How to Fix MacBook battery not charging

Is your Macbook battery not charging even though the battery icon shows that it is charging? If so, you are not alone! In fact, yesterday, when I plugged in my MacBook, I soon realized that my Mac’s battery was not charging properly.

For me, when I plug it in, the battery icon up the top shows the lightning bolt icon but also says it’s not charging and stays on the same battery percentage. For others, the battery icon shows the plug symbol instead of the lightning bolt–and of course, it also does not charge or change the percentage of total charge.

If the Battery Status menu on your MacBook says “Not Charging” even when plugged into power, your computer might not be connected to a power source that gives enough power to charge the battery. This often happens when you connect to the power port during a flight–it can provide sufficient power to run your MacBook but not charge it at the same time.

Check your MacBook’s battery condition

1. Press and hold the Option key then tap the battery icon in the top menu bar
2. Review the results
   1. Normal: your battery is functioning normally
   2. Replace Soon: The battery holds less charge than it did when new
   3. Replace Now: The battery holds significantly less charge than when new. Continue to use the battery until you can replace it
   4. Service Battery: The battery needs replaced. Take note of any change in behavior or the amount of charge it holds. You can continue to use your battery before it’s checked without harming your computer

Clean your charging port and the power adapter

It’s possible that your port or the charging cable is dirty. So we recommend cleaning both your MacBook’s charging port AND the power adapter’s cable and the charger itself.

Check to make sure there is no dust or debris inside the connectors. Check and clean both the adapter connector and the power port on Macbook. Look closely and remove debris using a magnifying glass or the magnifying glass function on your iPhone.

Learn how in this article: How to clean a USB-C charging port on your MacBook, iPad, or phone

Try a different charger, outlet, power source, or warm it up!

If possible, use a different charger from another MacBook and see if the problem persists or resolves. If you do not have access to another charger, visit an Apple Store or Apple Authorized retailer and ask them if you can test your MacBook using one of their chargers.

Make sure that the power outlet you are using to charge your device is working properly. Try a different wall power outlet to test.

It is known that some chargers/adapters may not work if it is too cold. Warming up the charger may fix your problem. Try heating your charger. I heard that some people put it under their armpit to warm it up.

Reset the System Management Controller (SMC)

Resetting the SMC may resolve many power-related issues. Try this if your MacBook does not appear to be charging properly.

MacBooks with a nonremovable battery

SK

Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the original editorial direction of AppleToolBox. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA.

Sudz specializes in covering all things macOS, having reviewed dozens of OS X and macOS developments over the years.

In a former life, Sudz worked helping Fortune 100 companies with their technology and business transformation aspirations.