When it comes to laptops, Macbooks have a reliable battery in comparison to other options – one of the reasons they carry a premium is their high quality component.
Still though, you can find times where your Mac battery won’t charge. Determining whether this is a software issue or a hardware issue is the first thing that you need to do to get the problem solved.
Most common reasons why your Mac battery isn’t charging
First though, it’s important to note that if your Mac battery isn’t charging, that doesn’t always mean there’s a problem. A common message to see on modern Macbooks is that your “charging is on hold”.
If you see this message, everything is likely fine. This is just a way to preserve the battery of your Macbook for as long as possible, without continually charge cycling it up to full power.
However if you’re just seeing that your Macbook won’t charge at all, then there’s a few key reasons why this can happen. this includes;
- Faulty Power Adapter or Cable – One of the primary reasons your Mac battery may not be charging is a problem with the power adapter or cable.
- System Settings and Software Issues – Occasionally, system settings or software glitches can interfere with charging.
- Battery Health and Condition – Over time, Mac batteries degrade and lose their capacity to hold a charge.
- Environmental Factors – Your MacBook’s environment can also impact its ability to charge. Extreme temperatures, either too hot or too cold, can affect battery performance.
- Hardware Issues – If none of the above apply, there might be a hardware issue with your MacBook. This could range from a malfunctioning charging port to more significant internal damages.
So, now that we know what the main problems are, we can then look at how we can resolve the issue.
Check Your Power Source – Hardware Issue
Firstly, ensure that your power source is functioning correctly. Try plugging your Mac into a different outlet or check if the outlet is working with other devices.
This simple step can often resolve the issue if the problem is with the power source, which is the most common reason why your Macbook isn’t charging.
Then, examine your charger and cable for any signs of damage, such as fraying or bending.
A damaged charger or cable can prevent your Mac from charging properly. If you find any damage, replace the charger or cable with a new one.
Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) – Software Issue
Resetting the SMC can solve various power-related issues, from charging problems with your power supply through to system performance issues.
Note: This isn’t relevant for those that have M1, M2 or M3 processors, as they don’t use an SMC. It is, however, a common cause of battery not working for Macbooks using an Intel processor.
If your Mac won’t turn on, you’re experiencing problems with your power button or it’s just unresponsive, these can all be caused by a malfunctioning System Management Controller.
- First, shut down your Mac.
- Then, wait second seconds before restarting your Macbook again.
- At the same time, hold down the right Shift, the left Option key, and the left Control key and hold for 7 seconds whilst holding down your power button.
Again, this is only relevant if you have a Macbook that users an Intel CPU. If you have a newer Apple Mac Chip, then you don’t need to worry about SMC issues.
Update Your macOS – Software Issue
Sometimes, a software bug can cause charging issues with your Macbook. This is because outdated software and operating systems can become buggy over time.
To make sure this isn’t the problem, it’s important to ensure your Mac is running the latest version of macOS.
To check for updates, go to the Apple menu bar and select “About This Mac,”. If there’s a software update for you to install, you’ll see the prompt in this screen.
Check Battery Health – Hardware Issue
Your Mac’s battery health can affect its charging capability, and over time you’ll find that its health will naturally decline.
To check the battery’s condition, first you’ll need to go into your System Settings.
From here, you can select the Battery option. At the top of the screen, you should see whether your battery is considered normal, or whether there’s an issue with it.
You can also get a lot more insightful information from within the Battery section on your Macbook. But, this is enough to let us know whether there’s an issue with the health of your battery.
Avoid Extreme Temperatures
Extremely cold or hot environments can affect your Mac’s ability to charge – cold temperatures can effect the capacity of most batteries, including that if your Macbook.
For this reason, be sure to use and store your Mac in environments within the recommended temperature range.
Seek Professional Help
If you’ve tried all the above steps and your Mac still isn’t charging, it may be time to seek professional help.
At this point, it may be a good idea to contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Authorized Service Provider for further assistance, or even use the live chat to see if they can help you determine an issue.
