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MacBook Pro 14 won't charge anymore using magsafe 3.

A

ancen

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 11, 2022
6
1
Hi!

I just got my MacBook Pro 14" a few weeks ago and rarely use it because I use my mini a lot.
So today when using it, my MacBook suddenly won't charge anymore.
The MagSafe cable light is blinking orange/yellow and the battery status shows that it's powered by the Battery.
I also tried to clean it with alcohol, wipe the port, restart the machine, but no luck
I don't know yet whether the faulty is in the cable or the charging port, but the charging brick seems okay because it's working fine when I use the USB-C cable to charge.

I also tried contacting Apple support and they suggested me to do the diagnostic, but the system didn't find any issue.
Any idea how to fix it or does anyone knows why the charging cable keeps blinking orange/green?

Thanks!
 
Fishrrman

Fishrrman

macrumors Penryn
Feb 20, 2009
29,239
13,313
I'm posting from memory, not sure if I have this right.

Others were getting the "flashing yellow light" on the MagSafe connector, as well. It's not just you.

I believe the problem was:
- user would connect MagSafe to MBP that was powered off (with lid closed)
- yellow light would start flashing.

First, you might want to try software update and make sure you're up-to-date.

I think "the workaround" is to do this:
- connect the MagSafe
- if there's a flashing yellow, open the lid and let the MBP power up
- now, shut it down and then close the lid

Does doing it this way change anything?
 
GoztepeEge

GoztepeEge

macrumors 6502
Nov 21, 2015
267
185
Munich, Germany
ancen said:
Hi!

I just got my MacBook Pro 14" a few weeks ago and rarely use it because I use my mini a lot.
So today when using it, my MacBook suddenly won't charge anymore.
The MagSafe cable light is blinking orange/yellow and the battery status shows that it's powered by the Battery.
I also tried to clean it with alcohol, wipe the port, restart the machine, but no luck
I don't know yet whether the faulty is in the cable or the charging port, but the charging brick seems okay because it's working fine when I use the USB-C cable to charge.

I also tried contacting Apple support and they suggested me to do the diagnostic, but the system didn't find any issue.
Any idea how to fix it or does anyone knows why the charging cable keeps blinking orange/green?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
In a thread in the internet, I found that the problem was the charger itself.
So please consider this option, your charger might be faulty right now.

In order to test it you can try this:
Try to find a USB C to USB C cable, plug it to the MacBook charger, plug the other side to the MacBook's USB C port to check if it is charging or not.

Additionally, you can maybe try to charge another USB C device (e.g. powerbank) with your MacBook charger to see if everything with the charger is okay or not.
 
A

ancen

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 11, 2022
6
1
GoztepeEge said:
In a thread in the internet, I found that the problem was the charger itself.
So please consider this option, your charger might be faulty right now.

In order to test it you can try this:
Try to find a USB C to USB C cable, plug it to the MacBook charger, plug the other side to the MacBook's USB C port to check if it is charging or not.

Additionally, you can maybe try to charge another USB C device (e.g. powerbank) with your MacBook charger to see if everything with the charger is okay or not.
Click to expand...
Yes, charging with USB-C to USB-C works flawlessly. I also found 1 or 2 threads in other forums saying that they need to replace their cable. Well, MacBook 14 is not officially launched in my country yet, so I had to order one and wait for a couple of days for it to arrive. I am a bit worried that the faulty is in the charging port itself.
 
A

ancen

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 11, 2022
6
1
Fishrrman said:
I'm posting from memory, not sure if I have this right.

Others were getting the "flashing yellow light" on the MagSafe connector, as well. It's not just you.

I believe the problem was:
- user would connect MagSafe to MBP that was powered off (with lid closed)
- yellow light would start flashing.

First, you might want to try software update and make sure you're up-to-date.

I think "the workaround" is to do this:
- connect the MagSafe
- if there's a flashing yellow, open the lid and let the MBP power up
- now, shut it down and then close the lid

Does doing it this way change anything?
Click to expand...

Thank you for answering!
Yes already tried that thing before and it is still not charging.
My OS already updated to the latest one 12.1 and I thought the blinking charging problem only happens for a 16inch MacBook.
 
A

Aquaporin

macrumors 6502a
Jun 27, 2005
515
220
USA
I am having this issue as well. I followed the directions at the Apple support page but it still blinks red. If I did not have a USB C charger, I'd be hosed.
 
