everyday mac tools

"Charging On Hold" or "Not Charging" on a MacBook, explained

· 6 min read

“Charging On Hold” and “Battery Is Not Charging” usually mean your MacBook is choosing not to charge, not that something is broken. macOS pauses charging to protect the battery, for example while Optimized Battery Charging delays charging past 80 percent. A hot battery or a weak adapter can also stop it. Click the battery icon in the menu bar and choose “Charge to Full Now” if you need a full battery today.

What each message says

The battery menu in the menu bar uses a few related lines:

  • “Charging On Hold” (sometimes followed by “Rarely Used On Battery” in parentheses). The Mac has paused charging on purpose.
  • “Battery Is Not Charging.” The battery isn’t taking charge right now, whatever the reason. Apple’s page for this status says it can show even while the Mac is connected to power.
  • “Will Stop Charging at” a percentage. A limit is set, and the Mac will stop at it.
  • “Fully Charged.” Nothing is wrong.

In the battery menu you may also see “Charge to Full Now,” which is the way past a deliberate hold.

Why a Mac pauses charging

Apple lists three reasons for “Not Charging,” and they cover most cases:

  1. Charging is paused to extend battery life. Apple says the battery may drain to 93 percent or lower before it starts charging again.
  2. The power source is too weak. The adapter can run the Mac but doesn’t have the power to charge the battery as well. This often happens with a low-wattage adapter.
  3. The Mac is under heavy load. Video editing or games can draw more power than the adapter supplies, so none is left over for the battery.

Temperature is a fourth cause. Apple says that if Optimized Battery Charging is off and the Mac still won’t charge past 80 percent, the battery may be too hot, and that moving the Mac to a cool, well-ventilated spot helps.

Optimized Battery Charging and the hold at 80 percent

With Optimized Battery Charging on, Apple says the battery may delay charging past 80 percent in certain situations, even after the adapter has been connected for a long time. The setting’s own text explains why: to reduce battery aging, the Mac learns from your daily charging routine so it can wait to finish charging past a certain level until you need to use it on battery.

A Mac that’s nearly always on a desk is a common case. When macOS sees the battery is hardly ever used, the menu may read “Charging On Hold (Rarely Used On Battery).”

Your options:

  • Charge once. Click the battery icon in the menu bar and choose Charge to Full Now.
  • Change the setting. Open System Settings and click Battery. On macOS Sequoia, click the Info button next to Battery Health to find Optimized Battery Charging. On newer versions it sits in the Charging section, behind that section’s Info button, next to Charge Limit. A Charge Limit stops charging at the level you set, and Apple gives Charge to Full Now as the way past it too.

Turning these off gives you a full battery all the time, at the cost of the aging protection they provide. For most people on a desk, leaving them on is the better choice. Charging habits that actually affect a MacBook battery goes into what helps and what doesn’t.

Check the adapter and cable

If the status says “Not Charging” and you haven’t set a hold, check the power side.

  1. Check the adapter’s wattage. Choose Apple menu, hold Option and click System Information, then open Power. Under “AC Charger Information” the Wattage (W) field shows what the connected adapter provides. On this Mac, a 61W USB-C Power Adapter shows 60.
  2. Compare it with your Mac. Apple warns that a Mac might not charge on a low-wattage adapter. The right figure depends on your model; the adapter that came in the box is the safe reference.
  3. Try the cable that came with the Mac. Apple suggests a cable designed for charging, since some cables carry data only.
  4. Inspect and clean. Look at the port, cable and adapter for damage. Unplug and wipe the port with a dry, lint-free cloth.
  5. Try another outlet. Test the outlet with something you know works.
  6. Unplug for 60 seconds. Apple suggests unplugging the adapter from the wall, waiting 60 seconds and plugging it back in, in case of line noise.

The same Power report has a Charge Information section. “Charging: No” next to “Fully Charged: Yes” just means the battery is full.

Let it cool

If the Mac is warm, charging can stop. Close heavy apps, take it off a bed or sofa, and give it a while somewhere cool. Charging should pick up again once it cools. If it only happens during heavy work, low power mode can lower the load.

When it’s a fault

Suspect the battery or the charging hardware only after the causes above are ruled out. Warning signs:

  • “Service Recommended.” Apple’s definition: “The battery’s ability to hold charge is less than when it was new, or the battery isn’t functioning normally.” It shows under Battery Health in Battery settings. Apple says you can safely keep using the Mac, and get service if the shorter battery life affects you. Battery health on a Mac explains the figures.
  • No charge on any adapter or cable, in any outlet. That points to the battery or the port.
  • A case that bulges. Stop using the Mac and get it checked.

For anything that persists, Apple’s advice is to contact Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. Apple Diagnostics can help identify faulty hardware first.

Resetting the SMC is old advice for Intel Macs. Apple’s page for Apple silicon Macs says a restart does the job. For more on adapters, see power bricks and travel chargers.

Questions

Why is my MacBook stuck at 80 percent? Most likely Optimized Battery Charging, or a charge limit, is holding it there. A hot battery can also stop charging at 80 percent. Click the battery icon and choose Charge to Full Now, then let the Mac cool if it’s warm.

Is “Charging On Hold” bad for my battery? No. It’s the Mac protecting the battery. The hold reduces time spent at a full charge, which Apple says helps reduce aging.

Why does it say Not Charging when it’s plugged in? Charging may be paused to preserve battery life, the adapter may be too weak to charge as well as run the Mac, or heavy apps may be drawing all the power. Check the Wattage field in System Information, then close demanding apps.

Does a MacBook need an SMC reset to charge again? Rarely. Apple’s troubleshooting list includes it, but on Apple silicon Macs it amounts to restarting. Try the other checks first.