2021 MacBook Pro 16" MagSafe Light Flashing Amber and Power Chime Repeating During Charging When Off

[Erlenbunker]

It seems the issue does not occur at all (especially when MacBook Pro is turned off) when more than 80% charged, even when using the fast charging capabilities of the 140W adapter and MagSafe 3 cable.

Below 80% charge, the flashing MagSafe light indicator and repeating power chime is expected to be present when using the 140W adapter's fast charging, MagSafe 3 capabilities when plugging in to charge after the device has been powered off.

Yep. Same thing here. I was on 33%, when I started charging (Macbook Pro 16, 2021, Monterey 12.0.1) and it will blink and chime repeatedly when the computer is turned off and the lid is closed. Now I am on 93% and it won't chime nor blink. So - I think, this is a software related issue. Obviously also a known issue. Apple will hopefully fix this. I think as of yet, it makes no sense to exchange the power brick let alone the whole laptop.

 

[white7561]

I received my 16-inch M1 Pro yesterday. I ran the battery down to 74 percent, turned it completely off, closed the lid and attached the 140 watt adapter to the MagSafe port. The amber light flashed briefly once, there was a sound that you hear when plugging in an iPhone (not the Mac startup bong), and the amber light then remained on with no flashing. After a couple of minutes, I opened the lid and it automatically booted up.

I haven't updated to 12.0.1 and I've turned off the startup bong, in case that's relevant.

Could be the firmware. If and when you update to 12.0.1 or newer. Please try this again and let us know how it goes. Thanks!

 

[Smoothie]

Could be the firmware. If and when you update to 12.0.1 or newer. Please try this again and let us know how it goes. Thanks!

I think I'm going to leave well enough alone for the time being. ? I'm assuming that charging from 74 percent would invoke fast charging. I just fully charged it, but I'll try again when I drain the battery a little more just to eliminate this as a potential explanation for what appears to be normal charging behavior. The battery life on this machine is incredible. It takes quite a while to drain the battery.

 

[white7561]

I think I'm going to leave well enough alone for the time being. ? I'm assuming that charging from 74 percent would invoke fast charging. I just fully charged it, but I'll try again when I drain the battery a little more just to eliminate this as a potential explanation for what appears to be normal charging behavior. The battery life on this machine is incredible. It takes quite a while to drain the battery.

True!! I love this machine so much.

 

[Amazing1]

Okay. So . I'm on 50 % . When I turned it off. And use MagSafe it charges and turns on. I unplugged it, then If I turned it off then I closed the lid. Then MagSafe it'll chime repeatedly. (I think this didn't happen when the unit arrived on my door because of what you said. The batt was more than 80%) so yeah seems like a bug. Prob because plugging it in turns it on, and turning it on recycles the charging. But since it's lid is closed it restart the charging cycle.

But again this doesn't explain on why it only happens on MagSafe and when below 80% as you said. So yeah. Definitely a bug. Needs to report this. Although this bug isn't really that annoying I think since i can't see myself charging the MacBook with MagSafe with it off and closed lid. Since I usually don't turn off my laptop. Even tho I might close the lid.

A question, if your Mac is in closed lid position. But sleeping not turned off and below the 80% limit thing, does the bug occurs? I can't test right now since I'm using it for work. But maybe you've tried it? Thanks!

When my MacBook Pro is turned on, regardless if the lid is open or closed, this issue does not occur for me.

Yep. Same thing here. I was on 33%, when I started charging (Macbook Pro 16, 2021, Monterey 12.0.1) and it will blink and chime repeatedly when the computer is turned off and the lid is closed. Now I am on 93% and it won't chime nor blink. So - I think, this is a software related issue. Obviously also a known issue. Apple will hopefully fix this. I think as of yet, it makes no sense to exchange the power brick let alone the whole laptop.

Indeed. I cancelled my new adapter order, and have been and still am entirely uninterested in exchanging the entire package. Thanks for chiming in (pun intended)!