A

ancen

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 11, 2022
6
1
Mine is working now after replacing the cable. Can’t believe getting the cable broken only a few weeks. But thankfully its not the charging port.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sanpete
Fishrrman

Fishrrman

macrumors Penryn
Feb 20, 2009
29,239
13,313
OP wrote:
"Mine is working now after replacing the cable. Can’t believe getting the cable broken only a few weeks."

Was the cable "frayed" at the end, by any chance?
 
A

ancen

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 11, 2022
6
1
Fishrrman said:
"Mine is working now after replacing the cable. Can’t believe getting the cable broken only a few weeks."

Was the cable "frayed" at the end, by any chance?
Click to expand...

Nope, the cable still looks good as new.
 
C

csonni

macrumors regular
Jan 30, 2008
180
16
My early 2015 MBP is now intermittently not charging. Had it asleep for a day and opened it up, plugged in the good charger and no light. I have 2 chargers and neither work. Reset SMC with no luck. I’m starting to think I have a hardware issue but not sure where to start. No Apple Genius Bar within 2 days drive (we’re remote). This is the 3rd time the light on the MagSafe wouldn’t come on and charge the MBP. There has also been a couple times in the last month when the MBP would just shut down with plenty of charge left. Update: Just checked Coconut Battery and it shows no battery info at all. Hmmm.
 
Last edited:
A

Aquaporin

macrumors 6502a
Jun 27, 2005
515
220
USA
My cable has a short in it. If it twists the wrong way while connected it wont' reconnect unless folded a certain way. Very frustrating given how new the cable is.
 
C

csonni

macrumors regular
Jan 30, 2008
180
16
Oh boy. Just connected MagSafe for the night and no light. Was totally fine since my last post. I will pull the in-board connection tomorrow again. Not sure what’s going on.
 
C

csonni

macrumors regular
Jan 30, 2008
180
16
Reseated the in-board connector this morning again and sure enough, I now have it charging again. I really don't want to have to do this every 2 weeks or so. I wonder if it's building up some sort of corrosion? Might be worthwhile replacing the MagSafe connector.
 
T

tivoboy

macrumors 601
May 15, 2005
4,052
853
What is the in board connector? I’m having the same problem, I can get the 14” to charge with a direct USB C to USB C cable into the laptop, but the MagSafe cable doesn’t work at all.
 
C

csonni

macrumors regular
Jan 30, 2008
180
16
T

tivoboy

macrumors 601
May 15, 2005
4,052
853
I chatted with apple support.. of all things, they sent me a link to the SMC controller reset.. after reading a bit about it, everything online said that the SMC controller and or reset was redundant or useless in the M1 MBP's since it was on chip now and not seperate. Well, just for kicks and giggles I did their SMC reset and you know what - the magsafe charging cable NOW WORKS FINE!... light is on, charging is indicated, etc.. WHO KNEW!
 
D

doboy

macrumors 68040
Jul 6, 2007
3,775
2,946
tivoboy said:
I chatted with apple support.. of all things, they sent me a link to the SMC controller reset.. after reading a bit about it, everything online said that the SMC controller and or reset was redundant or useless in the M1 MBP's since it was on chip now and not seperate. Well, just for kicks and giggles I did their SMC reset and you know what - the magsafe charging cable NOW WORKS FINE!... light is on, charging is indicated, etc.. WHO KNEW!
Click to expand...
You mind sharing the link for future reference?
 
C

csonni

macrumors regular
Jan 30, 2008
180
16
My MBP stopped charging again today. This time, I replaced the entire MagSafe piece. Working fine now. Hopefully, that will do it.
 
T

tivoboy

macrumors 601
May 15, 2005
4,052
853
tmoerel said:
Interesting tip.....except that there is NO SMC on M1 machines. ARM is different.
Click to expand...
It’s a solid point. But as I indicated, the MagSafe and cord didn’t work for charging, apple said do this SMC reset, I too was skeptical as I heard that was “no SMC” and after doing the reset - the MagSafe charging worked again and has worked ever since. YMMV.
 
C

csonni

macrumors regular
Jan 30, 2008
180
16
It's been over a month now since I replaced my DC Inboard and have had zero issues with charging. Case solved (hope I didn't jinx myself!).
 
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