USB-C plugs fall out

Hello Stephen,

It may simply be that at some time you have pulled out or tripped over the cable in a way that has weakened the links within. It's easily done and if that is the case you cannot repair it, you need to buy a new cable; not a great expense. Cables do not demagnetise either partially or fully so it has to be the connection point. This link may offer some other answers.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203207

OP,

I feel your pain. I have the 2017 macbook pro with touchbar and 4 usb-c ports and my power will stop charging if i move the macbook the slightest bit on my desk (which is often because I have a cat).

Also, the slightest bump will unhinge my usb-c -> usb 3 dongle, as well as my HDMI dongle to my external monitor. it's a real PITA. the machine is beautiful but not functional. Does anyone have a solution that doesn't involve duct tape?

I haven't "yet" had this issue but see it coming. The design looks awful and not as secure as the previous MBP versions, Mag"Safe".

I use a USBC Hub for all connections. Seems like all the connections are currently tight and secure. I am not thrilled with the "new" connection interface. Looks "Micky". I am almost certain these connections will get sloppy over time, a short time. Get a plastic tooth pick and check for debris in the male and female connections, lint. I Googled around in fear of having the same issue and found these connections pick up lint and act as if they are loose and become unplugged rather easily.

Love the MacBook Pro performance though.

Derby_Dad wrote:

Apple Support,

I'm reasonably certain that USB-C connector is not magnetic.

I have the same problem that all three of my USB-C power cords easily fall out of all four of the USB-C ports on my MacBookPro 2017. That's 12 possible port/connector combinations! If your reply was correct, then I must be tripping a lot for an old guy (please call 911 for a broken hip).

Please carefully read Stephen's well written request and help the community with a proper response.

Mike

Lol!

Stephen,

I can see your point. But if it is a design fault the best place to put the information is with product feedback. You may not necessarily get an answer but we are assured that Apple read everything. This is the link.

https://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html

Stephen,

Very sorry to insinuate you may have tripped and certainly not meant to be critical in any way. Perhaps it's just me, I have brushed against a cable ... and removed it more severely than is commended.

I don't have that model so I'm not aware of the cable links. Is it that they they are not magnetised?

I have the same problem. All of the leads I use fall out over time. I work in factories that are very busy and the lightest brush past one of my cables causes the usb-c / thunderbolt cable to come loose in the port. This is very frustrating and I have to be extremely careful when updating equipment firmware with my usb-c to ethernet adapter!

I have always used my Mac on site as the entire OS is so much better to use even with Windows VM's. However, these non-professional and not even the slightest bit industrial ports are a deal breaker for me.

I think the engineers at Apple only ever sit at a very stable, very expensive desk and don't use the MacBook Pro as a portable device at all! They can't possibly or they would have noticed this massive problem!

And it is not worth speaking to Apple support as this is a design flaw that is not fixable!

However, I get very good speeds from the ports. I had to buy some Cable Matters Thunderbolt 3 (40 Gbps) / USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 cables to get the speeds as the one supplied by apple and the ones that come with disk drives limit the port speeds.

Plug another usb-c cable in next to the power and rubber band the two of them together. The extra sideways force on both cables will increase the outward force required to remove the plugs. It's not a great solution since it requires a second cable and puts some sideways pressure on the plug but as long as it's not too much you should be fine.

Another option that I haven't tested: Do a search for "Bolt Magnetic Cable". They're about to release a magsafe-like usb-c cable. The tip is supposedly designed to stay in the machine with a snug fit.

Same problem here, regardless of which of the 4 USB C ports I plug the power into. I don't even have to jiggle it, the cable will literally come out that tiny 1 mm distance to disable AC power when just sitting at my desk and nothing but gravity applying pressure to the cable. It is unacceptably bad.

Not just power either. My USB-C connected hard drives will disconnect just as easily.

Apple Support,

I'm reasonably certain that USB-C connector is not magnetic.

I have the same problem that all three of my USB-C power cords easily fall out of all four of the USB-C ports on my MacBookPro 2017. That's 12 possible port/connector combinations! If your reply was correct, then I must be tripping a lot for an old guy (please call 911 for a broken hip).

Please carefully read Stephen's well written request and help the community with a proper response.

Mike

same problem here.

not the cable. 2 ports on the left are so sensitive to movement I hardly use them for anything but power.

never been 'tripped over'. and actually the first thing I bought was a MagSafe copy to prevent just that. the cable isn't at fault: I plug either end into the power supply and it goes clunk. nice and solid.

not a robust design at all. the connection fails when the cable works about 1mm out of place.

very disappointed

Hello. Also I have the same problem for the four ports of my MBP2016. Unfortunately both the power cable and the external hard disk cable, go away from the USB-C connector to the minimum stress. Please Stephen Durrenberger could you say how you solved? Is warranty replacement possible? Do you know how long it takes?

I 100% agree with the sentiment of the OP. I got my Macbook Pro touch bar in June and the USB-C connection issue has been awful even right out of the box. I’ve spent over $200 on usb-c accessories from many different manufacturers and they all have issues holding the port connction. The official Apple brand accessories have the tightest hold but it’s still not good or what I would consider acceptable for a high-ticket, high-end product like this.

When the connection gets lose and disconnects a few times the port becomes inoperable and I have to restart before I can get the use of the port back. USB-C is nice in theory but can we get some locking connections already!!!?? Seriously. How about some user experience improvements, not just specs and speed!!