Fix MacBook Not Charging When Plugged In – Updated Solutions 2022

Is your MacBook not charging when you plug in the charger? There can be plenty of reasons why this issue can occur.

Apple products are renowned for their reliability and portability. So, it’s pretty annoying when your MacBook won’t charge when plugged in.

There might be a problem with your power socket, adapter, charging cable, charging port, or battery. There can be a software bug or malware preventing your MacBook’s battery from charging.

So, to help you out, we will discuss each of these issues in detail and help you find what is the real problem with your MacBook.

First of all, let’s list all the reasons why your MacBook won’t charge:

• Your MacBook might not be plugged in properly.
• The wall socket might be faulty.
• There is a problem with Power Adapter.
• There is a problem with the charging cable.
• Your adapter might be overheating.
• There might be dust in the power port of your MacBook.
• There is a software bug in your system.  
• Your MacBook’s battery is dead or needs servicing.

Now that you know all the reasons, let’s work on the solution. Here are the most effective solutions you can try to fix the “MacBook not charging when plugged in” issue.

Try Unplugging and Plugging Back In

If your MacBook was working fine a day ago and isn’t charging now, then the first thing you should try is unplugging the charger and plugging it in again.

There might be a chance that MacBook isn’t plugged in properly. Also, you should check if the power adapter is plugged into the outlet properly.

You can unplug the charger from the MacBook and the power outlet, wait for a few seconds and then reconnect it. If you are lucky, this might just work.

If not, then you can move on to other solutions.

Check the Power Outlet

Check to see if the power outlet is working properly. You can plug in a different working device in the power outlet and see if it works.

If after unplugging the power adapter and plugging it back in, MacBook shows charging and then disconnects again, it means you have a line noise issue.

The power adapter automatically shuts off because the built-in voltage feature detects the line noise from the power outlet. Hence, changing to a different power outlet will resolve the issue.

If the wall socket is working fine and there is no line noise, then move to the next solution.

Check the Power Adapter

If the power adapter is not working, you can try switching to a different power adapter. Make sure you use the one designed for Apple MacBooks.

You can borrow one from a friend and try using it. If it works, that means the issue was in the power adapter and you can buy a new one from Apple Store.

Also, you should take care of your adapter and make sure it doesn’t overheat. Adapters can get overheated if they are not placed in properly ventilated areas.

You must never place them in areas with poor ventilation or under a blanket because the adapter can stop functioning because of overheating.

To ensure that the adapter is properly ventilated, you can use an Apple Extension Adapter cord that can be purchased from the Apple store.

Also, if you can see a spark from the adapter or any discoloration, you must contact the Apple store immediately and get it replaced.

Check Charging Cable

Your MacBook comes with a USB Type-C charging cable. You can use this charging cable to charge MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air.

Sometimes, there is an issue with the charging cable so changing it may resolve your problem.

If a different charging cable is working fine, then you should immediately change your current charging cable to avoid any further issues.

If your MacBook only charges when you wiggle the cable, that also means the charging cable is faulty and should be changed immediately.

Clean the Charging Port

Sometimes, dust or other particles can gather inside the charging port which can prevent a clean connection with the charging cord.

You can clean the charging port easily at home. Here are the steps to do so:

• Take a small piece of cotton and dampen it with isopropyl alcohol.
• Put it in the charging port and move it around with a toothpick.
• Take it out using the toothpick.

After you have cleaned the charging port, reconnect the charger and see if MacBook starts charging.

If not, then there is no problem with the charging setup, and now you should look for problems in the MacBook itself.

Check for Software Updates

The charging error on your MacBook might be because of a software bug or a pending firmware update.

You can try checking for updates on your MacBook and if any are available, you should download and install them immediately.

To check for updates, follow these steps:

• Make sure your Mac is connected to the internet.
• Click on the Apple logo in the top left corner of the screen.
• Click on the first option: About this Mac
• Click on the first tab from the left: Overview.
• Now, click on the Software Update option. It will be right beside the System Report option.

Your system will automatically search for updates. If any updates are available, download and install them.

If not, move to the next solution.

Check the Battery Status

If the problem is not with your software or OS, then it might be with the battery. Maybe your MacBook’s battery is damaged or is not working properly.

You can check the status of your battery from the desktop. Click on the Battery icon from the top menu bar on your MacBook’s screen.

If it shows your Battery Condition as normal, then you have nothing to worry about. Your battery is working just fine.

There can be two other conditions for your Battery. Replace Soon means your battery is not holding enough charge and you need to replace it soon.

Replacement now is a condition that you should not ignore. Your battery will still be working, but its performance will be extremely low.

However, if it shows Battery Condition as Service Required, that means your battery has aged and is not working at all. So, you need to take your MacBook to the Apple store for servicing as soon as possible.

If there is no issue with the battery or the charger then you are in luck. Because the problem might just be a minor one that can be resolved with a couple of tricks.

Reset the SMC

Resetting your SMC or battery is a very easy and simple process in MacBook. However, the method differs for different types of MacBooks.

System Management Controller or SMC is responsible for taking care of various small processes in your MacBook like keyboard, trackpad, charging, etc.

Hence, resetting the SMC can help you resolve various problems related to hardware issues.

To reset SMC in older MacBooks that come with removable batteries, you should follow these steps:

• Shut down your Mac properly.
• Wait for a few minutes and then remove the battery.
• Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds.
• Re-insert the battery and turn on your Mac.

If you have a newer version of the MacBook that doesn’t come with a removable battery, then the process to reset it might be a bit different.

You should follow these steps for MacBooks with non-removable batteries:

• Shut down your Mac.
• Connect it to the charger and make sure that the charger is working.
• Press the power button along with 3 other keys: Shift + Ctrl + Option
• Hold these 4 keys together until you hear a sound, then you can release them.
• Turn your MacBook on and see if the issue is resolved.

If your MacBook comes with a T2 security chip, then the steps will be a bit different.

To reset SMC on MacBook with a T2 security chip, you must follow these steps:

• Shut down your Mac.
• Press and Hold the power button for 10 seconds.
• Turn your Mac back on.
• If the issue is not resolved, then go on to reset the SMC.
• Turn your Mac off or shut it down.
• Press and hold the Shift + Ctrl + Option key on the right side of the keyboard.
• After holding these keys for 7 seconds, add the power button into the combination and hold all 4 keys for 7 more seconds or until you hear a chime.

Apple MacBooks with an M1 chip does not need an SMC reset. A simple restart will automatically reset the SMC.

Get Your MacBook Serviced

If none of the above solutions work for you, that means you have to take your MacBook to an Apple store or an Apple Authorized Services Provider for servicing.

If your MacBook is still under warranty or if it is covered by Apple care, then you have got nothing to worry about.

You can Talk to Apple Support from your Mac and decide a time to bring your MacBook in for the repair.

Most of the time, one of the above-mentioned solutions works and you don’t have to go for the repair. However, you should always keep it as a last resort in mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

You can fix the “MacBook not charging when plugged in” issue at home by following some easy steps. We have shared several methods to do so in the above guide.

We have also shared detailed approaches to various problems which you might face when your MacBook isn’t charging normally.

We hope that one of these fixes will resolve your issue. Stay tuned for more Mac guides. We will be back with some more very soon.