Want to know how to charge MacBook without a charger? We’ve got the best possible ways to do that. The MacBook is one of the slickest laptops ever made, but just like any device that uses a rechargeable battery, it needs charging now and then.
What do you do when that fateful day comes, and your official MagSafe MacBook charger suddenly stops working?
We know how frustrating it can feel when your laptop dies just as you need it! That’s why we’ve listed some of the most genius and creative ways to get your MacBook battery charged back up again.
All the methods mentioned on this page are tried and tested by thousands of MacBook users so that you can follow them, too, without any worries.
How To Charge MacBook Pro/Air Without Charger?
There’s nothing wrong with looking for other methods to charge MacBook. It can be risky to try a method without knowing its consequences. This is why we have searched a lot about the possibilities and reviews of other MacBook users and then created this list.
Some of these methods might now work because of incompatible MacBook versions, OS, your method, etc. So, give this post a read until the end to know how to charge your MacBook without a charger.
1. Using A Power Bank:
A power bank does come in handy when you run out of battery on your mobile devices, but do you know you can use them to charge your MacBook as well? Many power bank brands and models have a huge battery capacity and can be used to power big devices like laptops, mobiles, lights, and many more.
Before you start doing it, make sure the power bank and MacBook you are using are compatible with each other.
The power bank’s output voltage capacity must be considered to ensure it is powerful enough to charge a big device like a laptop. Use the charging cable of your laptop to test the charging compatibility between the two.
2. Charge MacBook Using Type-C Charger:
A Type-C charger can supply the necessary power for your MacBook through a USB Type-C port. Type-C chargers are becoming increasingly common, so it’s easy to find one you can borrow to keep your MacBook powered up.
A USB Type-C charger designed to charge a MacBook provides the proper voltage and amperage to charge the laptop safely and efficiently.
Some universal USB Type-C chargers may also work for at least a partial charge, buying time until a proper charger is located. The USB Type-C port on newer MacBook models allows faster and more versatile charging options.
You can also combine this method with others, like power banks. Charging speed will be slower, but this method does work.
3. Using Your Car’s Charging Socket:
You likely already have a car charger that fits your MacBook’s USB port. Plugging it into your car’s charging socket can supply enough electricity to give your MacBook a partial charge while you’re on the go.
The standard 12V DC output of a car’s cigarette lighter or USB port has enough power to, at minimum, keep a low-battery MacBook running.
A car charger is a convenient charging option whenever one’s vehicle is handy, saving the battery of a MacBook on the brink of dying.
Many drivers keep a car charger available for mobile devices like phones and tablets, making charging a laptop in a pinch easy. You can consider this option for long road trips, as it charges your laptop.
4. Portable Chargers:
A portable charger could save the day if you’re traveling out of juice. They pack enough stored power in a tiny package to charge your MacBook’s battery just enough to make calls for help, check emails, or keep working on that important document long enough until you reach a full power outlet.
Simply connect the portable charger to your laptop via USB and watch the battery percentage climb again.
Portable chargers are available in various sizes, shapes, and capacities, so you might have to understand your requirements first and buy one. Also, ensure that you are buying a certified product, or else your charger and power bank pose a risk.
5. USB 3.0 to USB Type-C:
An adapter cable connecting your trusty old USB 3.0 power bank or charging brick to your MacBook’s USB-C port provides a quick and makeshift solution when you’re out of power unexpectedly.
With this quick hack, you can buy time to find a proper charger or power outlet instead of being forced to shut it down immediately.
So keep an extra USB-C adapter cable handy and use any external battery source to boost your MacBook’s much-needed charge.
You can combine the power of USB Type-C cables and use some public charging stations to charge your laptop. Ensure the cable and charging stations are secured with the latest security layers.
6. Use Universal Power Adapter:
A universal power adapter is good for all your electronics in an emergency charging situation. We’ll show you the simple steps to utilize its multiple charging plugs to recharge your drained MacBook battery.
All you have to do is connect the universal adapter to a power outlet, connect the USB-C charging cable that came with your MacBook to one of its ports, and plug the other end into your laptop.
Within minutes you’ll see the ‘charging’ indicator appear, and your MacBook’s battery percentage will start climbing again. A multi-port charger is a must-have for any road warrior as a quick fix when your primary MacBook charger stops working.
7. Charging MacBook Using A Super Battery:
Even an old unused power adapter likely still has some remaining charge left inside that can provide a short-term battery boost for your MacBook. We’ll demonstrate how to access that stored power within minutes.
- First, connect the power adapter as you normally would.
