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charger plugged in, but macbook 'not charging'--help! *gulp*

Patriks7 said:
I thought we're at 10.5.6 😕 so how can have all updates?
Anyway, I had the same issue a couple months ago, and it ended up being a broken charger. So I either suggest you find someone with a Mac close by and try his/her charger, or go to that service store you talked about and ask to use one of theirs.
If that won't work, you will have to send it in I'm afraid.
Click to expand...
The original first post is over a year old
 
I didn't want to start a new thread, but I am having a similar issue..

MacBook says (Not Charging) but power source: power adapter, green light is on, on the Magsafe. It looks like it's running off the power source but not battery? Coconut says charged plugged in, not charging and it's at 95% full.

Cycles: 27
MB is 5 months old.

Suggestions? Should I reset the PRAM or whatever? Sigh, it was working well last night, not sure what happened this morning. I checked the magsafe, the cord looks fine and intact.
 
lamina said:
Hello friend.

Shut the computer down. Press and hold the power button until you hear a terrifying BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP sound. Wait till the front LED flashes. Release.

See if that fixes it.
Click to expand...
what exactly is this doing? I tried it bc I am having battery issues but it didn't help, just wondering exactly what I'm resetting or what not when doing this.
 
aznguyen316 said:
I didn't want to start a new thread, but I am having a similar issue..

MacBook says (Not Charging) but power source: power adapter, green light is on, on the Magsafe. It looks like it's running off the power source but not battery? Coconut says charged plugged in, not charging and it's at 95% full.

Cycles: 27
MB is 5 months old.

Suggestions? Should I reset the PRAM or whatever? Sigh, it was working well last night, not sure what happened this morning. I checked the magsafe, the cord looks fine and intact.
Click to expand...

With the unibodies that's normal. It won't charge between 95 and 100%. If you're that worried, unplug it and use it for 10-15min, then plug it back in, and all should be well.
 
NewMacbookPlz said:
With the unibodies that's normal. It won't charge between 95 and 100%. If you're that worried, unplug it and use it for 10-15min, then plug it back in, and all should be well.
Click to expand...

Well this never happened to me before, but after a few hours of just leaving it plugged in not charging, it went to charged status.. so all is well thanks for the input
 
macbook not charging

My macbook won't charge. The battery is totally discharged but good according to Apple store. I replaced the DC in board and still nothing. I've tried resetting the PRAM and all that also, still nothing. Logic board passed diagnostics test at Apple store. I'm completely stumped, any suggestions?
 
I am having the same problem. It seems that Mac, as awesome as they are, need to seriously revise this setup. I hope they already have because I am in the market for a new laptop soon (the Mac is my wife's) and this happens very freuently. We are on our second charger in less than a year. It's her schools so we haven't had to pay, but just waiting for the stuff is very annoying.

Now, as far as cleaning the Magsafe, what do people use? A soft toothbrush? I tried blowing on it, but I am not sure how to get IN there. Also, I don't see any debri. Is that the experience with others who have cleaned theirs?-- there was no debri but cleaning it still helped?

Argggg.... frustrated with Mac for this.

Joshua
 
I just ran into the same issue. When I connect my charger, it says "Not Charging" I took it into the Apple Store yesterday and they told me it's either two things, 1. the battery or 2. the power supply, and since they plugged the computer up with their own power supply, the "Genius" told me it's my battery but since I didn't have my warranty papers on me, I couldn't get it checked properly but I'm pretty sure that's what it is.
 
Answer to all your questions!

Hi all, I am new to this site, but I referred to it when I was looking for help. Just to let you all know, my mac did the same thing that you all are describing. I eventually broke down, took my computer apart, and replaced the magsafe board. This is a small 25 dollar part that is easily installed if you are comfortable taking a mac apart. This fixed my computer, and I am now charging with no problem. Hope this helps everyone!
 
recharge issue

I had the same problem on my Macbook, all of a sudden my battery wouldn't recharge. I tried everything mentioned here except letting the battery run down an hour or so and then plugging it in again. As a last resort I tried this and, lo and behold, it worked!😱 Of all the solutions offered this seemed the most unlikely one but amazingly it worked.

I have no idea what caused this to happen. Over the last month I have only been using AC power so that may be a factor and I just needed to run the battery a bit to keep the Macbook happy.
 
Thanks for bumping this thread... I'm having the exact same problem with a Macbook and there's some great tips in here. I've got a few new things to try out now! How funny will it be if all I have to do is spray some compressed air in the magsafe port... 😀

Thanks all for the posts. :apple:
 
quantum003 said:
Thanks for bumping this thread... I'm having the exact same problem with a Macbook and there's some great tips in here. I've got a few new things to try out now! How funny will it be if all I have to do is spray some compressed air in the magsafe port... 😀

Thanks all for the posts. :apple:
Click to expand...

