Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

USB C Port Failure - M1 Macbook Air

B

bag99001

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 11, 2015
286
305
Hello - My USB C Ports on my M1 Macbook Air seem to be failing. Just out of warranty in December - of course, I didn't get Applecare. They are intermittently supporting charging now but often are not. Tried multiple known good cables and chargers. At my desk right now where the port I THOUGHT was completely failed is working, but the top one closest to the monitor is not working at all now.

I tried some compressed air. Saw some ideas to try some isopropyl alcohol with a toothpick to try and clean. No obvious damage/water or anything of course. Spoke with a "supervisor" on Applecare and they said it was just too far out of warranty even to do an extension.

Never had any problems before two days ago. Any suggestions before I go through an out-of-warranty repair or replacement? Any idea cost-wise what I might be looking at? I am guessing they will be quite high...probably close enough to replacement cost to make it not worth it.
 
Bad news. I think that will make it harder for a service technician to find a problem. So it could become expensive. It could also be something related to software. Are you fully updated?
 
chabig said:
Bad news. I think that will make it harder for a service technician to find a problem. So it could become expensive. It could also be something related to software. Are you fully updated?
Click to expand...
Yeah.
 
Ok. Then my next step might be to boot to Recovery and reinstall the OS from scratch. Run the machine a few days to a week until you've a good chance to observe it. If the problem is gone, great. If not, the final software step would be a restore using Configurator 2. That will update the firmware, update recoveryOS to the latest version, and erase and install the latest version of macOS.

Revive or restore a Mac with Apple silicon using Apple Configurator 2

In rare circumstances, Apple computers become unresponsive and the chip’s firmware must be revived or restored.
support.apple.com

You can be certain after this that it's not a software problem, so if your problem continues it has to be hardware.
 
www.ifixit.com

MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 USB-C Board Replacement

Use this guide to remove or replace the USB-C board in a Late 2020 MacBook Air (M1).
www.ifixit.com www.ifixit.com


Found this on ifixit. Looks within the realm of my capabilities - I remember replacing an iPhone 4s battery on my own back in the day and this looks comparable. $50 for the part and tools seems worth it to me before giving up. What do you think?
 
I have no idea if that will fix it or not, but that's a great step-by-step that doesn't look too difficult if you have some proper tools. Good luck, and sorry to hear this issue is even happening to your M1 Air. We all may be next.
 
AudiHeel said:
I have no idea if that will fix it or not, but that's a great step-by-step that doesn't look too difficult if you have some proper tools. Good luck, and sorry to hear this issue is even happening to your M1 Air. We all may be next.
Click to expand...
Yeah - I bought exactly what iFixit linked from the directions...Came to $55 with shipping...worth a shot. Really ridiculous of course that we even have to do this. :(
 
I think you made a great choice. If it works you'll save a lot of money compared to what a certified tech service would charge.
 
Just curious, before going to the lengths of repairing yourself, have you taken it into a store? Generally, I'd advise that calling AppleCare is the first route for sure - and it looks like you've already done that. 2 months removed from warranty doesn't seem all that far.

I've had issues with my Macs in the past where they've been out of warranty (one was 16 months outside warranty period), and Apple worked with me to make things right - on two separate occasions at no charge to me. Its definitely worth exploring all of the official routes, before you just assume they won't touch it because its out of the warranty period.
 
darinzook said:
Just curious, before going to the lengths of repairing yourself, have you taken it into a store? Generally, I'd advise that calling AppleCare is the first route for sure - and it looks like you've already done that. 2 months removed from warranty doesn't seem all that far.

I've had issues with my Macs in the past where they've been out of warranty (one was 16 months outside warranty period), and Apple worked with me to make things right - on two separate occasions at no charge to me. Its definitely worth exploring all of the official routes, before you just assume they won't touch it because its out of the warranty period.
Click to expand...
I’m about an hour away from the closest apple store. Could try but not convinced they will do anything. There is an authorized repair center in my town that apple recommended but they said it will be an out of warranty repair.
 
