MagSafe 1 to 2 adapter LED not lighting on MacBook Pro

Question

MagSafe 1 to 2 adapter LED not lighting on MacBook Pro

I currently have an Apple MagSafe 2 Charger 85W and I use it with my 2015 MacBook Pro 15. I also have an Apple MagSafe 1 Charger 85W and I want to use it with my MacBook Pro. I purchased the MagSafe 1 to MagSafe 2 adapter to use it but for some reason, the charge LED does not light up when I attach it to my computer. But for some reason, the computer reports that it is charging despite all the fields being blanked out in the system information tab. I tried switching orientations on both the MagSafe adapter and the MagSafe cable itself but that didn't seem to fix anything.

I know that the MagSafe 1 charger works as the light illuminates when I use my older 2012 MacBook Pro and 2010 MacBook Air.

Is the light supposed to illuminate when using the adapter or is my adapter defective? I tried to clean both the MagSafe 1 plug and both sides of the adapter and the MagSafe port with isopropyl alcohol but that didn't seem to fix things.

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Mar 3, 2026 3:59 PM

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Answer 1

Mar 3, 2026 4:23 PM in response to jimmysofat6864

The power adapter itself has no ability to light those lights.

the LED in the MagSafe adapter end is lit ONLY on commands sent by the computer.

if the computer is not willing to light those lights, or report substantial information about the old adapter, that suggests Apple has not spent a lot of time and energy making support fully backward compatible.

But it the MacBook is charging, then you are getting what you really wanted to accomplish, just without the bells and whistle (or fancy lights).

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MagSafe 1 to 2 adapter LED not lighting on MacBook Pro

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