Charge your Mac laptop computer

Charge your MacBook, MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro by connecting a power adapter to its USB-C or MagSafe port, depending on the Mac model.

Learn which power adapters and charge cables are recommended for your Mac, including recommended wattage and how to check the wattage being delivered to your Mac.

  • If the wattage delivered by your charging solution is too low for your Mac model, "Slow Charger" appears the battery status menu and Battery settings.

  • If a connected USB-C or Thunderbolt display (such as Apple Studio Display) is providing power to charge your Mac, you can use that instead of a separate charging solution.

Some Mac models can fast charge when using the appropriate combination of power adapter and charge cable.

Charge with MagSafe

If your Mac has a MagSafe 3 port, it might also have USB-C ports. Your Mac charges over only one port at a time, using the source that provides the most power. Connecting a charging solution to more than one port, whether MagSafe or USB-C, doesn't charge your Mac faster.

up close view of MagSafe 3 port

Locate the MagSafe port

The MagSafe port is on the left side of the Mac, near the Esc (Escape) key. These Mac models can charge with MagSafe 3:

  • MacBook Pro introduced in 2021 or later, excluding MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022)

  • MacBook Air introduced in 2022 or later

Some earlier Mac models have a MagSafe 2 or original MagSafe port instead. MagSafe 3 isn't compatible with the power adapters and charge cables used by earlier versions of MagSafe.

Begin charging with MagSafe

  1. Plug the power adapter into a power outlet.

  2. Plug the USB end of the MagSafe cable into the power adapter.

  3. Connect the other end of the cable to the MagSafe port on your Mac. The indicator light on the MagSafe connector then glows amber or green:

    • Amber when charging is underway or charging is on hold.

    • Green when your battery is fully charged.

  4. Your Mac should now begin charging, unless charging is on hold or the charge limit has been reached.

Diagram displaying a power adapter connected to a USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable connected to a Mac laptop

Charge with USB-C

If your Mac has USB-C ports, it might also have a MagSafe port. Your Mac charges over only one port at a time, using the source that provides the most power. Connecting a charging solution to more than one port, whether MagSafe or USB-C, doesn't charge your Mac faster.

Up close view of two USB-C ports on a MacBook Air

Locate a USB-C port

USB-C ports are on the left side or both sides of the Mac, and any of them can be used for charging. These Mac models can charge with USB-C:

Begin charging with USB-C

  1. Plug the power adapter into a power outlet.

  2. Plug one end of the USB-C cable into the power adapter.

  3. Plug the other end of the cable into any USB-C port on your Mac.

  4. Your Mac should now begin charging, unless charging is on hold or the charge limit has been reached.

Diagram displaying a power adapter connected to a USB-C to USB-C cable connected to a Mac laptop

Resolve charging issues

If your Mac isn’t charging as you expect, you might see one of these messages, or there could be an issue with the power adapter or charging cable that you’re using.

If you see "Slow Charger"

Battery Settings in macOS Tahoe, showing "Slow Charger" status.

When using macOS Tahoe 26.4 or later, your Mac can report that it's charging slowly: "Slow Charger" appears in the battery status menu and above the Battery Level graph in Battery settings:

To charge more quickly, use a charging solution that provides more power, measured in watts (W). For the best charging experience, the power adapter and charge cable should deliver at least the minimum wattage recommended for your Mac model.

If you see "Charging On Hold"

When Optimized Battery Charging is in use, the battery status menu might show "Charging On Hold." If you need your Mac to be charged to 100% sooner, choose "Charge to Full Now" from the menu.

If you see "Charged to [%] Limit"

When Charge Limit is in use, the battery status menu might show "Charged to [%] Limit" or "Charging to [%] Limit." If you need your Mac to be charged to 100%, choose "Charge to Full Now" from the menu when the charge limit has been reached.

If you see "Battery Is Not Charging"

Learn what to do if you see "Battery Is Not Charging" in the battery status menu.

If your Mac isn’t receiving power

Published Date: