Mac Tips

Free Ways to Fix Mac Won't Charge Issue [New Update]

by Sophie Green   Updated on 2024-01-04 / Update for  Mac OS

It is very annoying when your Mac won't charge as you have paid a premium price for your device and because Mac computers hardly crash or have charging issues. But if issues arise, such as Macbook Air not charging, then what to do? Don’t worry; we will describe the best, easy and Free ways to fix problems such as your MacBook Pro won't charge. Without further ado, let’s begin this article.

Part 1: Why Is My Mac Plugged In But Not Charging

Most of the time, when your MacBook won't charge, the issue can be straightforward, and you have to troubleshoot to find the right problem. So, if your MacBook won't charge even if it is plugged in, the following may be the reasons.

1. Damaged charging cable or port.

The primary reason may be that your charging cable or port is damaged. There are tried and tested ways to check if you know where to look. In the next section, we will see with images how to resolve these issues and where to look for them.

2. Malfunctioning battery.

The second most important answer to the issue of my MacBook won't charge is due to a malfunctioning battery, which, though it may seem complicated, can be confirmed by checking the Battery Health Management Settings. If there is a battery indicator showing a faulty battery. The battery connector of your Mac is disconnected or loose.

3. Outdated software.

Since Monterey 12.2 update, there has been an issue with Mac batteries draining quickly, which was caused by an issue with Bluetooth management software. Since then, it is always good to see if there is an update in your settings and if that resolves the issue.

4. System management controller (SMC) reset needed.

Though highly unlikely, there are possibilities that a faulty SMC will cause your Mac won't charge as SMC uses your charging port pins to communicate with the power brick. If it cannot communicate due to any physical or software side issues, your Mac isn't charging, and we have the best solution below to resolve it by resetting your SMC.

Let's see the resolutions to these pain points in the next section and resolve your Macbook Air not charging.

Part 2: How to Fix Macbook Pro/Air/iMac Won't Charge

Let's begin to fix your MacBook Pro won't charge with these simple but effective ways.

Way 1: Checking the Charging Cable and Port

Start at one end of the cable leading to the other and see if there is anywhere the cable is damaged. Like the image below, the cable might have a tear. You need to replace the complete part if that is the case.

If the cable isn't damaged, it might be because the charging port is damaged or there is deposited carbon on its points. Clean these points using a small clip and then use isopropyl alcohol to rub them off.

If the MacBook Air won't charge still, then you need to get it replaced.

Finally, the issue may be as simple as the dirty ports, so cleaning them can resolve it.

try another usb

Way 2: Checking the Battery

The second resolution to your MacBook won't charge can be due to your battery. To resolve this issue, you need to follow any of the three methods mentioned below one by one.

Health Management Settings

Health Management System has been enabled by default since macOS Catalina 10.15.5, which allows your battery capacity to fall below 90% before charging again, helping less strain on the battery. In comparison, we don't recommend turning this feature off due to a bug; MacBook Air won't charge if it is managed this way. If you turn off this feature and see charging, you'd know this was the prime issue.

As you can see clearly in the image below, the battery charging is on hold at 84%, helping the HMS learn your habits on utilizing your Macbook.

battery on mac

To turn this feature off, follow these simple steps.

  • Go to the System Preferences by clicking or tapping on the Apple logo at the top right of your screen at the top right.

    system preferences
  • Go to the "Energy Saver" section, as shown below.
  • When you are here, click on Battery Health and then uncheck the “Battery Health Management” box to complete the process, as shown below.

    battery health management on mac

Faulty Battery Indicator

Before the 2013 Macbook Pro models, you will find a typical battery status indicator which you can press to see how much battery is left. This indicator works with SMC to communicate with the battery. If it is faulty, you either need to replace the indicator or you can unplug it to stop using this feature. Now you won't have the issue of my MacBook won't charge, and it will charge as it should.

battery indicatory light cable

Loose Battery Connector

the last method to check the battery issue can be the lost battery connector in most Macs. As shown in the image below, there are pin connectors that you may need to connect, typically called the MOSFET.

check battery connector

The battery is connected with Flexer cables for the newer MacBooks, as shown in the image below.

battery cable and connector

A flex cable is used by the SMC or T2 Secure chip to connect to the batteries. Your MacBook won't charge the power source or even be able to recognize the battery if the flex cable is improperly connected.

