Apple Users

brush

(58,042 posts) Thu Apr 2, 2020, 01:05 PM Apr 2020

I have a 2012 MacBook Pro and suddenly it's not accepting a charge.

Would the battery of a unit 8-years-old stop accepting a charge? Or maybe it's the power cord. The magnetic connection on the cord seems to have have developed a kink and frayed where the wire connects, could that be it and I just need another power cord?

Any help will be appreciated.

24 replies

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I have a 2012 MacBook Pro and suddenly it's not accepting a charge. (Original Post) brush Apr 2020 OP

Buy new charger cord... pbmus Apr 2020 #1

I would try another power cord first. Sounds like it may have shorted. cayugafalls Apr 2020 #2

Thanks. I'll try gainsaver.com, they sell refurbished Macs. brush Apr 2020 #5

Did you discharge your battery completely? (run it down to 0%?) Moostache Apr 2020 #3

It hasn't discharged completely. I shut it down before that. I think it's the power cord. brush Apr 2020 #16

Most likely...good luck! (n/t) Moostache Apr 2020 #17

I helped a neighbor with an issue like that nilram Apr 2020 #4

Remove the battery. Does the computer run without a battery? mahatmakanejeeves Apr 2020 #6

Battery can't be removed in a 2012 MBP they are glued in. Cattledog Apr 2020 #9

Rats. All my Mac laptops have user-removable batteries. mahatmakanejeeves Apr 2020 #12

Honestly I would purchase new battery and charger ragemage Apr 2020 #7

Try to reset the PRAM and SMC C_U_L8R Apr 2020 #8

Thank you. brush Apr 2020 #19

Happened to me on my 2015 MBP Cattledog Apr 2020 #10

Think I'll replace the cord first, but how much was your battery to replace. brush Apr 2020 #15

Does the LED on the cord light up? Jirel Apr 2020 #11

Yes, the LED doesn't light up. Last night it would light up and then cut off. I would jigger with... brush Apr 2020 #13

Most likely. Jirel Apr 2020 #24

Go to the nearest neighborhood store. Tetrachloride Apr 2020 #14

Can't get to the Apple store now with the shut down. Will find a replacement cord online first. brush Apr 2020 #18

Even a small store of Batteries Plus Bulbs is worth a shot. Tetrachloride Apr 2020 #20

I replaced the battery on a 2011 MacBook Pro Sancho Apr 2020 #21

Thanks, was it an easy job? brush Apr 2020 #22

I followed a Youtube video a couple years ago... Sancho Apr 2020 #23

pbmus

(12,444 posts)

1. Buy new charger cord...

Reply to brush (Original post)

Thu Apr 2, 2020, 01:06 PM

Apr 2020

cayugafalls

(5,755 posts)

2. I would try another power cord first. Sounds like it may have shorted.

Reply to brush (Original post)

Thu Apr 2, 2020, 01:07 PM

Apr 2020

I hope you can get one.

Stay well.

brush

(58,042 posts)

5. Thanks. I'll try gainsaver.com, they sell refurbished Macs.

Reply to cayugafalls (Reply #2)

Thu Apr 2, 2020, 01:11 PM

Apr 2020

Moostache

(10,180 posts)

3. Did you discharge your battery completely? (run it down to 0%?)

Reply to brush (Original post)

Thu Apr 2, 2020, 01:09 PM

Apr 2020

I ran into something very weird with my Samsung Cell Phone (Galaxy S8) a few months back...

It fully discharged to 0% on the battery and then would not sync up and accept a charge unless I got into the service menus and managed to 'trick' it into charging through the menus in that area...I had to let the thing fully recharge and then it started acting normally again afterwards...

It was bizarre, but I have not seen the same problem since...

I would try Google search for MacBook Charging Issues...someone may have directions to a fix for you already...

