About your Mac laptop’s power adapter (2024)

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About your Mac laptop’s power adapter (1)

If you have a Mac laptop, plugging in the power adapter provides power to the computer and recharges the computer’s battery. For optimal performance, use the power adapter that came with your Mac laptop—either a MagSafe or USB-C—or a compatible replacement adapter. See the Apple Support article Identify your Mac power adapter.

You can purchase a compatible replacement adapter from apple.com or an Apple Store.

About MagSafe power adapter light colors

When you first connect a MagSafe power adapter to a compatible computer, the adapter light glows green for about a second to indicate that power is available. After that, the adapter light glows green or amber.

Green: A steady green light indicates that the battery is fully charged.
Amber: A steady amber light indicates that the battery is being charged.

To learn more about your computer’s battery, see Manage your Mac laptop’s battery.

See alsoCheck the condition of your Mac laptop’s batteryWhat is the Battery Status menu on Mac?If your Mac screen goes blackIf your Mac doesn’t turn on

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About your Mac laptop’s power adapter (2024)

FAQs

Why is my MacBook power adapter not working? ›

Make sure the USB-C port on the power adapter and the USB-C connector are clear of any debris. Restart your Mac. Connect the USB-C power adapter to the wall socket, connect the USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable to the power adapter and to your Mac, then try charging again.

Read On ›

What does power adapter mean on Mac? ›

If you have a Mac laptop, plugging in the power adapter provides power to the computer and recharges the computer's battery. For optimal performance, use the power adapter that came with your Mac laptop—either a MagSafe or USB-C—or a compatible replacement adapter.

Discover More Details ›

Why does my Mac keep saying the battery is not charging? ›

This can happen for a few reasons: Your computer temporarily paused charging to extend the life of your battery. Your battery may drain to 93% or lower before it begins charging again. Depending on the model of your Mac, you may be able to turn off battery health features in Battery settings.

How do you reset the USB-C port on a Mac? ›

Shut down your Mac. Turn it back on and immediately press and hold Option+Command+P+R for 20 seconds. Your MacBook will restart with the NVRAM reset and, we hope, your USB-C port will work again.

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Can MacBook power adapter be repaired? ›

Functionally yes. However, there might be minor cosmetic damage along the sides of the adapter brick post repair. The reason is that, these adapters aren't designed to be opened for repair, and we have to force it open using specialized tools.

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How to know if a dead MacBook is charging? ›

After you connect the charger, the indicator light glows green if your battery is fully charged or glows amber if your battery is charging or charging is on hold. These Mac laptops can charge with MagSafe 3: MacBook Air introduced in 2022 or later.

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How long do Mac power adapters last? ›

Chargers or adapters function differently than the batteries to which they provide energy. Chargers, unlike batteries, do not have expiration dates. This means they can work at a perfectly acceptable level for many years even if they show signs of surface wear and tear.

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Why is my MacBook plugged in and not charging? ›

If you're experiencing charging issues, first, ensure your power source is sufficient. If the problem persists, check for a faulty adapter or cable. Restart your MacBook, then try resetting the System Management Controller (SMC). If problems persist, visit a reputable service center for assistance.

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How do I force my Mac battery to charge? ›

How to Force Your MacBook's Battery to Fully Charge

From the Apple menu, select System Preferences.
Click the Battery icon.
From the sidebar, click Battery, as shown below.
Deselect the Optimized battery charging checkbox to force your MacBook's battery to fully change.

Apr 13, 2022

How to reset Mac battery? ›

Reset SMC for Mac laptops with a removable battery

Shut down the computer.
Disconnect the MagSafe power adapter from the computer, if it's connected.
Remove the battery.
Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds.
Release the power button.
Reconnect the battery and MagSafe power adapter.

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Jan 10, 2024

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How do you fix a dead MacBook that won't charge? ›

Here are 7 ways to fix your MacBook, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro not charging.

Check your battery health. ...
Reboot your MacBook. ...
Physically inspect hardware. ...
Check for battery-draining apps. ...
Reset the SMC. ...
Check charging cable for damage. ...
Cool down your Mac.

Mar 13, 2024

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Why is USB-C not charging my Mac? ›

Some USB-C cables only support data transfer and won't charge your Mac, so make sure the cable you try supports charging. If your Mac laptop charges with a different USB-C cable or only charges when you wiggle or move the USB-C cable, stop using the cable that doesn't work and get your cable and power supply evaluated.

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How to fix charging port on Mac? ›

Here are three things to try, starting with the most common fix.

Reboot your Mac. Before we get into the software fixes, let's start with the simplest solution of all — restarting your Mac. ...
Inspect your USB-C port. ...
Check your Mac for malware. ...
Run Apple Diagnostics. ...
Reset the SMC. ...
Reset PRAM/NVRAM.

Aug 29, 2023

Get More Info Here ›

How do I check if my USB-C port is working on my Mac? ›

Click the Apple icon. Click About This Mac. Click More Info or System Report. Under the appropriate heading, confirm that your USB device is listed and that there isn't an error.

What do I do if my Apple adapter is not working? ›

Unplug the power adapter from the wall, wait 60 seconds, then plug the adapter back in. If the adapter works after this 60-second "rest", you most likely have a line noise issue with your power source. You should reset the adapter periodically by repeating this moment of rest.

How do I fix my MacBook plugged in but not charging? ›

Try these quick tips to fix your Mac if it won't charge.

Check your battery health. Your computer monitors your battery, making it easy for you to know what's going on with it. ...
Check your charging cable. ...
Restart your MacBook. ...
Get rid of battery-draining apps. ...
Reset the System Management Controller.

View Details ›

What causes a power adapter to stop working? ›

AC adapter issues can occur due to a faulty AC adapter, faulty power cable, damage to the power or AC adapter cable, faulty DC-in connector on the laptop, and so on.

Why won't my USB adapter work on my Mac? ›

Check the power, port, and cable connections: Make sure the USB device is turned on and its cables are properly connected. If your computer has more than one USB port , switch the device's cable to another port. If you still can't use the device, contact the manufacturer for more information.

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