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

[ray_searan]

Hi everyone!

I just received the new 2021 M1 Pro MacBook Pro 16" yesterday. This is my first Mac and I'm experiencing what I believe might be an issue, as I can't find any information about it online.

I've already charged the device to 100% with no issues. When on, charging seems to work as expected.

However, when the MacBook is off, the MagSafe light indicator continuously flashes amber to off to amber (etc.) every few seconds, while making the power chime sound every time. This only occurs when off. It's quite annoying and frustrating.

Has anyone experienced the same? I don't think this is intended behaviour but if anyone knows more, it would be appreciated if shared.

Thanks!

EDIT:
Thankfully, after doing a full system erase, the flashing amber light and beeping are both gone. Now, when plugging in when off, the adapter seems to take a moment to flash once between red/red or green, but remains correctly solid following that, without any power chime noise after the first.

Plugging in when on immediately shows the correct solid amber or green light which I would still probably prefer to happen when off, but I can't say this is an issue as it is obviously much more acceptable behaviour than obnoxious flashing and noise. Also, I saw elsewhere that earlier MacBooks with MagSafe may have also quickly changed the indicated colour before staying solid when off.

Given this, I think everything is working as intended now, or at least much more reasonably, I would say. I'm not quite sure what the issue was, but it was and is concerning enough still, that I'll keep an eye out.

EDIT 2 (Oct. 31):
Issue is back, seemingly no fix as of yet. May be a problem with adapter or cable as some have suggested. More insight in thread comments.

I have the exact same situation going on. While I have not found a solution to the flashing amber light and beeping, I have noticed something. I have plugged in the MacBook at night and walked away from it and went to bed. In the morning, I have always came back to find the MacBook completely charged, no beeping, with a solid green light on the mag safe adapter. While the flashing amber light and beeping are annoying, on my device, historically, the battery is being charged.

Blessings,

Ray

 

[michael9891]

I got the New MBP 16 today and also noticed the charging chime when powered off (I'm on Monterey). A quick Google finds an easy solution. Now it's silent and easy to see when it's charged with MagSafe cable changing from red to green.

How to Change or Disable Your MacBook's Charging Sound

Newer MacBooks make a sound when you connect the charger. Here's how to change or disable this sound.

www.makeuseof.com

 

[Erlenbunker]

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.

Wow. This definitely sounds kind of serious.

 

[Orakeshi]

I hope I can help some people with this (I am not sure if this has already been mentioned, apologies if it has) ... I spoke to apple and was told this is a firmware related issue. I had the problem, followed these steps to reset the mac back to factory power settings and the problem is gone. Magsafe flashes once & then charges without flashing/beeping. The steps are:

 

[darkside flow]

Same issue here. Charging cycles constantly when M1 MacBook Pro 16 is shut off. I typically shut if my MacBooks to charge as I don’t want the battery to slowly discharge after I put it in my bag. However, M1 mac just lasted me 4+ days of usage with leaving it on my bag on sleep mode so I’ll just leave it alone for now. I’m thinking it has to be a software fix.

 

[Freedom 49]

I got the New MBP 16 today and also noticed the charging chime when powered off (I'm on Monterey). A quick Google finds an easy solution. Now it's silent and easy to see when it's charged with MagSafe cable changing from red to green.

How to Change or Disable Your MacBook's Charging Sound

Newer MacBooks make a sound when you connect the charger. Here's how to change or disable this sound.

www.makeuseof.com

Did yours chime continuously and did the Magsafe light flash when charging and turned off? A single chime when connecting the charger is expected behaviour I think.

 

[Freedom 49]

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

My machine has all the same symptoms but this workaround does not work for me.

 

[Freedom 49]

OK.

16" MacBook Pro MI Pro, OS updated to 12.0.1, shutting off machine and charging when below 80% creates the flashing Magsafe light and the power chime repeating after every flash.

I started charging when the battery was at 78% and got this behaviour, but I left it off and plugged in, and after a few minutes it stopped. I immediately pulled the charger and started the MacBook. Battery was 80% charged.

 

[white7561]

My machine has all the same symptoms but this workaround does not work for me.

Here's the workaround that works for me

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

 

[Smoothie]

Why has no one experiencing this issue tried the solution posted by Orakeshi a few posts above?

 

[Freedom 49]

Why has no one experiencing this issue tried the solution posted by Orakeshi a few posts above?

I have without luck. Trying it again. Need to run my battery down under 80%.

 

[white7561]

I hope I can help some people with this (I am not sure if this has already been mentioned, apologies if it has) ... I spoke to apple and was told this is a firmware related issue. I had the problem, followed these steps to reset the mac back to factory power settings and the problem is gone. Magsafe flashes once & then charges without flashing/beeping. The steps are:

Does this reset the data or?

 

[Freedom 49]

Does this reset the data or?

This is only resetting SMC on previous versions of MacBooks. Don't know about this one. One of things addressed by SMC reset was MagSafe power adapter LED.

 

[white7561]

This is only resetting SMC on previous versions of MacBooks. Don't know about this one. One of things addressed by SMC reset was MagSafe power adapter LED.

Yeh there is another way to reset SMC now on apple silicon.

 

[Freedom 49]

Here's the workaround that works for me

Hang on - is this another piece of the puzzle? Using your workaround for when the macbook is on: If the Magsafe is plugged in when you shut down, watch the LED. If you wait a few seconds before closing the top, the LED goes off and then turns amber. If you put the top BEFORE that, the chiming and flashing starts. If you wait until the LED goes off and back on, and THEN put the top down, it charges without issue.

 

[white7561]

Hang on - is this another piece of the puzzle? Using your workaround for when the macbook is on: If the Magsafe is plugged in when you shut down, watch the LED. If you wait a few seconds before closing the top, the LED goes off and then turns amber. If you put the top BEFORE that, the chiming and flashing starts. If you wait until the LED goes off and back on, and THEN put the top down, it charges without issue.

Yeah . That's why we plug it in before it cycles. It seems like when it's off or on it kinda cycles the charging.

My guess is that it is trying to turn on the laptop when you charge with the lid closed. But since it's closed it turns off again . And since every turn on or off means cycling the charging it could explain it. But why it only affects when the batt below 80% is beyond me. Anyways . As long as we can still use this workaround its prob fine. And I usually don't turn off my laptop too so it's not that big of deal for me

Tho idk if the new 12.1 beta 2 fixes anything

 

[Amazing1]

I have the exact same situation going on. While I have not found a solution to the flashing amber light and beeping, I have noticed something. I have plugged in the MacBook at night and walked away from it and went to bed. In the morning, I have always came back to find the MacBook completely charged, no beeping, with a solid green light on the mag safe adapter. While the flashing amber light and beeping are annoying, on my device, historically, the battery is being charged.

Blessings,

Ray

Some have pointed out that the issue stops occurring after fast charging ends at 80%, which could explain why you don't experience the issue in the morning because your device is fully charged, much past 80%, especially.

Same issue here. Charging cycles constantly when M1 MacBook Pro 16 is shut off. I typically shut if my MacBooks to charge as I don’t want the battery to slowly discharge after I put it in my bag. However, M1 mac just lasted me 4+ days of usage with leaving it on my bag on sleep mode so I’ll just leave it alone for now. I’m thinking it has to be a software fix.

I am hoping it's a software issue! We are not quite sure what the issue is.

Yeah . That's why we plug it in before it cycles. It seems like when it's off or on it kinda cycles the charging.

My guess is that it is trying to turn on the laptop when you charge with the lid closed. But since it's closed it turns off again . And since every turn on or off means cycling the charging it could explain it. But why it only affects when the batt below 80% is beyond me. Anyways . As long as we can still use this workaround its prob fine. And I usually don't turn off my laptop too so it's not that big of deal for me

Tho idk if the new 12.1 beta 2 fixes anything

If it is a software issue, hopefully a new update will resolve the problem. I'm not on beta builds so I'm not sure personally. I've seen your replies to most of the posts here, thanks for helping out, it's much appreciated!

 

[IsabellaJ]

just like this!!

Having this issue on mine!!

 

[IsabellaJ]

Yeah . That's why we plug it in before it cycles. It seems like when it's off or on it kinda cycles the charging.

My guess is that it is trying to turn on the laptop when you charge with the lid closed. But since it's closed it turns off again . And since every turn on or off means cycling the charging it could explain it. But why it only affects when the batt below 80% is beyond me. Anyways . As long as we can still use this workaround its prob fine. And I usually don't turn off my laptop too so it's not that big of deal for me

Tho idk if the new 12.1 beta 2 fixes anything

This worked for me! At least it’s a temporary fix until they solve it via update. Happy, as the in and off chime was annoying. Thank you!

 

[miniyou64]

Apple is brutal. $7000 for a new top of the line machine and it comes with problems out of the box. Spent an hour on the phone with them so they could have me troubleshoot this issue that is clearly a flaw that needs a software update. RIP Steve Jobs.

 

[Matck06]

I also have the same problem on macbook pro 16 m1 pro, I have to plug it in before turning it off or if not start it plugged in and then turn it off so that the magsafe does not flash. Do you think it's a software problem?

 

[miniyou64]

I also have the same problem on macbook pro 16 m1 pro, I have to plug it in before turning it off or if not start it plugged in and then turn it off so that the magsafe does not flash. Do you think it's a software problem?

Has to be software because it works when its over 80% or on. Only broken when closed, off, and plugged in after that. How they didn’t issue an official fix for this yet - or even an acknowledgment - is beyond me tho…

 

[paologuerri]

Hallo, the video is in italian language but explain the same issue, some friends in italian Mac forum say that with macOS 12.0 the problem doesn't exist, than upgrade to 12.0.1 the problem is present.

 

[Smoothie]

Hallo, the video is in italian language but explain the same issue, some friends in italian Mac forum say that with macOS 12.0 the problem doesn't exist, than upgrade to 12.0.1 the problem is present.

That's been my experience. I haven't updated my 16-inch MBP to 12.0.1, and I don't have this charging issue.

 

[white7561]

That's been my experience. I haven't updated my 16-inch MBP to 12.0.1, and I don't have this charging issue.

Yep just like I thought. It's prob the version