Good luck!

brush

(58,042 posts)

16. It hasn't discharged completely. I shut it down before that. I think it's the power cord.

Reply to Moostache (Reply #3)

Thu Apr 2, 2020, 01:49 PM

Apr 2020

Moostache

(10,180 posts)

17. Most likely...good luck! (n/t)

Reply to brush (Reply #16)

Thu Apr 2, 2020, 01:50 PM

Apr 2020

nilram

(3,012 posts)

4. I helped a neighbor with an issue like that

Reply to brush (Original post)

Thu Apr 2, 2020, 01:10 PM

Apr 2020

and it turned out to be his power cord.

mahatmakanejeeves

(61,655 posts)

6. Remove the battery. Does the computer run without a battery?

Reply to brush (Original post)

Thu Apr 2, 2020, 01:13 PM

Apr 2020

If so, your power supply is fine.

Cattledog

(6,371 posts)

9. Battery can't be removed in a 2012 MBP they are glued in.

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Reply #6)

Thu Apr 2, 2020, 01:17 PM

Apr 2020

Not a DIY project.

mahatmakanejeeves

(61,655 posts)

12. Rats. All my Mac laptops have user-removable batteries.

Reply to Cattledog (Reply #9)

Thu Apr 2, 2020, 01:23 PM

Apr 2020

This has a Magsafe connector, or whatever they call it, right?

ragemage

(107 posts)

7. Honestly I would purchase new battery and charger

Reply to brush (Original post)

Thu Apr 2, 2020, 01:13 PM

Apr 2020

A kink in the cord/fraying indicates it is possibly bad. Also the battery is now 8 to 10 years old and will not be holding a charge as well. New chargers and batteries for Macbook Pros are available on Ebay relatively cheap, around $35 for a battery and around $18 for the charger.
You can just try a new charger, that would be my first step and then get a new battery if needed.

One word of caution, definitely buy OEM or better quality replacement parts. The really cheap batteries/chargers are not worth it.
Verify your model number also before ordering to make sure the new parts will work properly.

Good luck!

C_U_L8R

(45,765 posts)

8. Try to reset the PRAM and SMC

Reply to brush (Original post)

Thu Apr 2, 2020, 01:16 PM

Apr 2020

Instructions here... just a few restarts holding certain keys.

https://thenextweb.com/lifehacks/2017/06/14/how-when-why-to-reset-the-pram-smc-on-your-mac/

brush

(58,042 posts)

19. Thank you.

Reply to C_U_L8R (Reply #8)

Thu Apr 2, 2020, 01:52 PM

Apr 2020

Cattledog

(6,371 posts)

10. Happened to me on my 2015 MBP

Reply to brush (Original post)

Thu Apr 2, 2020, 01:18 PM

Apr 2020

Big $$$$ to replace. But I think I remember there being a recall on the 2012 battery check with Apple.

brush

(58,042 posts)

15. Think I'll replace the cord first, but how much was your battery to replace.

Reply to Cattledog (Reply #10)

Thu Apr 2, 2020, 01:45 PM

Apr 2020

Can't get to the Apple store now with this shutdown.

Jirel

(2,259 posts)

11. Does the LED on the cord light up?

Reply to brush (Original post)

Thu Apr 2, 2020, 01:19 PM

Apr 2020

If it does, the cord should be usable, but maybe need replacing soon per your description. It is much more likely that the battery is kaput. Yes, after 8 years your battery is likely the culprit.

If your laptop is not working while it’s plugged in, that’s a different story. You can remove a battery and still run the computer on wall power. But if it’s not running on wall juice, especially if that LED is not lighting up, it’s a connection problem. It may be the power cord, or even the circuit in the laptop it connects to. I’ve seen those fry, but it’s relatively rare.

Happy to help you if you want to continue the convo. Not a professional, but I rebuild macs from that era with silly frequency.

brush

(58,042 posts)

13. Yes, the LED doesn't light up. Last night it would light up and then cut off. I would jigger with...

Reply to Jirel (Reply #11)

Thu Apr 2, 2020, 01:41 PM

Apr 2020

it and the light would come on again. Now it's not coming on at all. Must be the cord, right?

Jirel

(2,259 posts)

24. Most likely.

Reply to brush (Reply #13)

Fri Apr 3, 2020, 12:21 PM

Apr 2020

It’s 99% likely that the cord is the problem. That last 1% is a possible problem with the charging circuits in the laptop. But given the state if the cord as described, pretty darned sure it’s your cord.