The old MacBook Pro I use is my goto laptop. It is old, but super reliable. It is a late-2011 MAcBook Pro, has a 3.5” 750GB drive, and a DVD R/W disk drive… yes, you
can still actually watch old DVDs on it. No kids, DVDs only not Blue Ray! I can say that it serves me really well, and I’m not
looking to spend any dineros to replace it any time soon.
But like any old tech, it’s starting to show its quirks. Every so often, it’ll throw an attitude and
refuse to work with its bud - the MagSafe charger. It will just plain would not charge,
period. The following are steps to deal
with this annoying issue.
1: Verify the MagSafe is Plugged In & Try a Different Outlet
Yes, that means check to be sure the adapter is plugged
into a wall outlet, and that the MagSafe AC adapter or wall adapter is properly
connected and secured. Trying a different wall outlet is also critical because
it rules out the outlet being the issue (and who hasn’t had the experience of
plugging something into a non-working outlet before?). Also, check for any flaws or frays in the
adapter. If the MagSafe cable is torn, fraying, damaged, or the inner-workings
of the charger are exposed in any way, do not use the MagSafe. Replace it
immediately.
2: Check the MagSafe Ports for Debris
Now check the MagSafe ports for any objects or debris.
Look closely at both the adapter cord itself, and on the port at the side of
the MacBook Pro / Air. Foreign objects interfering in the physical connection
between the charger and the computer is one of the more common reasons that
MagSafe adapters seemingly won’t pass a charge. The image below demonstrates
how a tiny piece of something blocking a connection can be hard to see, so
check closely.
(Note the tiny metallic particle that is snuggly tucked
into the corner of the port. Yes, this is a real photo example taken while
troubleshooting a MacBook Air that wouldn’t charge.)
If you do see something stuck in the MagSafe adapter or
Mac port, unplug the MagSafe from the wall and disconnect
the Mac from any power source, and then use a wooden object like a
toothpick to remove it from the port. Do not ever use anything metal for this
purpose.
This may sound silly or unlikely, but it happens more
often than you’d think. Because laptops and MagSafe adapters are often carried
in backpacks, purses, and bags, they can accumulate lint and other particles
that may prevent a proper connection. Additionally, that same magnetic
connection which makes the MagSafe adapter so wonderful can also attract other
pieces of minuscule stuff that is just large enough to prevent a charge while
also being very hard to visually identify.
3: Reset the SMC
If you have verified the MagSafe adapter is all plugged
in properly and the port is free of obstructions, your next choice should be to
reset the System Management Controller (SMC). This can resolve many power
related issues with Macs…
1.
Strange fan behavior
2.
Batteries not charging
3.
The MagSafe adapter not being identified as
connected or passing a charge
4.
The battery missing message.
5.
Refusal to sleep or wake properly
And many other quirks…
Resetting the SMC on a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and
Retina MacBook with a non-removal battery is easy and done as follows:
1.
Shut down the MacBook by going to Apple menu
> Shut Down
2.
Connect the MagSafe power adapter to the
MacBook, the magnetic end.
3.
IMPORTANT: Unplug the MagSafe from the
electric outlet/power strip, the 3-prong electric plug end. This whole process will fail if the MagSafe
is plugged in to an electrical outlet or power strip.
4.
Simultaneously hold down Shift+Control+Option+Power
for about 5-8 seconds, then release all together.
5.
Plug the electric plug end of the MagSafe to a
power outlet/power strip.
6.
Press the Power button to boot the MacBook with
a reset SMC.
To clarify, these are the exact keys to press when the
Mac is shut down with the adapter connected in order to reset the SMC:
NOTE: If you have an older model MacBook with a removal
battery the steps are slightly different, you can follow our instructions or Apple’s
official instructions to perform the same SMC reset on those computers. Resetting the SMC clears out all power
settings on the Mac, so if you have customized settings within Energy Saver or
elsewhere you’ll need to set those again, as all power options get returned to
the OS X defaults.
The MacBook battery should now be charging from the
MagSafe as usual
Once the Mac is booted it should be charging fine, as
signified by the MagSafe light being orange or green. If you’re still having problems and the Mac
won’t charge, the MagSafe adapter itself could be failing (a fairly rare
occurrence) or the MacBook logic board could be failing (another rare
occurrence). If you can, try another MagSafe adapter to see if it works with
the Mac.
