Laptop screen goes dark when unplugged

Question

Laptop screen goes dark when unplugged

Hi

This has gradually become more of an issue in the last few months.

My laptop is plugged in most of the time, but now, when I unplug it (and the battery is at 100%) the screen goes dark after just a few minutes (to as little as less than a minute).

MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)

Processor 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5

High Sierra 10.13.6

The machine is about 3 years old.

Anyone have an idea of what might be causing this or any diagnostics I can try?

thanks

Posted on Nov 2, 2020 3:04 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Rafael Scheid

Level 5

5,346 points

Nov 2, 2020 4:26 PM in response to tryingtodecide

Try reset SMC https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295. Do the procedure like 3 or 4 times in a row.

Since you're on this stage, also reset NVRAM https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063.

Check System Preferences > Energy and check configs when running on battery.

Also check informations on your battery in Apple > About this Mac > System Report > Power and install the app coconut battery for more detailed information about it.

Just curious why you still in High Sierra? Do you need to stay in it because of software support or just by choice?

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Answer 2

Nov 3, 2020 7:53 AM in response to tryingtodecide

update ... it seems like updating my os might have actually done the trick

I've been using battery for a while now, am at 81% - the last time I tried battery yesterday my screen lasted less than a minute

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Answer 3

Nov 3, 2020 5:40 AM in response to Rafael Scheid

Hi and thanks!

I am in the middle of something and don't want to risk anything going wrong right now ... but I will try these shortly.

High Sierra ... no good reason just hadn't done it and forgotten about it ... updated to Catalina now.

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Answer 4

Nov 3, 2020 8:16 AM in response to tryingtodecide

God to know the update solved it. Maybe a reinstall of HS would have done that too, meaning it was something with the system, not the hardware.

Plus, with newer macOS you get updated security and features.

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Laptop screen goes dark when unplugged

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