MacBook Not Charging? 7 Fixes Before You Replace the Charger

There’s a particular kind of panic that sets in when you plug in your MacBook and nothing happens. No charging indicator. No green or amber light on the MagSafe connector. Just a battery percentage slowly creeping toward zero.

I’ve been there. And the first thing I did — like most people — was assume the charger was broken and start shopping for a replacement. That was a mistake. The charger was completely fine.

Read: 7 Mac Security Settings Every MacBook User Should Know

Here’s what I’ve learned after troubleshooting this problem more times than I’d like to admit: a MacBook not charging is almost never immediately about the charger. In the majority of cases, the fix is simpler, faster, and completely free. You just have to know where to look.

Before you spend $80 on a new Apple charger, work through these seven fixes. One of them will almost certainly get your MacBook charging again.

Why Your MacBook Not Charging (The Real Reason)

Most people assume charging problems mean something is physically broken — a faulty cable, a damaged port, or a dead battery. But MacBooks have sophisticated power management systems that actively control whether and how the battery charges. These systems can get confused, stuck, or temporarily misconfigured in ways that have nothing to do with broken hardware.

Understanding this is important because it changes how you approach the problem. You’re not always dealing with something broken. You’re often dealing with something that just needs to be reset, cleared, or adjusted.

With that in mind, here are the seven fixes — ordered from quickest and most likely to work, to more involved.

Fix 1: Check the Basics (Don’t Skip This)

Before anything else, do a quick physical check. This sounds obvious, but it’s the step that actually solves the problem more often than people want to admit.

Check the power outlet first. Plug something else into the same outlet — a phone charger, a lamp, anything. If that also doesn’t work, the outlet is the problem, not your MacBook or charger.

Check the charging brick. If you’re using a MagSafe adapter, look at the small LED on the connector — it should glow amber (charging) or green (fully charged). If there’s no light at all, that’s a useful clue.

Check both ends of your cable. Look closely at the USB-C port on your MacBook and the connector on your charger. Even tiny amounts of lint, dust, or debris can prevent a solid connection. I once spent 20 minutes troubleshooting a charging issue that turned out to be a piece of pocket lint wedged into the USB-C port.

Try a different port. Most MacBooks have two or more USB-C ports. If one port isn’t charging, try another one before assuming the charger is faulty.

Fix 2: Clean Your MacBook’s Charging Port

This fix solves charging problems far more often than it should — because nobody thinks to check it. Over time, lint, dust, and debris pack into the USB-C port until the charger can’t make proper contact. The port might look clean at a glance but still have enough buildup to break the connection.

How to clean it safely:

1. Power down your MacBook completely
2. Use a wooden or plastic toothpick — never metal, never anything sharp
3. Very gently work around the inside of the port in small circular motions
4. Use a can of compressed air to blow out any loosened debris
5. Shine a flashlight into the port and check for remaining buildup
6. Plug your charger back in

A few things to avoid: don’t use metal tools, don’t spray compressed air at full force directly into the port, and don’t use cotton swabs — they leave fibers behind. The toothpick method feels low-tech but it genuinely works.

After cleaning, test with your charger again before moving on to the next fix.

Fix 3: Reset the SMC (This Fixes Most Charging Issues)

The SMC — System Management Controller — is the part of your Mac’s chip that controls battery charging, power management, and the LED indicator on your charger. When the SMC gets into a bad state, it can simply stop telling your battery to charge, even when everything else is working fine.

Resetting the SMC is the single most effective fix for MacBook charging problems. This is what Apple support will walk you through if you call them, and it resolves a majority of cases.

For MacBooks with Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4 chips — 2020 and later):

There is no separate SMC reset process. The equivalent is a full shutdown and restart:

1. Go to Apple menu > Shut Down
2. Wait 30 seconds after the screen goes dark
3. Press the power button to restart
4. Plug in your charger and check if it’s charging

For Intel MacBooks with a non-removable battery (most 2017–2020 models):

1. Shut down your MacBook completely
2. Press and hold Shift + Control + Option on the left side of the keyboard and the power button simultaneously
3. Hold all four keys for 10 seconds
4. Release all keys
5. Press the power button normally to start up
6. Plug in your charger and test

For Intel MacBooks with a removable battery (older models, pre-2012):

1. Shut down completely
2. Remove the battery
3. Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds
4. Reinstall the battery
5. Power on and test charging

After the SMC reset, give your MacBook a minute or two before testing. The system needs a moment to reinitialize its power management settings.

Fix 4: Check Battery Health and Charging Settings

macOS has a feature called Optimized Battery Charging that deliberately pauses charging to preserve long-term battery health. It learns your charging habits and will sometimes hold the battery at 80% for extended periods — which can feel exactly like the charger isn’t working when it actually is.

This feature is smart and genuinely extends battery lifespan, but it can cause confusion if you don’t know about it.

How to check:

1. Click the battery icon in your menu bar (or go to System Settings > Battery)
2. If you see a message like “Charging on hold” or “Optimizing battery charging,” that’s why your percentage isn’t moving
3. You can click “Charge to Full Now” to override it temporarily

Also check your battery health while you’re here:

1. Go to Apple menu > System Information
2. Click Power in the left sidebar
3. Look at Cycle Count and Condition
4. If Condition says “Replace Soon” or “Replace Now,” the battery itself is the issue — not the charger

A normal battery cycle count is under 1,000 for most MacBook models. Apple’s full list of maximum cycle counts by model is available at support.apple.com if you want to check yours specifically.

