MacBookPro Mid-2019 Not Charging via USB-C

[JMLFilm]

Hi there, I just got a brand new MacBook Pro Mid-2019, Dual 8-core 2.4Ghz, and no matter what I do, I cannot get the battery to charge by any method other than the power supply the Mac came with, despite information to the contrary on the web.

I just got a new OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock, and when I plug in the USB-C cable, it recognizes it -- but the battery icon stays BLACK, and hovering says "Battery Not Charging" "Power Source: Power Adapter". I've installed the software for the dock, and still no dice.

Additionally, I haven't been able to get it to charge with a USB-C to USB-3 adapter cable and plugging it into a wall (or any other powered USB-3 device) as I'm apparently supposed to be able to do, and I get the same message -- "Battery Not Charging".

I was about to blame the dock, but considering this is consistent across multiple charging alternatives I'm starting to worry there's something wrong with my laptop, and that would be a major bummer.

I've tried all the different ports, a dozen different cables and adapters, and different wall sockets in different buildings, and result is the same.

I also tried a battery reset by holding down CNTL-SHIFT-OPTION + POWER on Shutdown, but I'm not even sure it works like that on this machine as any key seems to wake it up, and I've updated all the software.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! This is frustrating to know it should be able to connect and charge on one cable and I'm still dealing with two!

Thanks for your help!
Josh

 

[chscag]

Contact Apple and ask. You've got free telephone support, so why not use it? Or if you're close to an Apple Store, (should be plenty of them in the LA area) take it on in and have a genius look at it.

 

[jerryk]

Hi there, I just got a brand new MacBook Pro Mid-2019, Dual 8-core 2.4Ghz, and no matter what I do, I cannot get the battery to charge by any method other than the power supply the Mac came with, despite information to the contrary on the web.

I just got a new OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock, and when I plug in the USB-C cable, it recognizes it -- but the battery icon stays BLACK, and hovering says "Battery Not Charging" "Power Source: Power Adapter". I've installed the software for the dock, and still no dice.

Additionally, I haven't been able to get it to charge with a USB-C to USB-3 adapter cable and plugging it into a wall (or any other powered USB-3 device) as I'm apparently supposed to be able to do, and I get the same message -- "Battery Not Charging".

I was about to blame the dock, but considering this is consistent across multiple charging alternatives I'm starting to worry there's something wrong with my laptop, and that would be a major bummer.

I've tried all the different ports, a dozen different cables and adapters, and different wall sockets in different buildings, and result is the same.

I also tried a battery reset by holding down CNTL-SHIFT-OPTION + POWER on Shutdown, but I'm not even sure it works like that on this machine as any key seems to wake it up, and I've updated all the software.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! This is frustrating to know it should be able to connect and charge on one cable and I'm still dealing with two!

Thanks for your help!
Josh

What happens when you use the Apple USB-c cable that came with the MacBook charger on the dock and ensure no other cables are attached to the MacBook or dock?

The USB-A charger via USB-C cable likely does not have have enough current or voltage to charge you MacBook, Or provide PD Negotiatoon (see below). You need a USB-C charger that outputs a minimum of 30 W. With 60W or 97W better.

The issues is that the USB-C chargers and devices like your MacBook use a protocol called Power Delivery (PD) to negotiate the current and voltage the device needs vs. what the charger can provide. If these do not match up, the cable will connect and pass data, but no power is passed so your MacBook does not charge.

 

[chrfr]

I just got a new OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock, and when I plug in the USB-C cable, it recognizes it -- but the battery icon stays BLACK, and hovering says "Battery Not Charging" "Power Source: Power Adapter". I've installed the software for the dock, and still no dice.

Are you using the Thunderbolt cable which would have come with the dock?

 

[JMLFilm]

Contact Apple and ask. You've got free telephone support, so why not use it? Or if you're close to an Apple Store, (should be plenty of them in the LA area) take it on in and have a genius look at it.

Thank you for the reply!
I totally forgot that I got free Apple support with a new Mac so I called -- and it was absolutely useless. All they did was ask if what I was connected to was a third party device, and then they sent me some articles about stuff I'd already done. I clearly have more tech experience than either of those two people. Sigh.
Next level will be Apple store, but I was hoping this would be a simple solution... Seems like things rarely are!
[doublepost=1563486390][/doublepost]

What happens when you use the Apple USB-c cable that came with the MacBook charger on the dock and ensure no other cables are attached to the MacBook or dock?

The USB-A charger via USB-C cable likely does not have have enough current or voltage to charge you MacBook, Or provide PD Negotiatoon (see below). You need a USB-C charger that outputs a minimum of 30 W. With 60W or 97W better.

The issues is that the USB-C chargers and devices like your MacBook use a protocol called Power Delivery (PD) to negotiate the current and voltage the device needs vs. what the charger can provide. If these do not match up, the cable will connect and pass data, but no power is passed so your MacBook does not charge.

