Troubleshooting

MacBook not charging? 4 fixes to try

4 fixes, 4 with a real screenshot from our MacBook Neo on macOS 27.0.1. Try them in order.

By Abu Bakar Saadat · Updated 11 Nov 2026 · 3 min read · Publisher: Saadat Rafiq

Illustration

Quick answer

Unplug the power adapter from the socket, wait 30 seconds and plug it in again, then try another socket and another USB-C cable. Restart the MacBook, read the charge state under System Settings, Battery, and install macOS updates.

Well, it is maddening when the charger is in and the battery will not budge. The problem can be the socket, the cable or the adapter, so work through the list from the top, quickest checks first.

Step-by-step guide

Follow these steps in order. After each step, check if it works.

0 of 4 steps

1
Check the adapter, socket and cable
Take the power adapter out of the wall socket, wait 30 seconds and put it back. If it then charges, Apple's adapter article says the socket may share a circuit with lights with ballasts or fridges: use a socket on a different circuit or a UPS. Try another socket, without an extension lead, and another USB-C cable made for charging. Then click the battery icon in the menu bar: on our MacBook Neo it reads Power Source: Power Adapter and Fully Charged.
Done
2
Restart the MacBook
Choose Apple menu, Restart…. On our MacBook Neo, Restart… sits between Sleep and Shut Down….
Done
3
Read the battery status
Open System Settings, Battery. Our MacBook Neo shows Low Power Mode (Never), Battery Health: Normal and a Charging row with an (i) button. The battery icon in the menu bar also lists the Power Source and the charge state.
Done
4
Install updates
Open System Settings, General, Software Update, click Check for Updates and install what is offered. Our MacBook Neo shows Your Mac is up to date (macOS 27 Golden Gate 27.0.1) and Automatic Updates: On. Apple's macOS 27 guide notes that a laptop must have its power adapter plugged in to download updates automatically.
Done

Charger stopped working suddenly

Unplug it at the wall Take the adapter out of the socket for 30 seconds. If it then charges, Apple says the socket may share a circuit with lights or fridges: use another circuit (step 1). Source: If your USB-C power adapter isn't charging your Mac laptop
Shut down and close the lid Apple says to shut down the Mac, close the display for 30 seconds, then open it and try charging again. If the battery menu still shows no power adapter, take the Mac, adapter and cable to Apple or an authorised service provider. Source: If your USB-C power adapter isn't charging your Mac laptop

If you do not see this option

No Not Charging message On our MacBook Neo the battery menu showed Power Source: Power Adapter and Fully Charged, so there was no Not Charging line to read.
No Optimized Battery Charging switch on the page Apple's macOS 27 guide puts Optimized Battery Charging behind the button next to Battery Health. On our MacBook Neo there is also a separate Charging row with its own (i) button.

If this does not work

Clean the port Look into the USB-C port with a torch, because one stubborn speck of fluff can stop the plug sitting properly. Remove it carefully, without metal tools. Then check the battery menu again: on our MacBook Neo it names the Power Source.
Try another plug or cable on the adapter Apple's adapter article: try another Apple AC plug on the adapter, or the Apple Power Adapter Extension Cable (sold separately).
You use an adapter from another maker Try the Apple power adapter and cable that came with the Mac first, to rule the other one out. Apple's adapter article says a replacement should be a USB-C power adapter with equal or greater wattage than the original.

Good to know

If nothing helps, you have done the sensible checks; now Apple or an authorised service provider can test the adapter and the MacBook.

If the MacBook does not start at all: Mac won't turn on: 7 things to try before a repair.

Checking the battery itself: how to check battery health on a MacBook.

macOS 27 compared with macOS 26: We rewrote this guide on macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo): it now has 4 steps instead of 8. The macOS 26 page keeps the steps and screenshots as they were.

Version history: the macOS 26 version of this guide, with its own screenshots.

About this guide

Device: Mac
Shown on: macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo)
App: System Settings
Real screenshots: 4 of 4 steps
Checked: October 2026
Sources: 2 official, linked below

What changed: added what to do when the charger stopped working suddenly.

Sources

Links checked October 2026. Menus and features can change with updates.

What to do next

Sort out sleep and charging on a Mac Step 3 of 4

MacBook not charging? 4 fixes to try

Quick answer

Step-by-step guide

Check the adapter, socket and cable

Restart the MacBook

Read the battery status

Install updates