It did end up being my battery and since I have the Apple Care extended warranty, I was able to get it replaced on the spot (which saves you about $100).
 
My charging failed this way the third day of owning my new and v v v overpriced macbook pro. Not had chance to take it in yet, tho might investigate cleaning more thoroughly.

Good news is that altho it claims that its not charging it is, just not very fast, nothing like what you get when it plays ball, but leave it plugged for a day or so and the battery WILL recharge. Happily that's been good enough so far, but for a company with such tight QC Apple needs a good kicking for this 😡
 
lonesometwin said:
My charging failed this way the third day of owning my new and v v v overpriced macbook pro. Not had chance to take it in yet, tho might investigate cleaning more thoroughly.

Good news is that altho it claims that its not charging it is, just not very fast, nothing like what you get when it plays ball, but leave it plugged for a day or so and the battery WILL recharge. Happily that's been good enough so far, but for a company with such tight QC Apple needs a good kicking for this 😡
Click to expand...

If you just bought it and it's acting up like that, take it back. Don't even try experimenting or messing around with possible solutions. 3 days out of the box, there should be no cleaning necessary. If you just paid full price for that thing, then you deserve to have it work for you without fail. Take it back to them.
 
Try this before sending in you mac

Clean it! Seriously, take a q-tip and clean the connector of your charger after you unplugged it from the outlet and also clean the connector of your macbook. My battery status went from "not charging" to charging. After that I recommend a battery calibration ;-)
 
No need to take it in coz it just started working on its own. Doubtless its waiting for the most inconvenient time before it dies again 🙁
 
I'm having similar issues with mine. I gave the charger plug a good shot of air and that seems to have helped for now.

Edit: having examined the plug again, I noticed at least one of the four tines has been pushed in farther than the others. This pic will show you what I mean...
magsafe.jpg
 
lamina said:
Hello friend.

Shut the computer down. Press and hold the power button until you hear a terrifying BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP sound. Wait till the front LED flashes. Release.

See if that fixes it.
Click to expand...

You're a legend mate. I was messing myself when my mb-pro was "Not Charging" - all fixed now. thanks.
 
Hey guys. Similar problem so didn't want to start a new thread.

I have a 13 inch MacBook. Bought in 2008. My Charger cable has been playing up for ages.

*Powering the computer,but not the battery.

*Green/Amber light not working properly.

*Having to press it in,twirl the cable to get it to charge.

Any how,i borrowed a cable from my Sister to see if it was the cable that was the problem,and her's works perfectly.

I've been looking online for a new one and the ones listed for MacBook are all different to mine. The magsafe end seems to be different,and i don't want to pay 50 kwid and it not be the correct one.

Forgive my naivety,but will these cables work? And if not,where can i get one that does.

Thanks in advance.
 
Quick update. The new MacBook Mag Safe chargers do work with an old MacBook. I rung apple just to check the wattage. Recieved today,and working perfectly.
 
idk

I've had the same problem as most 2 times, first time I went to Apple and they said the battery was 'consumed' and that I needed a new one, I was in warrenty 1 day, so I got my current battery for free, but now, ~1yr later I am experiencing the same problems, also it charges slow and discharges fast (sad combination lol). I looked for a mac channel and found one (freenode/#macosx), jeb said that a cycle is where you reach 100%, so if I get a new battery and keep it at a max of ~95% will I not need a new battery next year😀? What jeb said makes sence given I keep mine at about 80-100, died only ~5 times this year, and I have 317 cycles in <1yr!
 
Check your battery's health (Using iStat).
And check your battery's condition by holding down the Option button, then clicking on the battery logo on the menubar (near the spotlight search).
It should say:
Condition: Normal
 
another solution

had the same problem pop up last night. this morning i noticed that one of the pins on the magsafe plug was not out all the way. tried pushing it with a pen to no avail, then finally just whacked it (not too hard) on the table and the pin popped out. plugged it back in and the "Not Charging" message went away and charging resumed.

maybe that will work for someone else...


cs5477
black macbook 2.4ghz, 10.6.4
 
I have been experiencing the same problem. i usually disconnect the magnet end off the mac and put it back in usually helps change the light to show that its charging. if that doesnt work after a few tries id usually just wiggle the cord around the magnet end / i dunno how many times you can do this until your charger actually breaks 😕
 
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