New Apple MacBook Pro May Not Charge When Turned Off

Apple’s newest MacBook Pro is an astonishingly powerful notebook thanks to its M1 Max processor, but actually delivering power to it could be somewhat of a challenge right now.

Multiple users of the 16-Inch MacBook Pro are posting on Reddit that their batteries won't charge properly when the laptop’s lid is closed and it’s turned off, Apple Insider reports. We confirmed the charging problem in PC Labs with the 16-inch MacBook Pro that Apple sent us for review.

The issues arise when the laptop is turned off and has less than a full battery charge. In this state, connecting the MagSafe power adapter causes a never-ending cycle in which the laptop's LED indicator initially flashes green, then the charging stops and the indicator flashes yellow.

The good news for those experiencing similar problems is that we found a potential workaround. Power up the MacBook Pro either by opening the lid or pressing the Touch ID sensor, and then reconnect the AC adapter. In our experience, the battery charges normally after these steps are completed.

The charging issue seems to be limited to the 16-inch MacBook Pro released last month. Our configuration uses a 140-watt AC adapter with a MagSafe 3 connector; it’s not clear if models that come with a 96-watt AC adapter experience the same problems. The 14-inch MacBook Pro unit we reviewed does not have the problem, and charges normally regardless of whether it is turned on or off.

One commenter posted on Reddit that Apple support representatives said the company is aware of the issue and is investigating it. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

A New MagSafe Generation

While the most notable part of the new MacBook Pro is its choice of M1 Pro or M1 Max processors, the power adapter and I/O port situation has also been significantly redesigned. The MagSafe connector on the new laptops bears some resemblance to the magnetic power ports that graced Apple notebooks more than five years ago, although the new port is not compatible with the old one.

In addition to charging the laptop’s battery using the included USB-C-to-MagSafe power adapter, you can also charge it by connecting a USB-C-to-USB-C cable directly to one of the USB-C ports. In our experience, doing so presented no charging problems, even when the laptop was powered off. 

An Apple support document confirms that you can use either USB-C or MagSafe to charge your new MacBook Pro. However, if you’ve got a 140-watt AC adapter that came in the box, we recommend using MagSafe when possible. USB-C charging in most cases delivers 100 watts or less, which might not be sufficient to deliver all the power your MacBook Pro needs.