- Plug the barrel end into your MacBook and the other into a wall outlet.
- Then, press and hold the power button on the adapter for 10-15 seconds.
- It will ‘force’ the residual charge into your MacBook’s battery.
This simple process can provide just enough juice to save your unsaved work or locate a replacement charger. So don’t let those extra power bricks sit idle – they could rescue your MacBook in a pinch! Try this method if you want to get access to your MacBook urgently.
8. Use Thunderbolt 4 Dock:
If you have an old Thunderbolt dock collecting dust, we’ll demonstrate how to utilize the high-power USB-C ports on that dock to charge your drained MacBook battery.
You must connect the Thunderbolt cable from the dock to your MacBook’s Thunderbolt port. Then plug the included dock power cable into a wall outlet to supply power to the dock.
Finally, connect a USB-C cable from one of the USB-C ports on the dock over to the USB-C charging port on your MacBook. Within moments the charging indicator light will appear, and your MacBook’s battery icon will show it’s receiving power.
A Thunderbolt dock offers higher power output than standard USB ports, so it can charge your MacBook at full speed even when the primary charger fails.
So next time the built-in charger gets damaged, remember that trusty old Thunderbolt dock you forgot about – it may have just enough juice left to come to your MacBook’s rescue.
9. Don’t Forget An Android Device:
If nothing mentioned above worked, then you can use another device (preferably Android) to charge your MacBook. You’ll either need an OTG connector or USB Type-C to Type-C cable.
Simply connect one end to the Android device and the other end to your MacBook. After connecting, you’ll notice that the MacBook has started charging itself from the device.
Remember that not all Android devices can charge other devices, and you might have to try with a couple of devices before finding a working one.
Also, you must enable the “Battery Saver” function on your Android device to consume less battery for its operations and redirect more power to your MacBook.
How To Improve The Battery Life Of MacBook?
Improving your MacBook’s battery life can greatly enhance your productivity and mobility when using your laptop.
Not only MacBook but if you own a laptop, there are a few things you must follow and keep in mind to ensure your battery remains healthy. Here are some tips to help maximize the runtime of your MacBook battery:
- Use MacBook with a screen brightness of around 50%-60%.
- Don’t forget to turn on Night Shift mode.
- Turn off Bluetooth, WiFi, and Location when not in use.
- Disable apps that keep running in the background.
- While doing offline work, turn on Airplane Mode.
- Disable the keyboard backlight.
- Use the latest macOS version.
- Consider replacing an older battery with a new one.
- Calibrate your MacBook battery periodically.
- Avoid using CPU-intensive apps.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Charging your MacBook by other means could raise many questions for the users, and we are aware of it. Our experts have listed some of the most commonly asked questions about charging a MacBook without MagSafe.
Do give them a read, and you’ll understand the scenario and the approach required to fix that particular problem.
As we’ve said above, you can use different mobile devices to charge your laptops, including MacBooks. Just connect one end to your mobile device and another to your MacBook. Consider using a mobile device that is completely charged to do that.
There are many methods available to do that, and you can follow one among all. From using a power bank to a universal adapter and thunderbolt dock, these options might come in handy but offer a slower charging speed. It’s still best to use the official Apple power adapter for optimal and safe charging.
No, not all USB Type-C cables work with MacBook because each cable has got its maximum voltage capacity, required power input capacity, material type, and many more. Also, compatibility issues exist, so we recommend using only the certified and original charging cables when devices like MacBook are at stake.
Yes! In most cases, an iPad power adapter can charge a MacBook, but you must not do it in the long run. Since both use the USB-C charging standard, any iPad power adapter with a USB-C port has enough power output to charge a MacBook.
The lightning bolt icon on MacBooks represents the power adapter port where you connect the Mac power cord and charger. This icon indicates the charging status of your Mac’s battery. A filled lightning bolt icon means the Mac is fully charged, while an empty one indicates a low or depleted battery.
Final Words:
Knowing alternate ways to charge a MacBook without its charger can be useful. We have listed some of the best working methods to do that. All of the methods listed on this page are tried and tested by hundreds of MacBook users worldwide. So, you can try them too without thinking twice.
There might be more creative ways to do that, but we’ve listed only the verified ones here. You can keep visiting this page as we add more methods to charge your MacBook without a charger. If you have done it, don’t forget to share the methods with us so we can include them on this page.
Hi, I am Anshul Mathur. A Cisco Certified Network Associate and Blogger from Sikar, Rajasthan. I love digging deep into the technology world, therefore I write about it on this blog.