A MacBook that will not charge is not always faulty. Sometimes it is doing exactly what it is set to do. Go through this list in order and you will find the cause without guessing, and the first steps cost nothing.
1. Is it just pausing?
macOS has a feature called Optimized Battery Charging. It learns your habits and holds the charge at 80 percent until you usually unplug. Click the battery icon in the menu bar. If it says charging is on hold, everything is as it should be. You can choose to charge fully now from the same menu.
2. Is the charger strong enough?
USB-C makes it easy to use any charger, but not all of them deliver enough power. A phone charger charges a MacBook very slowly, and while you work it can use more power than the charger supplies. Then it looks as if it is not charging at all.
- Use the power adapter that came with it, or one with at least the same wattage.
- Try another cable. USB-C cables look alike, but many cheap ones are only made for phones.
- Try another wall socket, not a power strip with lots of things plugged in.
3. Is it the port?
- Try another port. Most MacBooks can charge from any USB-C port. If it charges in one port but not another, it is the port.
- Does your model have MagSafe (most models from 2021 onwards)? Then try both MagSafe and USB-C. The light on the MagSafe plug glows amber while charging and green when full. If it flashes amber, unplug it and plug it back in.
- Look into the port with a torch. Dust and lint collect in a MacBook port too. Turn the machine off and remove it gently with a wooden or plastic toothpick, never anything made of metal.
- Is the plug loose, or does it only charge when the cable is held at a certain angle? That points to a worn port.
4. Restart the power management
On a MacBook with an Apple chip (M1 and later): shut it down completely, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. On an Intel MacBook it can help to reset the SMC, the part that manages power and charging. Apple’s support page has the exact key combination for your model.
5. Or is it the battery?
Does it charge but not hold the charge? Then it is the battery, not the port. Check the battery condition under System Settings, Battery. If it says Service Recommended, read our guide on what the message means.
If the battery is swelling, so the trackpad has gone stiff or the base does not sit flat, stop using and charging the machine and have it checked straight away.
What it costs
You see the price for both the port and the battery for your model in our price calculator, with VAT, travel and the part included. If you are unsure which of the two it is, write what you have tried when you book. If it turns out to be just the cable, we will tell you, and we will not charge you for a repair.