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The Monterey 12.4 Broke USB-C Charging

After upgrading to 12.4, my 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro w/M1 Pro CPU now doesn't charge from any USB-C ports. My usual USB-C charger stopped working and the MBP doesn't make a beep or indicate any reaction to the charger. I've tried another charger and cable that I know work. It will charge from the 140w supplied charger but not from USB-C?

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 12.4

Posted on May 20, 2022 5:47 AM

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57 replies

Jun 17, 2022 6:47 PM in response to LyleFromVegas

While I can't immediately find the Apple page I was thinking of, the link below is to a review on optimized charging.

How to Turn Off Optimized Battery Charging in macOS - MacRumors

If you look at #3 and read the screen it says "To reduce battery aging, your Mac learns from your daily charging routine so it can wait to finish charging past 80% until you need to use it on battery."


That's what I'm saying, the laptop will charge to 80% BUT when it thinks you are going to use it then it charges to 100%. The 80% your talking about is BEFORE the laptop fully charges. "TO REDUCE BATTERY AGING" is what I'm talking about.

Jun 17, 2022 7:34 PM in response to LyleFromVegas

Yes, I'm sure my battery doesn't go above 80%. When I first got it, it was at 100% for the first week. Then it showed a notice that it is rarely (as in never) used on battery and Optimized Battery Charging was being implemented. Now, my battery remains at 80% and that's as its designed to be and what is best for the health of the battery long term.


You are not correct that you can't let the device go to sleep. My device sleeps when not in use. Yet Optimized Battery Charging accounts for this and keeps the battery at the 80% charge level.


The page you reference about charging to 100% when you need it is for those people who use their laptop on battery and charge. Like an iPhone. When you use your iPhone out on the real world during the day, then plug it in to charge at night, it learns when you get up in the morning and take it off the charger. It will charge it to 100% as you would need a full charge to get through the day.


If you don't use your laptop on battery, there is no reason for the battery to charge to 100% and indeed mine does not charge to 100%.

Jun 18, 2022 12:31 AM in response to lobsterghost1

It’s better for battery to charge and stay around 80% for longer life. The last 20% requires extra boost and it’s bad for the battery.


Because sometimes I forgot the USB-C ports are not working/charging, the OS thinks I need to use battery and messed up the built-in battery optimization plan. It’s been charging all the way to 100% all the time now, which shorten the life of battery.

Jun 18, 2022 3:42 AM in response to lobsterghost1

I forgot that you mentioned you never have your laptop unplugged. Mine is always on battery and it's easy for me to hold the battery level down. I'm glad it's working out for you.


A final question what is your battery cycle count? My battery is 9.2 months old with a cycle count of 66. It would be interesting to see what your cycle count is since you're always on AC?

Jun 19, 2022 7:10 AM in response to mreg376

If you're sitting at home waiting for some fix to magically happen, you'll likely be disappointed. You're assuming this is a universal problem. It's not. I've no issues charging my MacBook Pro via MagSafe or USB C on MacOS 12.4. I suspect most people don't have an issue or this thread would have blown up, which it hasn't. Schedule an appointment at your Apple Store Genius Bar and let Apple see your device. Or return it if you're not happy with it. That's really up to you.


One Note: If you are running ANY antivirus or scanning software on your MBP, uninstall them. Macs don't need antivirus software and they often don't work well on Silicone-based M1 ARM computers. They can cause all sorts of issues.

Jun 19, 2022 7:15 AM in response to lobsterghost1

I'm not saying it's universal. But I have seen enough complaints about the same problem to conclude that the issue was introduced with 12.4. Maybe 12.4 merely exposed a hardware flaw in certain machines. Either way, I do not have the time or the inclination to spend time at the Genius Bar with a brand new MacBook, especially with an intermittent problem that may not rear its head while I'm there. They never believe anything you say, unless they can see it. I think you just helped convince me that the machine must be returned. Thank you.


P.S. I've never used anti-virus software on a Mac.

Jun 19, 2022 8:27 AM in response to lobsterghost1

Just posted today, by someone else, in MacRumors forum:


"Brand new 14" MacBook Pro M1 Pro 32GB macOS 12.4. Successfully charged to 100% for a few days. Left it plugged into the MagSafe 3 for a couple of days and was shocked to find it at 38% this morning. MagSafe was glowing steady amber but the Mac showed "Power Source: Battery". Battery health is normal and capacity is 100%. Plugged into a different charger via USB-C, no change. Restarted, no change. Shut down, waited for a minute, booted, now charging correctly with both USB-C and MagSafe 3..."