T'hain Esh Kelch said:
Check that you dont have junk in the ports. I have to clean mine out on my Macbook with a needle every 6 months.
Click to expand...
I tried cleaning with some compressed air and some isopropyl alcohol (while injecting some gin and tonic for myself :)) - no real change in how the ports behaved afterward. How do you clean with a needle? I’d certainly give it a try. I used a toothpick and got some definite dark gunk off the ports but nothing looked bad visually.
 
bag99001 said:
I tried cleaning with some compressed air and some isopropyl alcohol (while injecting some gin and tonic for myself :)) - no real change in how the ports behaved afterward. How do you clean with a needle? I’d certainly give it a try. I used a toothpick and got some definite dark gunk off the ports but nothing looked bad visually.
Click to expand...
I just take a very fine needle and go around the the connector, to see if something is stuck, or if there is a build up of dust. Do the same to my lightning ports.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AppliedMicro
bag99001 said:
How do you clean with a needle? I’d certainly give it a try. I used a toothpick and got some definite dark gunk off the ports but nothing looked bad visually.
Click to expand...
I'd be wary using anything metallic (ie conductive) like an actual needle. Something stiff and wooden (like a toothpick) or plastic would be safer and should do just as well. You could also try some deoxit contact cleaner if you're getting dark gunk coming off the contacts.
 
  • Like
Reactions: viking_01
Just sharing good news... just confirmed with the card benefits customer line for my Amazon chase credit card I bought it on extends my warranty an extra year :) So I'll bring it to the authorized Apple repair place in town and get it fixed! I'm going to hold onto the port and tools coming from iFixit since I suspect I'll be in this position again within a year!
 
  • Like
Reactions: phillytim and steve217
Well - to end the story positively - it was indeed the USB port replacement that I found as an option on iFixit. The local place charged me $173 which the credit card company will pick up. Frustrated that this happened, but good to know that it is likely a repair I can do in 10 months when my warranty is up, and if it happens again. I'm holding onto the port and tools I got from iFixit for if/when that needs to happen again.

Good lesson to remember to use that card for any electronic purchases to double my warranty! For what it's worth it was a chase card, and they've been excellent to deal with in explaining the process and in rapid response once I got them the bill.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JPack
bag99001 said:
Good lesson to remember to use that card for any electronic purchases to double my warranty! For what it's worth it was a chase card, and they've been excellent to deal with in explaining the process and in rapid response once I got them the bill.
Click to expand...
Which Chase card is it? Around a year or two ago was when credit cards started dropping benefits like extended warranty and purchase protection, although it was still effective for purchases made prior.
 
ghanwani said:
Which Chase card is it? Around a year or two ago was when credit cards started dropping benefits like extended warranty and purchase protection, although it was still effective for purchases made prior.
Click to expand...
Amazon Chase card.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ghanwani
Just got my M1Air back from repair. Thought I may have your usb-c issue, as last weekend it stopped charging through either port. So Monday I took it to Apple and they sent it off for repair. UPS knocked on my door today and it seems they replaced the battery only, so I guess it wasn't the usb-c ports. Hopefully good to go now for years...
 
AudiHeel said:
Just got my M1Air back from repair. Thought I may have your usb-c issue, as last weekend it stopped charging through either port. So Monday I took it to Apple and they sent it off for repair. UPS knocked on my door today and it seems they replaced the battery only, so I guess it wasn't the usb-c ports. Hopefully good to go now for years...
Click to expand...
How much did it cost?

I am having the same problem. One of the USB-C port is not working.

The only price I can see in this thread is 173 USDollars
 
I bought it less than 12 months ago, so Apple fixed it free of charge and FedEx'd it back to me. The invoice email says the "Flat Rate 2" repair would've been $328 + $100 for labor.
 
bag99001 said:
Hello - My USB C Ports on my M1 Macbook Air seem to be failing. Just out of warranty in December - of course, I didn't get Applecare. They are intermittently supporting charging now but often are not. Tried multiple known good cables and chargers. At my desk right now where the port I THOUGHT was completely failed is working, but the top one closest to the monitor is not working at all now.
Never had any problems before two days ago. Any suggestions before I go through an out-of-warranty repair or replacement? Any idea cost-wise what I might be looking at? I am guessing they will be quite high...probably close enough to replacement cost to make it not worth it.
Click to expand...

I went to the apple store with this problem, and the price to fix would have been $500. The part costs $26, but it's fiddly to plug back into the logic board, and my fix didn't work. I saw someone else say that after sending it out for service, they had to send it back to replace the logic board. By the way, diagnostics do not show anything, and the apple store person said that was normal for diagnostics not to show this.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back