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What To Do If Mac Stops Charging?

It can be annoying if your Mac suddenly stops charging, especially if you have to submit necessary documents or have an upcoming video conference with vital clients. Luckily, it is easy to find out why your Mac isn’t charging, and you can quickly get it to work again. 

Here, take a look at the most common reasons why your Mac won’t charge, and you can learn all about fixing charging issues at https://setapp.com/. 

  • There’s no power source

Your Mac might not be at fault, and it may be because you are using an outlet to charge your computer that doesn’t have electricity. You can quickly check if there’s a power source by plugging another device into the same outlet. 

If the outlet doesn’t work, all you have to do is find another outlet, and your Mac will start charging again. 

  • The Mac charger is faulty

The charging cable of your Mac might be faulty. You need to inspect it for physical defects like broken plugs, exposed wires, or extreme bends. While Mac chargers work with a few damages, they may cause problems with charging stability. One of the best ways to check if the charging cable is damaged is to plug the charger into your other Mac devices. If the issue is the Mac charger, you need to replace it. 

  • Recall notices for Mac battery issues

Apple had recalled several Mac models in 2019 due to battery issues. These models were released between 2015 and 2017. Is your Mac one of these models? If it was found to be at risk, you’re eligible for a battery replacement for free. 

Go to the Apple Service Program to check if your Mac was included in the recall. You need to enter your Mac’s serial number. If you see a message popping up asking you to contact Apple Support, you need to schedule a replacement. 

  • The charging ports are dirty

A blocked charging port might be a reason why your Mac isn’t charging. You can resolve it by cleaning the USB port or MagSafe using compressed air to blow out the debris and dirt. 

  • The ventilation is poor

When Macs are charging, they’re known to generate heat. If you place your system in an insulated area, your system may become too warm and automatically turn off. If you want your Mac to charge for longer, ensure the power adapter is kept cool. So, don’t put your device under a pile of clothes or place it on top of bed sheets. 

  • The AC plug is defective

Mac chargers come with removable AC plugs, and if your system isn’t indicating that there’s electricity running through it, you can utilize another charger. 

  • The battery’s condition is poor

The battery life of your Mac is bound to degrade with time. So, your system might not be charging because the battery’s condition is poor. You need to perform a battery diagnostic test by clicking the battery icon on your Mac’s menu bar. If there’s a service recommended notification, it means you need to replace the battery. 

You can also check the condition of your Mac’s battery by going to the menu bar, clicking the Apple icon, and pressing the Option key. Then, choose System Information and click Power under Hardware. After that, check the Condition, and under this tab, you’ll find the following statuses for your battery’s capacity:

  • Normal
  • Replace soon
  • Replace now
  • Service battery 

If the status of your battery is anything but normal, you need to schedule a replacement or repair soon. 

How to fix Macs that won’t charge?

The possible fixes to make your Mac start charging again are given below:

  • Replace the power outlet if the problem is with the outlet. 
  • Replace the charging cable if the cable is defective. 
  • Remove all the battery-draining apps from your Mac and also ensure that there are minimal apps during startup. If there are too many resource-hungry apps starting up automatically when you switch on your Mac, it might drain out the battery fast and make it feel like your system isn’t charging at all. 
  • Reboot your Mac to make your system start charging again. Sometimes, the hardware gets frozen, and when that happens, the system won’t charge. 
  • Reset the SMC as it can help deal with power and battery-related problems. You need to shut down your Mac and connect the power adapter. Then, hold down Control + Shift + Option/Alt and the power button for four seconds. Then, release all the four keys together. After that, press the power button again to start your system. 

If you cannot detect and fix the problem of your Mac not charging, you need to talk to the experts at the Apple service center.