Magsafe pins won't stay up

You need a new charger. There are no resets or tricks to repair a worn out connector.

What can happen is the inside of the magsafe where the pins and small springs are located get dirty. Then the pins won't pop up and make contact. This has worked for me as long as its just dirty and not broken. Disconnect the magsafe from the wall power and of course from the laptop. With a small brush - old toothbrush works - clean the pins with alcohol. You can also dip the end in alcohol and let it soak for a minute or 2 and then brush carefully. This helps to clean out the dirt or grime that my be holding the pins down. You can dip the end and tap it or with your finger work the pins up and down that also helps work the pins loose. After make sure you let it dry completely before using. If that doesn't work its off to the store to buy a new one.

Acm001, I had the same thought till I read this part of his post

The inner pins seem to have a spring action keeping the up, but the outer ones just fall into the holes as if there are no springs.

If they are broken no other choice but to get a new magsafe thats for sure. But I've seen a few just like that with the pins stuck and cleaning them gets them loose. Ive been surprised how dirty and grimy they get. Sometimes the small springs get held by the dirt and the cleaning and slightly taping the mag safe end work them loose. In the end nothing but a few minutes of time and some alcohol lost if it doesn't work but if it does - bonus. 🙂

Agreed, nothing to lose.

Use isopropyl alcohol. Any pharmacy will have it. Aftershave not only has alcohol but other stuff to smooth razor burn. Hope it works.

Aftershave? Menthol or musk? 😁 I guess you want the pins to stick while smelling pretty?

Ideally, spray nonresidual electronic contacts cleaner is the best thing to use. Available at any good electronics store. Will dissolve and remove an incredible variety of gunky contaminants, while evaporating and leaving nothing behind.

I've come across MagSafe1 charger connectors whose metal shield was badly dented. In order to ensure maximum "stick", the metal ring around the pins is soft steel which can dent/scratch easily. This can cause the metal to bend, dent, scratch or warp to the extent that it cannot seat properly in the Mac's socket. Have had to take a fine-tooth file and reshape the part until as proper a fit as possible was attained, given the damage. Of course, under no circumstances must the pins themselves be filed: the gold coating is very thin and the tips must make perfect contact with the pads on the Mac. At worst, 85W / 20V = 4.25A, a sizable amount of current considering the contact area involved. Any amount of resistance will result in overheating and damage.

New to MagSafe2, just got a new MBP. But from the looks (and small size) of it, there's a lot less metal and hence increased propensity for damage.

I always keep the plastic caps and religiously put them on the connectors when storing the Mac. At least they protect the plug if the brick gets banged about in the bag.