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Why does MacBook show a plug icon instead of a lightening bolt when charging?

There’s a plug icon over the battery on my MacBook (rather than the usual lightening bolt) but it’s not charging even though it is plugged in. Any suggestions for what I should do?


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jun 13, 2023 2:16 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 13, 2023 2:30 PM

Nothing. There is nothing that really needs to be done. The plug icon indicates charging is on hold. It's expected behavior if it's normally and regularly plugged in for extended periods of time at the same general times of day. The Mac learns from your charging habits and optimizes the charging to preserve battery health.

It will manage the charge and not charge to 100% at those times it spends plugged in until it calculates it has to charge to full because you normally unplug it.


If you need to have it charge to 100% now because you are going to be disconnecting it from power, you can click on the battery icon and then on "Charge to full now".


If you don't want it managing the charge levels like that, you can click on the battery icon, then on Battery Settings then on the (i) icon next Battery Health, and then turn off the switch for "Optimize Battery Charging"


click here for details ➜ If battery charging is paused or on hold on your Mac - Apple Support


5 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 13, 2023 2:30 PM in response to CalCorby

Nothing. There is nothing that really needs to be done. The plug icon indicates charging is on hold. It's expected behavior if it's normally and regularly plugged in for extended periods of time at the same general times of day. The Mac learns from your charging habits and optimizes the charging to preserve battery health.

It will manage the charge and not charge to 100% at those times it spends plugged in until it calculates it has to charge to full because you normally unplug it.


If you need to have it charge to 100% now because you are going to be disconnecting it from power, you can click on the battery icon and then on "Charge to full now".


If you don't want it managing the charge levels like that, you can click on the battery icon, then on Battery Settings then on the (i) icon next Battery Health, and then turn off the switch for "Optimize Battery Charging"


click here for details ➜ If battery charging is paused or on hold on your Mac - Apple Support


Mar 8, 2024 9:44 AM in response to Phil0124

I have the issue on a 15" 2017 touchbar model. im used to having a magsafe 2014 and the usb c models are ****. im struggling to get the keyboard replkacm,ement program as differeent people i tal to online tell me i can and then one says i cant - I cant afford a decent mac. my 2014 is screwed and applem seem to be a bunch of *holes. I dont have the money to get the top case changed . my issue with the poewer icon is that it does not change from charging to the plug icon at all. this is with the latest Venrtura inmstalled. Any ideas? ive reset the SMC thousands of times and it seems that the battery is increasing in health gone from 53% to 63% in a week!!!! this is constantly charghing due to usbc cable kleep fall;ing outn ofg plug..... HATE HATE

Why does MacBook show a plug icon instead of a lightening bolt when charging?

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