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Velvet Digest

How do I know if my MacBook 2017 is charging?

Author

Emma Martin

Updated on June 13, 2026

If your battery is charging, it will have a lightning bolt symbol over the battery icon. If you don't see the icon in the menu bar, it may be turned off. Open up the System Preferences app and click on the “Energy Saver” icon shaped like a lightbulb.

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Correspondingly, why won't my MacBook charger light up?

Shut down the computer. Plug in the MagSafe power adapter to a power source, connecting it to the Mac if it's not already connected. On the built-in keyboard, press the (left side) Shift-Control-Option keys and the power button at the same time. Release all the keys and the power button at the same time.

Similarly, how do I charge my MacBook Pro 2017? Connect your MacBook Pro to a power outlet using the included USB-C Charge Cable and 61W USB-C Power Adapter. You can charge your MacBook Pro using either of the Thunderbolt 3 ports on your computer. The battery charges more quickly when the computer is off or in sleep. Check the battery's charge.

Also know, how do I know if my laptop is charging?

Look at the battery level indicator in the notification area (at the bottom near the clock) or check the battery status indicator LED located near the charging port or above the keyboard. Depending on the laptop model, the LED should be red or yellow in most cases.

When should you charge your MacBook?

If you plug it in when you have 25% battery left and charge it to 100% you have used ¾ of a cycle, etc. Here's another fun fact: according to Apple, at some point soon after you've used those 1000 cycles it will still charge to 80% of capacity.

Related Question Answers

Why isn't my Mac charging when plugged in?

If the Battery Status menu on your portable Mac says “Not Charging,” your computer is connected to a power source that gives it enough power to run, but not enough power to charge the battery. For example, your Mac might not charge when it's connected to an airline power adapter.

Why is my computer plugged in but not charging?

Common causes of the error plugged in not charging can be because of the following: Faulty charger. Some chargers supply power to charge the battery seperately for the power to run the laptop. If the charger cable is damaged it may be that it supply's power to run the laptop but not charge the battery.

How do I reset my MacBook battery?

On the MacBook / Pro's keyboard, hold down the Shift+Control+Option keys and the Power button at the same time. Release all keys and the power button at the same time – the little light on the MagSafe adapter may change colors briefly to indicate the SMC has reset. Boot your Mac as usual.

How do I clean my laptop charger port?

Dip a cotton swab into a bottle of rubbing alcohol and gently rub the swab on the USB contacts in the port. This will clean the USB port of grime and residue that is collecting on it. After a while, the grime and residue collecting on the electrical connection of the USB port will degrade the connection.

How do you fix a Mac that won't turn on?

If your MacBook's battery isn't removable:
  1. Shut down Mac and plug in the power cord.
  2. Press Shift-Control-Option, then press Power button.
  3. Hold the keys for about 10 seconds.
  4. Release the keys.
  5. Press Power as you would normally start your Mac.

How do I know if my laptop power cord is working?

Plug in the adapter. Then touch one probe to the negative part of the plug (usually the outer casing) and the other to the positive contact (typically a pin inside the plugs outer casing). Your looking for a match on the voltage and amperage listed under “output” on the sticker on the adapter.

How can I test my laptop battery?

How to Test Laptop Battery Method #1: System Diagnostics
  1. Unplug the power cord.
  2. Turn off the laptop.
  3. Press the power button to restart your laptop.
  4. Press the Esc key immediately, once the laptop powers up.
  5. The Start Up menu will appear.
  6. A list of diagnostics and component tests should pop up.

How long does a laptop battery last?

between two and four years

Why is my laptop not powering on?

Drain the computer of electricity Disconnect the AC adapter and remove the battery. Hold down the power button for thirty seconds to drain any residual power in the laptop. Without replacing the battery, plug the AC adapter back into the laptop. Press the power button to turn on your laptop.

Why are Apple Chargers so expensive?

"Apple's power adapter is clearly a high-quality power supply designed to produce carefully filtered power. "Apple's iPhone charger crams a lot of technology into a small space. Apple went to extra effort to provide higher quality and safety than other name-brand chargers, but this quality comes at a high cost."

Is there another way to charge a MacBook?

Just like iPads and iPhones, the new MacBook can be charged from a portable battery pack, as long as you have a USB-C to USB-A cable, which you you can buy for as little as $10. Unlike MagSafe, which is a proprietary Apple technology, USB-C is universal.

How long does it take to charge a MacBook Pro 2017?

According to the Apple website, if the battery is at about 50 percent power, it should take about 1 hour to reach 80 percent full power, with an additional 2 hours to reach full power on trickle charge. If you charge the battery at 80 percent full power, it will take 2 hours to reach full power.

Can I charge my MacBook with a phone charger?

Typically your smartphone charger won't have enough power to really keep your MacBook charged, unless it's turned off. If you work with your MacBook, you'll see that the battery level drops slowly, even though it's plugged into your phone charger.

How long does it take for a MacBook Pro to charge from dead?

2 hours

Can any USB C charge MacBook?

Just like iPads and iPhones, the new MacBook can be charged from a portable battery pack, as long as you have a USB-C to USB-A cable, which you you can buy for as little as $10. Unlike MagSafe, which is a proprietary Apple technology, USB-C is universal.

Can you charge a MacBook Pro with another Macbook Pro?

It doesn't matter which side of your MacBook Pro that they're connected to—power is delivered on a first-come, first-served basis. As a result, the amount of power being delivered from the MBP via it's ThunderBolt ports would not be enough to charge another MacBook.

What is the difference between magsafe 1 and 2?

The main difference is the appearance between the two, in that the Magsafe 2 connector has a thinner connecting piece. The choices are either the Magsafe or Magsafe 2. Any MacBook that was made from mid 2012 onward uses the newer Magsafe 2 connector.

What happens if you plug two chargers into MacBook Pro?

Your MacBook Pro draws power from only one power supply, even if more than one is attached—so using multiple power supplies will not speed up charging. If you connect multiple power supplies to your MacBook Pro, the one that provides the most power will be used, regardless of the order in which you connected them.

How long do MacBook Airs last?

In general, a MacBook Air (or any other laptop, for that matter) is going to have a useful life of about 3 to 5 years. After about 3 years, you may notice things seem slower on your computer than it does on newer computers.