Did you know why is “Mac battery not charging?” This article will explain about mac not charging and how to fix it quickly.
A lot of people use Mac for its comfortable, lightweight, battery consumption, and more. However, Mac users have issues with battery charging issues on their devices. Mac Battery not charging is the main problem which includes hardware malfunctions, changes in adapters, running high-performance apps, and more.
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Why is My Battery Not Charging Mac?
MacBook battery requires the four main components to charge your device which includes a charger, battery, charging circuit, and SMC chip. If any one of the components doesn’t work properly, you will have battery not charging mac issues.
Magsafe charger or USB- C charger:
Your Mac and its battery get power from the charger.
Battery:
Mac’s battery will store power (charging) and transfer power (discharging).
Charging circuit:
Charger voltage is converted by the charging circuit to run your Mac and charges the battery.
System Management Controller (SMC):
The charging circuit is controlled by SMC’s behavior, including starting or stopping the battery.
If your mac pro battery is not charging, the main reasons are faulty chargers, batteries, and incorrect SMC data.
Your Macbook should be fine until the pop-up message shows on “Not Charging.”You know that temporarily not charging message for multiple reasons such as:
Low power adapter: Unfortunately, the power adapter does not give you enough power to charge the battery but rarely provides sufficient power to run your Mac. For example: When a Macbook Pro (85W charger required) is connected to a Macbook Air charger (45W), you will receive a battery not charging notification. But, it starts charging if you shut down or put your Mac to sleep mode.
Safety Concern: Your Mac battery might not charging when you connect it to the airline power adapter even sleep mode & turn off your computer. You can use your device without draining its battery. For your safety concerns, charging a battery on an airplane is not recommended.
Running-high performance apps: Mac battery may not be charged if it has high-performance applications like video editing software and video games. Mac should combine battery and adapter power to run if those apps require higher power than the adapter. If you notice the battery drains quickly, pause the apps and allow your Mac to charge the battery. The adapter charges quickly when you switch off the Mac.
Extended battery life: If you notice your battery drains to 90 % or lower before it begins charging, disable the battery health management in Mac settings. This feature will extend the life of your MacBook lithium-ion battery. It is not suggested to change your settings unless you have a special need.
The above-mentioned are a few reasons for the battery not charging Mac. Now, we will look at the various fixes for the battery not charging Macbook!
#1: Check Hardware
First, start checking the hardware parts of the Mac when you encounter a Mac battery is not charging. Use the following checklist to view your hardware problems:
Power sockets: Check your power sockets by connecting the chargers of the different devices.
Damaged adapter: If you have a damaged charger cable, it might be the reason for “Why is the mac battery not charging?” Before buying a new adapter, test it on your compatible devices or borrow an adapter from your friend.
Dust or Debris: Inspect your charging ports if it has dust, foreign objects, or debris. If you find any dust particles, remove them by using a toothpick on a soft cloth.
Defective AC Plug: If you haven’t noticed any light after plugging in your charger, you might have a defective AC plug. Fortunately, Mac chargers come with a removable plug. You can run the test by switching to another device.
Weak Power Source: Using a low-voltage adapter may cause the mac battery is not charging. This type of adapter will give you low power to charge your device, but it is not sufficient to charge your batteries.
#2: Keep an Eye on Battery Health
The estimation of the MacBook’s battery can last for about 1000 cycles. Charging the battery 100% & it’s completely draining it is a single session.
Check your Mac’s battery health by looking at the battery’s cycle. If you observe your battery has reached its limit, change or replace your battery. You can also examine the current battery condition by viewing your Mac’s health information.
Here are the steps to check Mac’s battery health:
- Press and hold the “Option” key
- While holding the “Option” key, select “Apple menu” on your screen
- Then, choose “About this Mac”
- Tap “System information” or “System reports” in other models
- Select “Power” from the sidebar menu
- Under “Health information” check “Cycle count” & “Condition”
If you have seen a healthy cycle count as “Normal,” you can try other fixes to sort out if your battery is not charging Mac. But if it shows 800 – 900 cycles, it’s recommended to change your battery.
#3: General Troubleshooting
After checking your Mac’s battery life, it is also advised to view other possible reasons. Generally, the problem is on your Mac’s adapter or SMC. Here are the basic troubleshooting methods before going through the solutions:
Shut down power-hungry apps and programs: Your Mac runs at higher energy than the power source provides. Few apps like video editing software need more power to work without being struck. As a result, it drains the battery faster and increases the charging time.
Update your software: Looking at “My mac battery is not charging?” Then you must update your OS to have a smooth charging performance on your Mac. Some Macbook Pro users have reported battery charging problems. To overcome the problem, Apple has released a new update to fix it.
Reboot Mac: Rebooting your system will give you a fresh look and it resets the hardware of your Mac’s charging system.
#4: Reset SMC
Likely, different hardware functions on intel Mac are controlled by System Management Controller or SMC. These functions include the cooling fans, system performance, and power supply. If SMC has incorrect data about the charger or battery it affects the charging processes.
Resetting SMC will solve your mac battery not charging on your system. If you are using 2020, 2019, or 2018 intel MacBook air, follow the below-mentioned steps:
- Tap on the “Apple logo” and choose “Shut down”
- Press and hold the “Power” button for 10 seconds and release it on your computer/laptop
- Now, wait for a few seconds and then restart your device
If those steps don’t help, follow these steps:
- Turn off your Mac
- Simultaneously press and hold the “right-shift + left option + left control key and power button”
- Altogether, press 4 keys for another 7 seconds. While you hold these 4 keys it shutdowns your Mac
Here is the way to follow if you use the 2015 and 2017 intel Macbook air:
- Tap on the “Apple” logo and choose the “Shut down” option
- Press and hold the “right-shift + left option + left control key and power button” for about 10 seconds
- Release the keys and turn on your device
#5: Reset NVRAM
Non-Volatile Random Access Memory (NVRAM) holds information on data related to volume, time, display, and more. Your mac battery is not charging whether the data gets corrupted. You can try resetting NVRAM to avoid the battery not charging Mac. You can follow the below-mentioned step to reset NVRAM :
- Turn off your Mac
- After a few seconds “Turn on” it again
- After switching on simultaneously, press and hold “Option + Command + P + R” for 20 seconds
- Release the keys after the Apple logo appears and disappears for the second time on your Mac’s screen
#6: Inspect Adapter
Apple’s power adapters are available in different sizes to charge your Mac. If your adapter is too small than the actual adapter size, it causes the battery not charging Mac. Those batteries are not sufficient for your system to charge the battery. Pay attention when you are using the adapter. Following is the way to check your power adapter:
- Launch “Apple menu” on your Mac
- Select “About this Mac”
- You can find the correct power adapter for your device
- Now, take the adapter you have. Go and read the text printed on your adapter box that tells you the adapter voltage
You can also examine the adapter’s cable. If the cables are worn out or it has scorch marks, replace them with a new cable and power adapter.
Conclusion:
In this article, you will know the various reasons and fixes for “Why is my mac battery not charging?” The above-mentioned fixes will solve your mac battery is not solving. If none of the tips helped you, contact your nearest Apple service center or change your Mac battery.