MacBook Pro shuts off when plugging in a USB charger cable

Wow that's an interesting one. Does this happen when you plug the cable alone in or when it's plugged into the iPhone? The fact that you reproduced the same results on several systems suggests there are fundamental differences between the two USB ports, or just a glitch in the driver.

Wondering, if you have Bootcamp, does this happen in Windows too?

So you take a USB cable you just purchased, that happens to be cheap, and plug it into several different computers, and on each computer you plug it into, the computer shuts off. And you're asking if it might be the cable?

......

Cmon.

Are USB cables expensive now? I wouldn't say you need to buy them directly from Apple, but I also wouldn't buy the cheapest cables possible.

It sounds like the cable you have has developed a short or something similar. I wouldn't continue to plug it in, as it is POSSIBLE that you could damage something.

This is a very interesting problem. I have the exact same issue with my 15" Early 2011 MBP, except it is with a USB powered e-cig. It is also only in the USB port nearest the track pad.

Obviously I will not be plugging this thing into my laptop again, but I thought I would post to keep this issue known.

Some other things: This was never a problem before, the computer just started doing this. The e-cig works in the other USB port, or with a wall adapter, or with any other computer. Also, when this happens, the ONLY WAY to get the computer to turn on, charge, or even indicate the battery charge with the little button on the side, is to open it up and unplug the battery cable and plug it back in.

I'm concerned this might be an issue with the MagSafe board that will get worse. I had the MagSafe board stop charging the battery in my original early 2006 MBP.

Not all internal USB ports are equal.

If your machine has USB ports next to each other - one (generally the one closer to the screen - but I *think* it varies from model-to-model) has a dedicated hub. The other shares a hub with internal devices such as the Facetime camera, keyboard and trackpad, etc.

If your machine has usb ports on both sides (like the MBA), then the one next to the MagSafe board has a dedicated hub, and the other shares a hub with system devices.

Hey, Im having the same problem. But it happens with the USB cables that come with my iPhone, iPad and iPod.


What was your solution, yespi?

Did you take it to an Apple Store?