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
I have the same issue too. I have MBP 16 Pro Max. Which chip do you guys have? Pro or Max?
For my instance, normally it'll happen after I folded down the screen (without powering down), and re-open the screen. Both sides of USB-C ports will stop functioning. From what I read, there is no manual SMC or PRAM reset on these M1 machines. So I shutdown, power off the laptop completely. Close the screen and wait for at least 1 minute. Re-open the screen and ports are back to normal. But it happens daily so it's very annoying.
LyleFromVegas wrote:
Good luck figuring it out. I had the USB-C charging issue for one day and then it started working. I haven't experienced it again and have no idea how or if I fixed it.
I always charge with a 65-watt PD USB-C charger on a timer switch to avoid over charging the battery. I typically keep my battery between 70-80% max and my battery app is still showing 100% capacity after about 8 months of use on my 16-Inch 2021 MBP w/M1 Pro cpu.
You cannot overcharge a MacBook Pro battery (or any Apple Device for that matter). They have very sophisticated battery management software to ensure this. You can leave a charging cable plugged in 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without fear of every overcharging.
I have my MBP charged 24/7. Only unplug it occasionally when going back and forth between home and office. Apple’s battery management is smart enough to keep battery charged at 80% at all time and stay there. But this USB-C issue broke this cycle and made my battery 100% all the time now, which is bad for long term.
I've specifically turned it off to maximize battery life. All that option does is try to learn when you use the computer and charge it to 100% before that time. All it does is try to minimize overcharging the battery. Only charging a battery to 80% will typically double the life of a lithium-ion battery. By manually controlling charging the battery and limiting the maximum charge level will extend the life of the battery.
Since I don't use my MacBook Pro on battery, mine never lets my battery go above 80%. It's your computer and you can do as you please, but Apple implemented Optimized Battery Charging for a reason. And there is no such thing as overcharging the battery. You CANNOT overcharge a MacBook Pro battery. Not EVER.
Using Optimized Battery Charging, I'm willing to bet the Battery Health in my MBP will outperform your battery.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
For the record, I also have a relatively brand new (less than 3 mos old) MBP and find that the USB-C ports intermittently "fail." This is true both for receiving charging, and also for acknowledging/charging accessories - Apple Watch, iPhone, 3rd party headset, etc. This morning I had the issue arise - sat down at the machine, put my watch and phone on chargers, belatedly realized neither was charging and the battery wasn't accepting charge - when literally the last thing I did before going to bed last night was to restart the machine, so all it did in the interim was reboot, reload a couple of programs I had running, and then go to sleep for the night.
Thanks - I am at 12.4, I know about flipping the USB-C, and even when Optimized Charging is on (it's not), it will show that the charger is connected regardless of whether it's actively charging at the time. Unfortunately right now I'm at 75% battery (and dropping) and none of the USB ports recognize the charger in System Profile, even the one that will charge an accessory (2 of 3 will not recognize/charge an accessory but one will). It really seems like some kind of software or hardware issue. I did file a bug report with Apple but it sounds like people have been filing them and nothing so far?
The Monterey 12.4 Broke USB-C Charging
