Some 16-inch MacBook Pro Owners Report MagSafe 3 Charging Issues When Mac Is Closed

Some 16-inch MacBook Pro owners appear to have identified a shared issue suggesting the MagSafe 3 connector sometimes fails to deliver the expected charge when their Mac is turned off and the lid is closed.

16 inch magsafe 3
As outlined on Reddit, some 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ Models, when powered off, are failing to charge if the ‌MagSafe‌ connector is plugged in. Instead of turning green, the ‌MagSafe‌ light flashes amber and fails to deliver power to the Mac battery. Some customers have contacted Apple Support to find a solution, with varying degrees of success. One user, in particular, said that after a lengthy back and forth, Apple Support decided to send them a replacement laptop.

So it's not just me then! I have the EXACT same issue. Went to the genius bar and they tested with a cable and charger that they have and it still had the same problem. They said they would order a new 140 watt charger for me to see it would fix it but said most likely it's a firmware issue but didn't really provide any evidence for such a thing. I went home and the next day I get a call from Apple. Someone was calling me to follow up and they asked me a bunch of questions and provided instructions to run a special diagnostics program. After I did all that they said they want to take my MacBook and its charger back and that they would give me a completely brand new MacBook as soon as they get one. I'm still waiting for that but that's where I'm currently at.

A video shared on Reddit shows that when the ‌MacBook Pro‌ is closed, the light on the ‌MagSafe‌ charger repeatedly flashes amber and is accompanied by the typical macOS charging sound effect. A consistent orange light means the MacBook is being charged, while green shows it's fully charged.

If a ‌MacBook Pro‌ is connected to ‌MagSafe‌ while turned on and it is then turned off, ‌MagSafe‌ 3 continues to charge the Mac as expected. The issue only occurs for some users when attempting to plug in the ‌MagSafe‌ connector when the Mac is already turned off. The flashing amber ‌MagSafe‌ light is an indication that something is not functioning as normal, and an Apple Support page includes steps for users to take to return ‌MagSafe‌ to normal operation. However, the steps don't seem to work in the reported cases where the ‌MacBook Pro‌ is turned off with the lid closed.

Not all 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ owners face the problem, and MacRumors has been unable to reproduce the bug. Regardless, there are enough users facing the problem that Apple may address it in the near future.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Neutral)
Related Forum: MacBook Pro

Popular Stories

iCloud General Feature Redux

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Receive a New Perk

Thursday March 20, 2025 12:01 am PDT by
If you pay for iCloud storage on your iPhone, Apple has a new perk for you, at no additional cost. The new perk is the ability to create invitations in the Apple Invites app for the iPhone, which launched in the App Store last month. In the Apple Invites app, iCloud+ subscribers can create invitations for any occasion, such as birthday parties, graduations, baby showers, and more. Anyone ...
iPhone 17 Pro Render Front Page Tech

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. iPhone 17 Pro's alleged design via Front Page Tech Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone...
Generic iOS 19 Feature Mock

iOS 19 Coming in June With These New Features

Thursday March 20, 2025 2:04 pm PDT by
While the first iOS 19 beta is still more than two months away, there are already plenty of rumors about the upcoming software update. Below, we recap the key iOS 19 rumors so far. visionOS-Like Design In January, the YouTube channel Front Page Tech revealed a redesigned Camera app that is allegedly planned for iOS 19. According to Front Page Tech host Jon Prosser, the Camera app...
iOS 18

Top 5 New Features Coming in iOS 18.4

Friday March 21, 2025 3:26 pm PDT by
We're not getting new Siri Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.4 as expected, but the upcoming update does have quite a few new additions that will be worth upgrading for. We've rounded up the five best features to look forward to, and if you're not running the beta, you can expect to get access to these in early April. Priority Notifications If you have an iPhone or iPad that supports...
Windows Vista

Apple Might Be Having Its Windows Vista Moment, Says Analyst

Thursday March 20, 2025 6:52 am PDT by
Is Apple experiencing a "Vista-like drift into systemically poor execution?" That was a question posed by well-known technology analyst Benedict Evans, in a recent blog post covering Apple's innovation and execution, or seemingly lack thereof as of late. He is referring to Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system, which was widely criticized when it launched in 2007 due to software bugs,...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro teal 1

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Coming to These 8 U.S. States, But Rollout Remains Slow

Wednesday March 19, 2025 6:55 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly. It has been three and a half years since Apple first announced the...
airpods pro 2 gradient

AirPods Pro 3 Launch Now Just Months Away: Here's What We Know

Tuesday March 18, 2025 9:13 am PDT by
Despite being released over two years ago, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 continue to dominate the wireless earbud market. However, with the AirPods Pro 3 expected to launch in 2025, anyone thinking of buying Apple's premium earbuds may be wondering if the next generation is worth holding out for. Apart from their audio and noise-canceling performance, which are generally regarded as excellent for...
iPhone 17 Pro Render Front Page Tech

Latest iPhone 17 Pro Dummies Highlight Apple's New Part-Glass Design

Thursday March 20, 2025 5:27 am PDT by
Seasoned leaker Sonny Dickson has shared more dummy models of Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 series, with the latest lot revealing a noticeable shift in Apple's iPhone Pro model design that goes beyond the much-talked-about new rear camera bar. Dickson points out that the iPhone 17 Pro dummy models feature an outlined area on the back, beginning just below the camera module and extending to the...
airtag orange

Apple's Next Product is Likely an AirTag 2 With These New Features

Thursday March 20, 2025 2:30 pm PDT by
Following the introduction of the iPhone 16e, new iPads and Macs, and some new accessories over the past month, what will Apple's next product announcement be? Based on rumors, a second-generation AirTag item tracker is likely next up. Last year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that a new AirTag would be released around the middle of 2025. More recently, a leaker known as Kosutami claimed...

Top Rated Comments

macintoshmac Avatar
43 months ago

Who turns their MacBook off?
This.

Apple should make sure we are unable to turn our devices off. Problem solved.

Their engineering team never listens to the unknown geniuses of the world. SMH.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
IllinoisCorn Avatar
43 months ago
Rev A stories.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr. Dee Avatar
43 months ago
Always gotta appreciate the early adopters taking one for the team.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
indiekiduk Avatar
43 months ago
Who turns their MacBook off?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kylo83 Avatar
43 months ago
We need some serious updates to this MacBook Pro like this and safari 120hz
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
white7561 Avatar
43 months ago
This article is kinda outdated on the info IMHO.. in the threads that were talking about this problem. We know this =

1. The problem only appears when you're using MagSafe with the 140w charger
2. It only appears if your battery is below 80% (as far as I can remember)
3. It only appears if your laptop is already off and have the lid closed. Then when you plug the MagSafe it'll just cycle over and over and over again.
4. It's only affecting the 16"
5. From few reports, it seems like the bug is introduced on 12.0.1. While people on 12.0 didn't have this problem

Now for the workaround =
1. If your laptop is turned on. Just plug the MagSafe in. When it's charging just fine then turn it off and close the lid.
2. If your laptop is already turned off and the lid is closed. Just plug in the MagSafe, open the lid. It will charge just fine and auto boot the laptop.. When it's on the login screen click shutdown and when it is shutdown it'll cycle like normal and then you can close the lid without any problems
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)