This is GREAT information -- thank you so much!!
I've tried plugging the Mac into the thunderbolt with NO other cables connected, and I'm getting the charging sign with the clear battery - but the charging estimate says "More Than 10 Hours" and it's only at 95% -- so still seems like something isn't working adequately... Will leave it plugged in like this and see if it's at least a positive battery flow and I'm not using more battery than it's taking in! Great to know the wattages -- I'll look out for that!!

****UPDATE**** Yeah, as figured, it's not getting what it wants. It's a slow drain, the battery status varies between CHARGING with more than 10 hours remaining, and BATTERY FULL, but it's gone from 95% to 93%, and just dipped to 92%, so it's not getting what it needs. Could be this workhorse battery has too much kung-fu for this dock to quell its thirst. Looks like a return. And I may just have to live with having TWO cables plugged in.

Any other ideas welcome - thanks for your thoughts!!



[doublepost=1563486433][/doublepost]

Are you using the Thunderbolt cable which would have come with the dock?

Yeah, I've used a dozen different cables of different manufactures and lengths...

 

[jerryk]

This is GREAT information -- thank you so much!!
I've tried plugging the Mac into the thunderbolt with NO other cables connected, and I'm getting the charging sign with the clear battery - but the charging estimate says "More Than 10 Hours" and it's only at 95% -- so still seems like something isn't working adequately... Will leave it plugged in like this and see if it's at least a positive battery flow and I'm not using more battery than it's taking in! Great to know the wattages -- I'll look out for that!!

Yikes, that does not sound good. Where you doing a lot on the macbook when you read this 10 hour number?

As an aside always be sure all of the cables you use to charge your MacBook have USB-C on both ends. That gives you some assurance, but not a guarantee, that they will perform the PD negotiation and provide some power to the MacBook.

 

[NoBoMac]

You did not mention which model of OWC dock you have? For example, the 2017 model only provides 60w, so yeah, issues.

https://www.macrumors.com/review/owc-thunderbolt-3-dock/

Charging Capabilities

With the dock using the Thunderbolt 3/USB-C standard, it can deliver power to your MacBook Pro through the same cable used for data, although the dock only supports up to 60 watts. That's enough for the 13-inch MacBook Pro, but the 15-inch model can draw up to 85 watts,

The newer versions are supposed to deliver 85w, which the new MPBs need.

 

[JMLFilm]

You did not mention which model of OWC dock you have? For example, the 2017 model only provides 60w, so yeah, issues.

https://www.macrumors.com/review/owc-thunderbolt-3-dock/

The newer versions are supposed to deliver 85w, which the new MPBs need.

Thanks for the thoughts! This is the new version with up to 85w support...
Could it be a wonky dock?

 

[NoBoMac]

Yes, could very well be a bad dock or bad cable, since the charger and cable that came with the machine works.

ADD: quick scan of Amazon reviews show a number of folks getting wonky units (eg. Ports not working, loose), including one post where same symptoms as OP unit. And also at least one review got a wonky cable.

 

[JMLFilm]

Yes, could very well be a bad dock or bad cable, since the charger and cable that came with the machine works.

ADD: quick scan of Amazon reviews show a number of folks getting wonky units (eg. Ports not working, loose), including one post where same symptoms as OP unit. And also at least one review got a wonky cable.

I'm using the cable Apple sent with it, but maybe it's a wonky port. I guess I'll try and exchange to see if that's it, thank you so much for doing that research!!

 

[jerryk]

I'm using the cable Apple sent with it, but maybe it's a wonky port. I guess I'll try and exchange to see if that's it, thank you so much for doing that research!!

By wonky port I assume you mean the one of the dock. But, just to be thorough have you tried all the ports on the macbook with the same results?

 

[JMLFilm]

By wonky port I assume you mean the one of the dock. But, just to be thorough have you tried all the ports on the macbook with the same results?

Yeah, tried all the ports with different cables. No dice.
Thanks for all the advice!

 

[jerryk]

Yeah, tried all the ports with different cables. No dice.
Thanks for all the advice!

Ok. I hope your dock exchange cures the problem.

 

[yichungchen84]

I got a similar problem, mine is viva docking 2020

the problem is that your mac recognizes the docking as a video interface not power.

I tried couples steps including reset nvram and smc, no luck.

I can hear random powering chime all the time. (and I dont want to disable it)


Here is a solution:

power saving -> never
prevent from sleeping
dont put disk to sleep
wake for wifi
no power nap

the above steps you probably dont need them

and then...

turn the stupid "screen time" off
I guess it has some snooping functions so it powers on and them lets it go. however, docking system makes it confused. It cannot figure out whether it is a screen or power. This causes the problem. Mine is good now. Please let me know if this works.

 

[DanMcNeece]

I just got a brand new Macbook Pro 2019 and I have the same issue. My Mac power adapter works fine, but the OWC Thunderbolt 3 docking station that I have been using for years isn't charging my laptop.

 

[DanMcNeece]

Ok, I found my problem... I had plugged the usb-c laptop cable into the <lightning bolt> port instead of the port on the right <lightning bolt><laptop symbol> port. it is charging fine now.