Your Guide to Troubleshooting MacBook Battery Not Charging

When your MacBook battery not charging message shows up, it can be frustrating. You’re plugged in, but the battery percentage hardly budges. Don’t worry. This ultimate guide walks you through the most common causes and reliable fixes. You’ll learn how to pinpoint the reason behind the issue, try practical troubleshooting steps, and figure out when to consider a professional repair or battery replacement.

Diagnose the charging issue

Sometimes your MacBook looks like it’s charging, but the Battery Status menu says otherwise. Before you panic, take note of your current battery percentage and observe whether it’s slowly decreasing, staying the same, or occasionally going up. This observation helps highlight if you’re dealing with a hardware or a software glitch.

• Does the menu read “Not Charging” even though the power cable is connected?
• Is the battery stuck at a certain percentage and won’t climb higher?

Understanding these basic symptoms allows you to narrow down possible causes, which can include low-wattage power adapters, software-level battery pauses, or battery miscalibrations.

Check your power source

One of the most basic (yet overlooked) fixes involves verifying that your power adapter is up to the task.

Confirm correct wattage

Make sure you’re using the power adapter that came with your Mac or another Apple-certified charger. A lower-watt adapter might power your laptop enough to keep it running, but it may not have enough juice to charge the battery. If you notice the battery percentage doesn’t increase at all, try using a different, higher-watt later model Apple charger.

Inspect cable condition

Cables can fray, especially if they’ve been bent or stepped on. Inspect the entire cable for visible damage. If you see exposed wires, kinks, or scorch marks, it’s definitely time for a replacement.

Reset system settings

When weird battery behavior crops up, a quick reset of your Mac’s internal management settings can set things right.

SMC reset steps

The System Management Controller (SMC) keeps track of hardware-level functions, including battery charging. If your MacBook has a T2 chip (2018 models or later), shut it down, then press and hold Control + Option + Shift for 7 seconds, then also hold down the power button. Keep holding all keys for 7 more seconds. Release them, wait a few seconds, and then power on your Mac.

On older Macs, shut down, then press and hold Shift + Control + Option while pressing the power button for 10 seconds. Release, then press power as usual. Either way, you’ll likely see a battery status refresh once you log back in.

PRAM/NVRAM reset steps

Parameter RAM (PRAM) and Non-Volatile RAM (NVRAM) store things like screen resolution and startup disk info. Occasionally, resetting them helps fix charging anomalies:

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Press the power button, then immediately hold Option + Command + P + R.
3. Keep holding for about 20 seconds, then release.

Drain and recharge

If resets don’t work, you may need to recalibrate your battery. Sometimes the charging software gets confused about the battery’s real capacity.

Why draining helps

Draining your battery entirely, then recharging it, can re-sync your system’s battery management software. According to user experiences, this trick can solve issues when SMC or PRAM resets don’t do the job. Letting the battery fully deplete helps clear out any lingering software error that misreads your actual battery capacity.

Step-by-step draining method

1. Shut down your Mac, then start it up in Recovery Mode (hold Command + R).
2. With the charger plugged in, open Recovery Mode for a moment, then disconnect the charger.
3. Browse the web or watch a quick video until your Mac powers down completely.
4. Wait about 20 minutes after it shuts off.
5. Reconnect the charger and power on your Mac. Your battery should now begin charging normally.

Evaluate battery health

Apple notes that MacBook batteries can retain up to 80% of their original capacity after 1000 full charge cycles. If your battery is close to or below that 80% threshold, you might notice shorter run times and more frequent charging woes.

• Check your Mac’s battery status by going to System Settings → Battery → Battery Health.
• Look for any “Service Recommended” messages.
• Third-party apps like Coconut Battery can also verify your battery’s design capacity, revealing whether it’s truly due for a swap.

If your battery is still around 80% of its original capacity, there’s likely enough juice left for typical daily use. Apple also allows official battery replacements up to a decade after purchase, so you can extend your device’s life if necessary.

Wrap up and next steps

By carefully identifying the cause of your battery not charging, you can often solve the problem with just a few steps. Use a proper wattage adapter, reset the SMC or PRAM, and consider draining the battery until it’s fully empty if all else fails. When battery health dips or you see swelling, it’s time for professional help.

Got any favorite tips for reviving a finicky MacBook battery? Share them with others who might be stuck. And if you feel unsure at any step, an authorized service provider can diagnose the hardware for you. Meanwhile, a healthy battery and a functional charging setup can keep you up and running without interruption. Enjoy your MacBook, and stay powered up!