Examine the connectors on both the battery side and the logic board side. Alcohol can be used to clean the connectors. Ensure that the connections have a tight grip on the flex cable.

Way 3: [Free Tool] Fix Macbook Won't Charge in One-Click

If you are not tech-savvy and can’t follow some of the physical steps we mentioned in this article, you can simply use a free 3rd party tool to make your issues like "Mac won't charge" disappear.

Tenorshare ReiBoot is a well-known Recovery and Troubleshooting free tool for your MacBook (Pro/Air) and iMac that works amazingly well. It can fix your Macbook won't charge issue in just one-click.

  • Download and install Tenorshare ReiBoot on your macOS device. Launch the software and connect both your macOS devices using a USB cable. Click "Repair macOS system issues".

    launch reiboot
  • Select 'Standard Repair' and read the note below to avoid repairing process failure. If you're ready, click 'Standard Repair'.

     advanced mode
  • Choose the model of the mac computer you need to be repaired and follow the instructions on the screen.

    download firmware
  • Once your mac entering into DFU mode, click Download to download the latest firmware package. It will take some time.

    download firmware

    After download completed, click "Start Standard Repair" and your mac won t charge issue will be repaired soon.

    start deep repair

Way 4: Check for Faulty Logic Board & DC Connector

In this method, we will discuss two critical issues which are pretty big and may need an expert to resolve.

Faulty Logic Board

If your Logic Board is the issue due to the failed power management IC or other things such as transistors or sensing resistors, you will need a component-level logic board expert to fix this issue.

faulty logic board

DC Connector

If the diode in your board that talks to the SMC is damaged, you won’t see the green light when you connect your MagSafe charger. What you need is to buy a DC board from an online supplier for just a few dollars. Now to fix this, you may need to remove the logic board to replace the DC Board cable.

Way 5: Reset PRAM

PRAM is responsible for a few things, such as your keyboard backlighting, screen brightness, sound settings, etc., which, when corrupted, can cause issues such as Macbook Air not charging. Sometimes it will charge but be so slow that it will become excruciatingly painful to watch.

Following are the steps to reset the PRAM of your Mac.

Step 1: Hold the power button of your Mac for 5 seconds to turn it off.

Step 2: Press the power button to turn it on again when it completely shuts off.

Step 3: Hold the Control+Option+R+P keys when you hear a chime or see the light on the screen.

Step 4: As soon as you see the start options, let go of the keys to let the system restart.

Step 5: When restarted this way, your PRAM of the system is reset.

Way 6: Resetting SMC

If your Mac is not charging properly, resetting the SMC can help to clear any potential hardware-related issues that might be causing the problem. When you reset the SMC, it clears any stored settings and restores the default settings for various hardware components, including the battery, power management, and other system controllers.

  • Shut down your laptop.
  • Unplug the power cord and any other peripheral devices connected to your Mac.
  • Wait for at least 15 seconds. Plug the power cord back in.
  • Wait for 5 seconds and press the power button to turn on your Mac.

If your Mac is still under warranty, it's also a good idea to contact Apple Support before attempting to reset the SMC, as they may have other recommendations or solutions to try.

Way 7: Updating MacOS

There are several reasons why updating the software or macOS on your Mac could potentially fix issues with charging. Here is how to do:

  • Go to the System Preferences above and look for the Software Update menu.
  • Enter and let the menu search for any updates.
  • You can enter the Advanced menu to see if you may have accidentally unchecked the "Download and Install Latest Updates."
  • Install the latest update.

    update macos

Extra Tip: How Do I Force My Mac to Charge

Sometimes the Battery Health Management stops your device from charging further to save battery life or not to overheat it. Follow these steps to mitigate this issue.

1. Check the battery menu from the top of the screen, as shown in the image.

2. Choose “Charge to Full Now” to force your MacBook to fully charge and resolve any issues, such as MacBook Pro won't charge.

Conclusion

When it comes to issues with your MacBook, you can face simple issues such as MacBook won't charge or similar, but most times, it will have the simplest solution. We have shared some of the best solutions in this article that you can efficiently complete as an end user. Stay tuned for more upcoming amazing features from Tenorshare ReiBoot.