Thanks again to everyone for the great communication and detective work, it's highly appreciated.

 

[white7561]

When my MacBook Pro is turned on, regardless if the lid is open or closed, this issue does not occur for me.


Indeed. I cancelled my new adapter order, and have been and still am entirely uninterested in exchanging the entire package. Thanks for chiming in (pun intended)!



Thanks again to everyone for the great communication and detective work, it's highly appreciated.

Yeh it's a weird bug. But not that annoying tho for me atleast since i can't think of when I turned it off and charged it with the lid off. Usually just sleep it haha

 

[Smoothie]

I retested my 16 inch with the 140 watt adapter. This time I drained the battery to 50% to leave no doubt that it would fast charge. The MBP was completely shut down with the lid closed. I plugged in the charger to the MagSafe port and an amber light flashed once along with the connection sound. Then the light was a steady amber. For whatever reason, I’m not seeing this problem.

 

[white7561]

I retested my 16 inch with the 140 watt adapter. This time I drained the battery to 50% to leave no doubt that it would fast charge. The MBP was completely shut down with the lid closed. I plugged in the charger to the MagSafe port and an amber light flashed once along with the connection sound. Then the light was a steady amber. For whatever reason, I’m not seeing this problem.

But you're still on the version that came with your Mac right? If yes then it could be that. But again we don't know until you've upgraded on a later date

 

[Smoothie]

But you're still on the version that came with your Mac right? If yes then it could be that. But again we don't know until you've upgraded on a later date

I'm going to wait until 12.1 and check back here to see if it fixes the issue. I haven't upgraded my 2017 iMac to Monterey. I usually wait for a few point releases before taking the plunge. While the charging behavior for my M1 Pro seems normal, there's a thread in the Monterey forum about unpredictable trackpad behavior and I'm experiencing that. Hopefully, Apple sorts all of this out quickly.

 

[nicholascanada]

Received my new MBP 16, updated to newest software version, and I also have this issue.

I was below 80% power.

Plugged in 140W brick and magsafe while in sleep mode. No constant beep.

Plugged in 140W brick and magsafe when powered off, constant beep and orange light flashing.

Was about to return my MBP today then I stumbled on here. My guess is like others mentioned is that its software related, and something in 12.01 that caused it.

 

[white7561]

Received my new MBP 16, updated to newest software version, and I also have this issue.

I was below 80% power.

Plugged in 140W brick and magsafe while in sleep mode. No constant beep.

Plugged in 140W brick and magsafe when powered off, constant beep and orange light flashing.

Was about to return my MBP today then I stumbled on here. My guess is like others mentioned is that its software related, and something in 12.01 that caused it.

My guess too. It could be that when I tried it before even booting it up when it arrived at my home, it was below the 75% even tho it's working. It's prob the firmware. Needs others to report. And new users that are still in 12.0 etc then try upgrading to 12.0.1

 

[nicholascanada]

I am chatting with Apple Support now, reported it, and trying to confirm again if known issue to them.

They confirmed it is a known issue to them. Did not say if hardware or software.

 

[white7561]

I am chatting with Apple Support now, reported it, and trying to confirm again if known issue to them.

Just make sure they have updated it to 12.0.1 . In case it is a newer firmware issue.

 

[nicholascanada]

Yes I mentioned 12.0.1.

 

[Ste123]

Same problem here..

But here’s a workaround I found to charge it while off:

Turn the MacBook off, plug the MagSafe and wait around 10 seconds (the issue is going on now), turn it on and wait for the login screen, you can now turn it off (no need to login) and it will charge while off without any problem

Let me know if it’s just me or it works for everybody

 

[Andimansbrain]

Same problem here..

But here’s a workaround I found to charge it while off:

Turn the MacBook off, plug the MagSafe and wait around 10 seconds (the issue is going on now), turn it on and wait for the login screen, you can now turn it off (no need to login) and it will charge while off without any problem

Let me know if it’s just me or it works for everybody

Yes, this workaround is also working for me.

 

[white7561]

Same problem here..

