Apple products have so many fans for a number of reasons. Some users are attracted by the performance of devices, others like extraordinary battery life, and some others prefer a durable gadget they plan to use for several years.
But despite the high quality of materials and internal components, Apple devices can’t be called perfect. You’ve probably encountered some problems, and now you’re exploring why your MacBook Air is not charging. Well, it’s time to dive into the possible solutions and get all your questions answered.
Why is My MacBook Air Not Charging?
There are many reasons why you can’t charge your device. For example, a faulty outlet you plugged into the charger. I’m serious. Just check to see if everything is OK. Many users have been surprised to discover that this is why MacBook Air is not charging when plugged in.
Before dealing with the device, it’s also worth making sure that the power adapter or charging cord is fine. Check on other accessories to see if they can charge your Air. If everything is OK, the cause is not the laptop.
A faulty power adapter or cord can cause different problems. For example, the MacBook Air is not charging despite the green light.
Consider other common causes:
- Dirty connector. During laptop use, dirt, dust, and small particles accumulate in the interfaces. They interfere with the contacts on the connectors, so the MacBook Air battery is not charging.
- Problems with the battery. If you click on the battery icon, you can see a message telling you your battery needs maintenance. A faulty component is probably the cause.
You may also see system errors. Sometimes they accumulate so much that the charging function stops working. After a reboot or software update, everything falls into place.
Examining the Software Causes
You are aware that Apple laptops come with great software. But sometimes, the system creates additional problems for the user. For example, Apple has introduced an optimized battery charging feature. The idea is to track when a user puts a laptop on charge and disconnects the device from the power source.
If the interval is several hours, Apple stops charging at 80 percent to keep the battery healthy. Charging resumes one hour before the user would typically unplug the power adapter. If you are bothered by this feature, you can go into the settings and disable it.
The second software reason is overheating protection. The system can block charging to keep components working and keep the temperature from rising. It will allow the laptop to cool faster. If the device gets too hot, you may find that the MacBook Air is not charging or turning on. Wait about an hour before trying to power and charge the laptop again.
Resetting SMC and NVRAM
These two hardware components store important data accessed by the system. NVRAM is a non-volatile memory and contains specific hardware settings and records of recent critical system errors. If the system accesses NVRAM and sees an operating error, it may sometimes disable components because it considers them faulty.
As for the SMC, this chip is the system management controller. It contains important data, including battery status monitoring and battery charging. If you see a situation where your MacBook Air is not turning on but charging, the system has incorrectly read the data from the SMC and determined that the battery is charged (even though it is not). It means the battery is dead, and the charging process will never start.
In either of these cases, a reset helps. Depending on the year of the Air, there are different ways to do this. It’s worth visiting the Apple website and following the recommended steps.
A Problem with Internal Components
If the described methods did not help, most likely you will face faulty laptop components. Let’s break down what parts may be damaged:
- The charge controller.
- The battery.
- USB-C or MagSafe connector.
- The logic board.
Internal components may fail for various reasons. For example, moisture gets inside. Oxidation and corrosion damage the semiconductors, signals are not transmitted to the board, and MacBook Air is not turning on or charging.
If the cause is faulty, you have two options:
- Contact an Apple Service Center;
- Replace the parts yourself.
Service center repair is suitable for users whose laptop is under warranty or registered in the AppleCare+ program. Otherwise, you will face high repair prices, especially if your gadget has had contact with water. Out-of-warranty service costs users $700–1500, depending on the device model and complexity of the repair. Plus, you will need to pay for labor costs.
Since the MacBook Air is easy to repair, you can do everything on your own. Replacing parts yourself is a rational choice if you want to save money. All you need to do is to read the official Apple manual, study thematic forums and watch a few video tutorials on YouTube.
There is no problem with purchasing consumables and tools. The main question will be where to get MacBook Air parts. Original parts are hard enough to find, and there is no guarantee of quality and performance. It is primarily a problem for devices that were manufactured a long time ago.
Fortunately, several suppliers provide original parts. One of them is Appleparts.io. The service checks the pieces in several stages before they are available for sale. There are both logic boards for the MacBook Air and individual components: the MagSafe connector, the battery, or the charge controller. You can also purchase genuine accessories or parts to repair them.
If the battery is not charging on MacBook Air, it doesn’t mean your device is finished or will be expensive to repair. Follow our tips, and you’re sure to get your laptop back up and running.