battery charging icons

If you click the battery icon in the menu bar of your Mac, you get a little more info on what is happening with the battery.

I just now found out that this icon: means that the power is plugged in, and your Macbook is using power from the mains, but the battery is not charging. (usually this icon appears the first couple of seconds after connecting the power, and then quickly changes to the next icon; unless there is a problem with either your battery not being able to charge, or your adapter not being able to provide enough power to both charge and provide power)

This icon shows that your Macbook is plugged in, it's using power from the mains, and the battery is charging.

The third icon is obvisously, as mentioned before, showing you that your Macbook is using battery power, and thus not plugged in.

For information about battery indicator lights:

http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201842

Best.

Why don't you post images of the 4 icons you are interested in.

Ciao.

I don't know what OP is referring to.

I know there are 4 conditions.

http://support.apple.com/kb/PH18585?viewlocale=en_US

May be there are 4 icons to represent those conditions but I haven't seen those except Normal and and X on it.

Best.

I'm just putting the onus on the OP. I too know of 4 conditions but I am not here to try and guess what others may be thinking. 🙂

Ciao.

Right.

In the order you mention:

The MBP is being powered by the battery. The battery icon will be filled according to the degree of charge.

The battery is being charged by the power adapter.

Duplicate of above.

You do not mention this:

The battery is NOT being charged but the MBP is operating via the power adapter.

Then there is an X icon which indicates that the battery is not recignized, It could be a dead battery or a curcuit failure.

As far as your battery issues are concerned, start with a SMC reset:

http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

Ciao.

NuTachyon wrote:

I have performed the SMC reset per the link you provided. Is there any way to confirm the SMC has been reset?

If the problem has disappeared, the SMC was successful. If not, other avenues have to be tried.

Using a “Battery Health” app I downloaded from the Apple App Store, I am able to see that the adapter provides anywhere from about 5 watts to 50 watts of charging power depending on its mood.

The OSX monitors and controls the charge depending upon the needs and conditions. There is no 'mood' involved.

I understand that the 3rd is “running on Battery power” but what about the others?

The lightning bolt icons indicate that the battery is being charged by the power adapter and power is being provided to the MBP for its operation. I do not know the difference between the two.

The 'battery' icon indicates that the MBP is being powered by the battery. The amount filled in the battery represents the amount of charge. If the battery were at 100%, the entire icon would be black. When the battery is substantially depleted, the icon will turn red as a warning.

MBP

Also, if you can, please help me understand the meaning of these to acronyms; “MBP” and “SMC” in this context.

MBP = Macbook Pro

SMC = System Management Controller. See the link I provided earlier

Ciao..

Thanks for the information. I, too, was wondering if my computer was actually charging. I feel as though my MBP (Mid 2014 update) Magsafe adaptor has some give with the contacts for charging. I feel better now knowing what the icons mean. Thanks to NuTachyon for raising the issue.

Mexiquan

that's exactly the answer i was looking for...

"obvisously" is my new "fravourite" word 😀