Exact same problem.

Jun 19, 2022 8:33 AM in response to mreg376

Never doubted you or others have an issue. The question is what do you do about it? Give up as you seem destined to do. Or get help. I love my MBP. If I were having an issue, I'd spend my time working with Apple as opposed to spending my time on a forum of just users, none of whom have any diagnostic tools or magic pills to solve the issue.

Jun 19, 2022 8:56 AM in response to lobsterghost1

I disagree. The question for me is not what you pose. I love my MacBook too. The question for me is do I want to be permanently saddled with a nagging intermittent problem that Apple may never acknowledge, and that continuously disrupts my workflow, since it's not, as you say, a universal problem, or do I try to get rid of the problem once and for all. I use this MacBook for work, not play, and I can't keep using it for work if the battery is dying and it won't charge in the middle of a Zoom unless I close and save everything I'm doing and restart the machine.

Jun 19, 2022 10:52 AM in response to mreg376

Question: Are you charging with the Apple charger and MagSafe adapter or with a USB-C charger and MagSafe adapter?


I tried using a 65-watt USB-C charger and the MagSafe adapter and it didn't work for me. To be honest, I only tried it once. I normally charge through a USB-C port.


Personally, I rely on both Apple and the user's forums for help. Sometimes you'll get an Apple person who knows a lot and other times you'll get a "do you have it turned on?" response. I find that often a user who has experienced the same problem can offer good advice. The manufacturer's mindset is typically it works fine you've screwed something up and they are often clouded by blindness.


It also helps if you try and explain what is happening rather than it doesn't work. That's like calling the dealership and saying my car doesn't start, what wrong with it? Having all of the facts generally means that someone's response will be more on target.

Jun 20, 2022 8:00 AM in response to mreg376

I feel your pain and hope that eventually, Apple will figure it out. I got my MBP on day one of the release and the USB-C charging worked flawlessly until one of the recent updates. But I was lucky in that charging issues only lasted one day until it started to work again. Other than it's heavy, I love my 16-inch 2021 MBP. I'm currently running 12.4 with no complaints.

Jun 20, 2022 9:52 AM in response to lobsterghost1

Keep in mind that you are using your laptop plugged in 100% of the time and your experience may be different if you use it as a laptop and not a desktop. I would venture to say that your experience running off the battery may be different than having it plugged in all the time. Also, you've only had the MBP for a little over a month, and your experience may change over time for those of us who bought the unit when it was released.


There have been numerous people who've complained about this issue and it all started with one of the 12.x updates. While I don't think everyone experiences the issue, it would appear to be an issue for some. I don't know how my MBP fixed the problem as it stopped working and then started working. I don't think I did anything to fix it but can't swear to that. This may be a combination of what type of software you're running, etc. but I don't know that answer.


Personally, I'd like to have an Apple engineer explain exactly how the Optimized Charging works. You and I have had different opinions on how it works, and it would be nice if someone who knew the answer would respond. That would be better than us as users trying to read Apple's mind. If you read the battery preferences, it clearly says that the battery charges up till 80% and then when the MBP thinks you are going to use it, charges to 100%. That is pretty clear in my mind. Otherwise the Apple preferences is wrong? In your case with 100% AC it may not respond as a person who uses it on battery may experience. Since you're always on AC the MBP may keep your battery at 80% because it learns that you don't use the battery which is different for people who carry their laptop around.


Jun 20, 2022 9:54 AM in response to LyleFromVegas

Yes, our experiences are by virtue different as will the experience of just about everyone else as no two people use their MBP's in exactly the same manner.


You'll need to reach out to Apple directly if you want someone to go into more depth on Optimized Battery Charging. Apple doesn't participate here and no engineer will respond at all. This is after all a user to user only forum.

Jun 24, 2022 7:28 PM in response to LyleFromVegas

My 14" has done this twice now. Connect my Studio Display to the right side port and no picture or charging. Today my USB C ethernet adapter wound't work on either side. A restart has fixed it both times. Hope the SMC reset fixes it permanently so I don't have to wait for Apple to admit something got broken in 12.4.


The SMC button combination did something, even though it's not a M1 thing?

The Monterey 12.4 Broke USB-C Charging

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