Fix 5: Try a Different Charger or Cable

At this point in the process, it makes sense to test whether the charger itself is the problem — but before you buy a new one, borrow someone else’s.

If a friend, colleague, or family member has a compatible MacBook charger, test yours against theirs. If their charger works on your MacBook and yours doesn’t, you’ve confirmed the charger is faulty. If neither charger works, the problem is with the MacBook’s charging hardware or software — not the charger at all.

A note on third-party chargers: Not all USB-C chargers are created equal. MacBooks require chargers that support USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) and provide enough wattage for your specific model. A 30W charger won’t properly charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro that needs 140W. Using an underpowered charger can result in the battery draining even while “plugged in,” or very slow charging that looks like it isn’t working.

If you’re using a third-party charger, check the wattage rating and compare it to Apple’s recommended wattage for your model.

Fix 6: Update macOS

This one gets overlooked because it doesn’t feel like it should be related to charging. But Apple regularly releases updates that include fixes for power management bugs — and a software bug in macOS can genuinely prevent your MacBook from charging correctly.

If your MacBook is running an older version of macOS and started having charging issues after a recent update, this is especially relevant.

How to check for and install updates:

1. Go to Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update
2. If an update is available, install it
3. After the update completes and your Mac restarts, test charging again

One thing to be aware of: during a major macOS update, your Mac may temporarily show no charging activity while the update installs. This is normal. Give it time to complete before assuming the charging is broken.

Fix 7: Run Apple Diagnostics

If none of the above fixes have worked, it’s time to let Apple’s own diagnostic tool investigate. Apple Diagnostics checks your hardware — including battery and charging components — and will tell you if there’s a hardware failure that needs professional attention.

How to run Apple Diagnostics:

On Apple Silicon Macs (M1 and later):

1. Shut down your MacBook
2. Press and hold the power button until “Loading startup options” appears
3. Press Command + D to start diagnostics
4. Wait for the scan to complete — it takes 2-5 minutes

On Intel Macs:

1. Shut down your MacBook
2. Press the power button, then immediately hold D on your keyboard
3. Keep holding D until the diagnostics screen appears
4. Wait for the scan to complete

After running, Apple Diagnostics will show a reference code if it detects a problem. Write down any reference codes — you’ll need them if you contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store.

Common battery-related codes include PPT001, PPT002, PPM003, PPM004 — if you see any of these, your battery or charging hardware needs professional attention.

When to Actually Replace the Charger

After working through all seven fixes, here’s how to know whether the charger really is the problem:

Replace the charger if:

• A different charger works perfectly on your MacBook
• Your charger shows visible physical damage — fraying, kinks, burn marks, or a bent connector
• Apple Diagnostics returns a clean result but the issue persists with your specific charger
• The MagSafe LED never lights up even after testing on multiple power outlets

Don’t replace the charger if:

• A different charger also fails to charge your MacBook
• Apple Diagnostics shows a hardware error code
• Your battery health shows “Replace Soon” or “Replace Now”
• The issue only happens with Optimized Battery Charging active

If a different charger also fails on your MacBook, spending money on yet another charger won’t fix anything. At that point the problem is with your MacBook’s charging hardware — the charging port, the charging board, or the battery itself — and you need professional diagnosis.

Should You Go to Apple or a Third-Party Repair Shop?

If your MacBook is under warranty or covered by AppleCare+, go straight to Apple. The diagnosis and repair will be covered, and Apple technicians have proprietary diagnostic tools that go deeper than anything available outside Apple.

If you’re out of warranty, you have a choice. Apple’s out-of-warranty battery replacements cost $129-$249 depending on your model. Third-party repair shops typically charge less but vary significantly in quality. If you go third-party, look for shops that use genuine Apple parts and have certified technicians — a cheap battery replacement that damages your logic board ends up costing far more than Apple’s original price.

One option many people don’t know about: Apple’s Self Service Repair program now allows you to repair some MacBook models yourself using genuine Apple parts and official repair guides. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re technically inclined and your model is supported, it’s worth looking into at apple.com/self-service-repair.

A Note on MacBook Charging Habits That Cause Long-Term Problems

While you have your MacBook’s battery health top of mind, here are a few habits that genuinely protect your battery over time:

Don’t drain to 0% regularly. Lithium batteries don’t like being fully depleted. Try to charge before you hit 20%.

Don’t leave it at 100% plugged in for weeks. Modern MacBooks manage this better than older models, but long-term storage at 100% still stresses the battery. Optimized Battery Charging helps with this automatically.

Use the right wattage charger. Consistently using an underpowered charger can degrade battery health faster than normal. Stick to Apple’s recommended wattage for your specific model.

Don’t charge in extreme temperatures. Apple recommends keeping your MacBook between 50° and 95°F (10° to 35°C) during use and charging. Charging in a hot car, on a bed that traps heat, or in the cold can accelerate battery degradation.

Conclusion

A MacBook not charging is almost never the disaster it feels like in the moment. In the vast majority of cases, it’s a dirty port, a stuck SMC, an Optimized Charging hold, or a minor software issue — all of which are free to fix and take less than 10 minutes.

Work through the seven fixes in this guide before assuming anything is broken. Start with the basics (clean port, different outlet, different port), move to the SMC reset (which fixes most cases), check your battery health and charging settings, and run Apple Diagnostics if you’re still stuck.

Only once you’ve confirmed that a different charger works on your MacBook — and yours doesn’t — is it time to actually replace the charger. Everything before that is a guess.

Your MacBook and your charger are probably both fine. You just need to tell them to start talking again.