But here’s a workaround I found to charge it while off:

Turn the MacBook off, plug the MagSafe and wait around 10 seconds (the issue is going on now), turn it on and wait for the login screen, you can now turn it off (no need to login) and it will charge while off without any problem

Let me know if it’s just me or it works for everybody

As I understand it, if you plug it in while it's lid is closed then the bug happens right? When you open the lid it'll turn on the laptop

So, does this mean that I need to close the lid first to reproduce the bug and turn it on then turn it off while still charging? Or it just needs to be charging with MagSafe before turning off and then closing the lid to bypass the bug?

 

[white7561]

Same problem here..

But here’s a workaround I found to charge it while off:

Turn the MacBook off, plug the MagSafe and wait around 10 seconds (the issue is going on now), turn it on and wait for the login screen, you can now turn it off (no need to login) and it will charge while off without any problem

Let me know if it’s just me or it works for everybody

Okay. So I tested things and it doesn't have to be that complicated.

The simple thing to remember until it gets fixed is :
- If your laptop is on. Plug in MagSafe. Shutdown . And you can just close the lid
- if your laptop is off. Open your laptop and plug it in (it'll go to the login screen) then just click shutdown button. Don't need to actually boot up your MacBook. Done

 

[coffeym]

Just to comment I have the same issue discussed here. Likewise for me, if I plug in before shutting down, then shut down and close the lid, it’ll charge fine. If I just try to charge when it’s off, I get a repeated amber light and chime. Hope it’s a software issue!

 

[westandskif]

Hey everyone, just to confirm:
macbook pro 16 2021, M1 Max, same thing: when the laptop was off, sitting at 66% of battery I plugged it in and it started to constantly chime every 5-6 seconds, flashing with amber light.
OS X v12.0.1.

 

[white7561]

Yeh. At least now that Apple has confirmed it's an issue on their end. We just have to wait for the fix. For now if we ever need to charge with power off and lid closed. Just use the workaround

 

[cardfan]

Yeh. At least now that Apple has confirmed it's an issue on their end. We just have to wait for the fix. For now if we ever need to charge with power off and lid closed. Just use the workaround

Waiting on a fix to charge the laptop? Can’t say I have any use for MagSafe. That was only problem that I ever had with 2015 mbp. Had to get more than one cable that seem to go bad.

 

[white7561]

Waiting on a fix to charge the laptop? Can’t say I have any use for MagSafe. That was only problem that I ever had with 2015 mbp. Had to get more than one cable that seem to go bad.

I usually use MagSafe at home. And on travel I just get a 100w GaN charger prob and USB c to c cable. Since my phone is using C to C fast charging too. Less weight overall

 

[Deki112]

Same issue,I have 2 MacBook Pro 2021 16, one is M1 Pro other is M1 Pro Max, at Apple Store Genius bar now, they tried the 96w charging brick wall form 2020 MacBook 16 and connected to the new cable USB C to MagSafe 3 and is charging correctly even when powered off, they offered to order a different 140W charger or to return.

MacBook Pro 16 2021 M1 Pro and M1 Pro Max problem not charging MagSafe 3 140w, while turned off.​

MacBook Pro 16 2021 M1 Pro and M1 Pro Max charging issues with MagSafe 3 140W form Apple, while turned off. Not charging, left for 30 minutes and same issue. Restarted, same issue. Both are having same problems, Apple support unable to help. One is MacBook Pro 2021 M1 Pro 16 GB ram 1 TB Second is MacBook Pro 2021 M1 Max 32 GB ram 1 TB

My video:

 

[little_k0i]

I have a similar problem.

MacBook Pro 16 with M1 Pro just suddenly stopped charging via MagSafe and (probably) USB-C. It does not respond to power button. No LED indication on MagSafe connector.

I've tested charger with iPhone using USB-C to Lightning cable, and it works just fine. So charger is operational.

I'll go to Apple Store tomorrow and see if I can get a replacement. It is less than 14 days since purchase.