come as a surprising factor to many, the reason that might prevent your MacBook battery from charging is overheating; the reason may be that the thermal sensor within your laptop detects a steep temperature rise; they block out the battery’s access as a safety measure.
Just turn off the system and leave it turned off for some time, a simple as that.
Or instead, place a fan near your MacBook and let it cool your MacBook down right away. You should also check the fans which are being used for cooling from the inside are working or not. So for that, see if the exhaust outlet is functional.
If you are someone who works outside, moving into the shade is recommended — exposure to direct sunlight can cause your MacBook to catch up with the heat from surrounding. To make things convenient, you may opt for some cooling pads available in the market. These cooling pads work excellently to resolve heating issues.
Look for the App that is draining your battery
Another factor that leads to a malfunctioned battery is the availability of battery-draining apps within your device. It has already been discussed above that some programs are constantly attacking batteries and draining them. There are simple ways in which you can check them and mitigate the harmful effects.
You can go along the process using the software we’ve already mentioned above, CleanMyMac X. It comes with a system health monitor in the upper bar of your Mac. Whenever you launch the tool, you will quickly notice the applications draining your battery to a greater extent.
Final Words
The general user has confronted Apple for creating seemingly inaccessible devices when it comes to troubleshooting and DIY repairs. This is a significant reason why you’d feel the need to head out directly to the Apple Store and seek expert solutions whenever you come across the MacBook charging issues. However, before doing that, make sure you implement the steps mentioned above, as these might make things right for your MacBook.
Whether you face any issue implementing the steps mentioned earlier or have a better way to fix it, feel free to use the comment section and let us know your thoughts.
Some Frequently Asked Questions
What could cause the battery to drain and affect its health?
The answer is straightforward “third-party application.”
You might feel somewhat hesitant about downloading such things in the past, but you need to download an anti-malware check right away. The chances are bright that it may bring your battery to life. Many users of Apple experts recommend using CleanMyMac X as it takes care of macOS-specific viruses. Apple notifies this app developed by “MacPaw,” so you are safe to download it. You need to select the Malware Removal tab, and it should immediately reveal if any tool or application is affecting your battery in the wrong way.
What is none of the above solutions work?
Many a time, Mac devices fail to charge themselves up due to faulty hardware system settings. Here, your Mac might need essential maintenance from the official Apple Store. After being tried to use all the troubleshooting methods available and fail eventually, it is recommended to take your device to the official store and consult with an expert. Every laptop has its problems, and at this point, it’s better to ask a licensed expert to help. More than likely, your MacBook will need an individual fix.
If you seek to avoid those unpleasant nuisances of “Why won’t my laptop charge?” make sure you proper care of your MacBook’s battery’s overall health!
