Thunderbolt display does not charge macbook pro

Hi Barry

Just a quick update. Everything appears to be working as it should since I cleaned the connections between the TB display and my MBP. There didn't appear to be any dirt on the end of the cotton bud but the switch cleaner must have dislodged something and did its job. Thanks for your help and suggestion.

Regards

Mike

Sorry but I'm not familiar with the MacBook Air. But, assuming that the battery pack is removable, which it may not be, just check that all contacts to and from it are clean and tidy. Whilst I understand that your charger works, there may be slightly different connectors on the Thunderbird display. I would have thought this is a major issue, it sounds to me like a connectivity blip. Good luck!

I've had this problem on my MBP and resolved it by replacing the magsafe to magsafe 2 adaptor. It also helped, for a short while, to clean all the contacts with switch cleaner from Maplins. Access to the battery was not an option as my MBP is still under guarantee and I didn't want to be unscrewing the device to get at the battery pack. Also as the own charger works fine I deduced it was the TB lead/connector that was the issue.

I experienced the same problem with a 1 year, 1 month old Cinema Display connected to an early 2013 MacBook Air (13"). Initially I was able to disconnect the MagSafe adapter and fiddle with the connection which would temporarily solve the problem for me. Eventully, the fidlling solution stopped working and I needed a better one (for my ~1 year old $1,000 monitor!).

After reading through this thread, I first tried cleaning the contacts on my MagSafe, Converter and MBA (with a Q tip), then, after that didn't work I headed to an Apple store and pick up a new MagSafe converter (based on suggestions from others here).

I spoke with a Genius who told me he has a few friends who own 2013 MBA's and MBP's with Retina that had faulty motherboards which he said could be the problem here, and he told me to bring in my MBA in to run diagnostics and determine if that's the case with mine, but I couldn't make an appointment for a few days and wanted to see what I could do sooner.

When I told him I read suggestions to get a new MagSafe converter, he agreed it was worth a try and so I bought one and guess what?! It seems to have solved my problem (granted I've only been using it for a day now). That said, if you try a new MagSafe Converter and it doesn't work (and you own a 2013+ MBA or MBP with Retina), bring the laptop to your local apple store so they can run a diagnostic to determine if you have a faulty motherboard, because if you do, apple should replace it free of charge in the first year.

Good luck!

I have/had/have the same problem. Even without updating (still have 10.8) to Mavericks, the magsafe to magsafe 2 connector (from the Thunderbold display) failed more and more frequently to charge my MPB Retina. I now cleaned it with a q-tip and also moved the connector a little bit when plugged in by moving the cable up and down. That helped. In my case its definetely a faulty connector with a defective contact.

Completely concur, this has nothing to do with the OS version. Recently moved to Mavericks and the issue has not gotten worse (or better).

I've found out that pushing the magsafe connector into MBP (rather than letting the magnet do its work) helps most of the time. Gently, don't push too hard 😝

IMHO this is a hardware issue with the magsafe adaptors which Apple should fix.

Well, all I can say folks is that the Thunderbolt display is superb and working commercially on it each and every day, I have had no problems whatsoever. This includes the permanent connection to a Mac Mini server, connecting my Mac Book Pro, and even charging my iPhone 5 - daily. Sounds to me like you've been unlucky or I have been lucky. If you posed the question, "would I buy another - a resounding "Yes". It's the best monitor I have ever had. Mavericks has had no influence on it at all so I would heartily say dismiss that. Again I use 10.9 for commercial graphics and the production of brochures daily. There are no issues with the magnasafe connector as I have friends with similar setups. I do get tired of reading about the failures of Mavericks on these forums. "When it's broke, blame the latest operating system", Wrong again. Apple wouldn't have launched it if they were confident about it. OK there may be a few teething problems but that's what Apple attends to in its upgrades. If you're unhappy, my advice would be to go back to Windows. Then you would miss OS-X.

PROBLEM SOLVED

Hi fellows I bought a new MagSafe connector at Bestbuy ($10) replace the one who came with the Tb and surprise! MBP IS CHARGING Everything is working just fine! I didn't believe but it's true. Why? Still a mystery haha Greetings from Mexico

I can also confirm that replacing the MagSafe adapter has resolved the issue.

Given how simple the device should be, I'm surprised it failed in the first place, but at least I don't have the issue anymore.

yes this was the same with mine. But the original adapter worked for a while so I wonder if the new one will fail after time, or with so many uses. Watch this space. They dont seem to be as reliable as the main power supply that came with the computer, though reading other threads they are not without their own problems. I wonder when Apple will be producing TB display that connects without the adapter?

Tigervision...I'm going to get one there for that price as a backup. I'm going to let Apple go through the motions with this "replacement" just cause after all I spend with them, they owe me a working adapter.

This is just frustrating as frustrating can get. This used to work and stopped.

Come on Apple...an adapter problem? Really?

Just to update everyone...

As you can tell from my reply prior, I had contacted Apple Support about this issue...blah, blah, blah.

They did place a hold on my account for $1 but they also charged me $19.13 for a new adapter. Turns out the analyst was wrong. They don't place the hold on your account and want you to return the magsafe2 adapter. They will bill you for it as a DIY repair! They aren't covered!

Thankfully, I called and complained as that was NOT what I was told so they are to issue me credit. Of course, this requires an act of Congress...we will see how this plays out.

Anyway, my power is now working like a charm...So that DID fix the issue. Next time, I'll just buy one from Best Buy for $10 and move on with life.

As a side note, not sure what triggered all of this. I am not the only one that had this problem. Is it something to do with the MBPr, the adapters or is it really Mavericks? So confused.

And another confirmation from Amsterdam:

- MBP didn't charge anymore with TB

- sometimes it did, but why? I don't know. I never could reproduce it, so no logically explination

Bought a new magsafe adapter. And yes, all is working again. Never thought it could become defective.

Which makes me wonder : do I have warranty on such a simple device?

MiFiGuy wrote:

And another confirmation from Amsterdam:

- MBP didn't charge anymore with TB

- sometimes it did, but why? I don't know. I never could reproduce it, so no logically explination

Bought a new magsafe adapter. And yes, all is working again. Never thought it could become defective.

Which makes me wonder : do I have warranty on such a simple device?

I think the answer is: "yes you should"

Apple simply supplied a batch of faulty adaptors which should be exchanged under warranty. (This can happen with any HW vendor, nothing to be ashamed of.) However given Apple's deafening silence in this conversation I don't get the impression they intent to do so.

For many people it's probably just not worth the effort....

That's IF you have an Apple store, which I do not. I contacted Apple because I would never have thought that this wouldn't be covered under warranty. I had just bought my display 6 months ago.

I should have just gone to Best Buy and bought one for $10 and been done with it. I'm still waiting for the credit adjustment from Apple on the $19.13 because no one told me this would be billed to me so I raised a stink.