A lack of any charge is, well, not good. But thankfully, it can be resolved.


It is always a good decision for any MacBook user to charge up the device’s battery after a hard day’s work filled with remote meetings or schoolwork. However, on the off chance that the device did not hold a charge, it can be head-scratching. This is despite the user keeping their MagSafe or USB-C plugged in. It then becomes a nerve-wracking situation only when trying to keep charging it, and nothing happens.

It dawns on the user, the charging port is having issues and potentially no longer works.

A MacBook experiencing charging problems is a common scenario. There can be many causes as to why the MacBook doesn’t charge. Some including a dirty, dusty port or an internal issue with the hardware. Regardless of what causes it, fixing it is not a major, costly issue.

So, your MacBook is not charging, is it? Here is what you can do to save you a trip to the Apple Store.

First, see what is wrong with what is charging the device.

It will be best to take a second look at the AC adapter or whichever charging cable came with the MacBook. Check to see if the cable seems bent in an odd way, the ends look busted, or really for anything out of place on the charger.

frayed-macbook-charger

Chances are if a charging cable looks like this…the cable is not working and that is the cause of the issue!

Clean it up!

Do not wipe down the inside of the charging port. Instead, find and/or purchase a can of compressed air. Spray inside the port with this cleaner to get all the dust and other debris out of it. After getting that stuff out, try testing the charging cable.

Restart your Mac.

The tired and true method of “turning it off and turning back on again” is arguably the easiest and least expensive solution to this problem.

  1. Click on the Apple symbol on the home screen.
  2. When that menu opens up, click on Restart.
  3. Wait for the computer to boot up and try to charge it again.

Use the battery health management feature.

Battery health management is a feature found in MacBooks with macOS Catalina or higher installed. Its goal is for users to keep track of a battery’s health and notify them if any issues start to arise. It also improves how the battery regularly charges. With the feature turned on, it may result in some confusion. The uncertainty became an issue that Apple wrote a bulletin informing its customers that this is standard.

“When battery health management is turned on, you might occasionally see ‘Not Charging’ in the battery status menu of your Mac, and your battery’s maximum charge level might be lowered temporarily,” the Silicon Valley giant wrote. “This is normal, and it’s how battery health management optimizes charging. Your Mac resumes charging to 100 percent depending on your usage.”

Resetting SMC

The system management controller (SMC) is tied directly to internal components such as the fan, speakers, or battery. Giving it a quick reboot will hopefully recalibrate the battery and/or the charging process. 

  1. Turn off the MacBook.
  2. Hold down the power button for at least 10 seconds and then release it.
  3. Please wait at least 5 seconds and then press the power button to turn it back on again.

If the above method does not fix it, a user can reset the SMC through a different series of steps:

  1. Power down the device.
  2. Press and hold the Control, Option, and Shift keys for at least 7 seconds. While holding those three keys, start pressing down on the power button.
  3. Continue holding down all four keys for an additional 7 seconds and then release.
  4. Wait another five seconds to turn the device back on again.

For specific MacBook models, such as the MacBook Pro A1706, the following steps will reset the SMC.

  1. Turn off the MacBook.
  2. Press and hold down Shift, Control, and Option.
  3. Next, while holding down these three keys, start holding down the Power button.
  4. Hold down these keys for at least 10 seconds and release.
  5. Finally, turn the device back on.

MacBooks with removable batteries, on the other hand, require different steps.

  1. Shut down the device.
  2. Remove the MacBook’s battery.
  3. Press and hold down the Power button for 5 seconds.
  4. Finally, reconnect the battery and turn on the MacBook.

Resetting the PRAM

The parameter random-access memory (PRAM) relates to various applications and settings, and, of course, batteries and charging capabilities.

  1. Shut down your MacBook.
  2. Hold down the Option, Command, P, and R keys and turn the device back on.
  3. Keep pressing on the keys for about 20 seconds, until the startup chime sounds off or once the Apple logo appears and disappears a second time.
  4. Finally, go into the System Preferences menu and restore any changes after resetting the PRAM or NVRAM, including the default time and volume settings.

Cool it Down

There is a possibility of the MacBook overheating, which can create all sorts of internal problems. Charging is no exception. Try keeping your MacBook in a well-ventilated area, or if it begins to feel too hot, place it near a fan for a few hours.

Also, certain power adapters are highly sensitive to the warmth, which means an automatic shut-down will occur when it gets too hot.

Do not let the sparks fly!

If charging your MacBook results in sparks coming out of the port, chances are there is a bigger problem on your hands. Like, a potential house fire, which is always a (to put it too lightly) lousy time. 

However, when it comes to less fire-hazard oriented situations, the above at-home triages should help any user with charging-related issues.

At MicroReplay, we know a thing or two about MacBooks and how to repair these devices. With over twenty plus years of experience, our company specializes in repairing liquid damaged MacBooks and other high-end laptops.

In need of a liquid spill or cracked screen repair? Book a repair with us today!

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