Your MacBook is on the charger, but the battery menu says "Not charging" or "Charging on hold". That sounds like a fault, but often the Mac does it on purpose to protect the battery. Sometimes something is wrong: with the charger, the cable, the port or the battery itself. This article explains how to tell the difference and what to do about it.
Blue Apple repairs MacBooks in Amsterdam. Charging problems are one of the most common complaints; usually the cause can be found with a few tests.
Paused on purpose: then nothing is wrong
- Optimised Battery Charging. If your MacBook is usually on the charger, it holds around 80 percent for a while and only charges fully when it expects you to unplug it. That protects the battery. The battery menu then shows something like "Charging on hold".
- Too hot or too cold. If the MacBook or the room is very warm (or very cold), it pauses charging until the temperature is normal again.
- Heavy load with a weak charger. If you use a charger with too little power while doing heavy work, all the power goes to the Mac and nothing is left for the battery.
Step 1: look at exactly what it says
Click the battery icon in the menu bar. If it says "Charging on hold" or "Charging to 80 percent", it is Optimised Battery Charging. If you want a full charge now, choose Charge to Full Now. If it says "Not charging" and the percentage keeps falling or stays the same, continue.
Step 2: charger, cable and socket
- Try another wall socket.
- Try another port on the MacBook.
- Try another cable and, if you have one, another charger with enough power. See which charger fits my MacBook.
- Remove hubs and adapters and connect the charger directly.
Step 3: System Information
Hold Option and choose System Information, Power in the Apple menu. Under AC Charger Information you see whether the Mac recognises the charger and what power it delivers. If nothing is shown, no power is coming in: charger, cable or port. If the charger is recognised but the battery does not charge, check Battery Health.
Step 4: a restart and the SMC
Restart the Mac. On Intel MacBooks an SMC reset can help, the part that manages power. On Macs with an Apple chip a normal restart already does that.
When it is the MacBook itself
- No power comes in with any charger and cable.
- Charging only works when the plug sits at a certain angle: a worn or dirty port.
- Battery Health says "Service Recommended" or the battery is swollen.
- There has been liquid near the laptop.
Also read MacBook not charging? How to find the cause and checking battery health and charge cycles.
What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam
We measure what comes in through the port, test the charging chip on the logic board and the battery, and then tell you what is needed: a new port, a new battery or a repair to the charging circuit. You hear beforehand what it costs. More on our pages about MacBook battery replacement and MacBook charging port repair.
Frequently asked questions
Is it bad if my MacBook is always on the charger?
Not with Optimised Battery Charging on. The Mac then keeps the battery at a friendly level.
My MacBook only charges when it is off. What is that?
Usually a charger with too little power for your use. Try a stronger charger.
Can I turn off Optimised Battery Charging?
Yes, in System Settings, Battery. For battery lifespan you had better leave it on.
