Mac won't charge — MagSafe, USB-C and charging faults
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Quick answer
When a Mac won't charge, the cause is, in priority order: the charger, the cable, debris in the port, a faulty charging port, or a faulty charging circuit on the logic board. Test in that order — and if it's hardware, we specialise in charging ports and charging circuitry, and can replace both MagSafe and USB-C without swapping the entire logic board.
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Why won't my Mac charge?
Check in this order: 1) does the charger work? Test with a known-good charger. 2) Is the wall outlet OK? 3) Is there lint in the port? Shine a flashlight into the USB-C port. 4) Is the cable loose? If nothing helps, it's the charging circuit — contact us.
Why doesn't MagSafe work?
Test in this order: 1) is there dust on the magnet? Wipe it off. 2) Isn't the LED lighting up? Test the charger on another Mac. 3) Is the cable frayed at the connector? That's the classic failure. 4) Is the MagSafe port loose in the Mac? That's a solder fault — contact us for replacement.
Why doesn't the USB-C charger work?
USB-C ports collect lint from pockets and bags. Shine a light into the port with an LED — you can see dust as a grey clump at the back. Use compressed air or a wooden toothpick (NEVER metal). If the port is clean and the charger works on other Macs, it's the charging circuit. We replace USB-C ports for DKK 1,800-2,800.
Why does my Mac charge slowly?
Slow charging is caused by: 1) an underpowered charger (Air needs 30W+, Pro 13-inch 67W+, Pro 14-inch/16-inch 70-140W), 2) Optimized Charging deliberately slowing down past 80%, 3) a warm battery slowing down for safety reasons, 4) a faulty PD controller. Check the wattage on your charger (printed on it).
Why does my Mac say "not charging"?
'Not charging' (with a full battery icon but no charging symbol) means the Mac is receiving power for operation but not for charging. Causes: 1) Optimized Charging holding at 80%, 2) the battery is warm and pausing charging, 3) an underpowered charger. If the battery is over 80%, this is completely normal and expected behaviour.
Why does the charger get hot?
Apple chargers get warm under full load — that's normal. A 96W charger can reach 60-70°C on the surface. If it gets so hot you can't touch it, or you smell burnt plastic, stop using it immediately. Buy a new genuine charger. We don't recommend non-original chargers.
Why does the charger only work at a certain angle?
A loose connection in the port — typically broken solder joints between the port and the logic board. Stop using the port (wiggling can short and burn the charging circuit). We can resolder the port or replace it. Price: DKK 1,800-2,800.
Why does the charger only work in one port?
If your Mac has multiple USB-C ports and only one charges, the other(s) are faulty (typically due to lint or broken pins). Clean the ports with compressed air. If cleaning doesn't help, it's the Thunderbolt/USB-C controller — we can replace the individual port controller without swapping the entire logic board.
Why does my Mac only charge when it's powered off?
That's a classic symptom of a failing PMIC (Power Management IC): the circuit can't handle both operating and charging current at the same time. It charges fine when the Mac is off because there's no operating load. It needs logic board-level repair with us. Price: DKK 2,500-4,500.