MacBook Not Charging?
The #1 cause we see: knockoff chargers and cables
Before You Panic - Check Your Charger
If your MacBook stopped charging, the first thing we ask is: are you using a genuine Apple charger and a genuine Apple USB-C cable? In our experience, knockoff chargers and cables are the single most common reason MacBooks stop charging. If you bought your charger or cable from Amazon, a gas station, or anywhere other than Apple or an authorized retailer - that's likely your problem.
Why Knockoff Chargers Kill MacBooks
Genuine Apple chargers and USB-C cables contain a proprietary handshake chip that communicates with your MacBook's charging circuit. When you plug in a real Apple charger, it identifies itself to the MacBook, negotiates the correct voltage and wattage, and delivers power safely.
Knockoff chargers don't have this handshake. They may look identical on the outside - some even have fake Apple logos - but they skip the authentication process and try to force power into your MacBook. This can cause:
- Stuck at 5 volts - MacBook draws minimal power and won't charge or boot
- CD3215 or CD3217 chip failure - the USB-C controller chip on the logic board burns out
- Battery damage - improper voltage delivery degrades or kills the battery
- "Service Recommended" battery warning - battery health tanks from inconsistent charging
- Complete no-power condition - MacBook won't turn on at all
The worst part? A genuine Apple charger costs $50-80. A board-level repair to replace a fried CD3215 chip starts at $350+. The "cheap" Amazon charger ends up costing you five times more.
The CD3215/CD3217 Chip - What It Does
Every modern MacBook has a CD3215 or CD3217 chip on the logic board. This is the USB-C port controller - it handles power delivery negotiation, data transfer, and communication between your charger and the MacBook's power management system.
When a knockoff charger sends power without the proper Apple handshake, this chip takes the hit. Once it fails, your MacBook may:
Not Turn On
Complete power failure. The MacBook is dead because the USB-C controller can no longer negotiate power from any charger - even a genuine one.
Show 5V Only
Charger connects but only delivers 5 volts instead of the full 20V needed. Not enough power to charge the battery or run the machine.
Charge Intermittently
Charges sometimes, stops randomly. The damaged chip makes inconsistent connections, and the problem gets worse over time.
Kill USB-C Ports
One or more USB-C ports stop working entirely. You might lose charging capability on one side of the MacBook.
We Can Tell If Your Charger Is Fake
A lot of people don't even know they're using a knockoff. The fakes look convincing - same white plastic, same Apple logo, same box. Some are sold as "genuine" on Amazon and eBay by third-party sellers.
At The Mac Space, we have professional testing equipment that can identify counterfeit chargers and cables. We test the power output, check for the Apple authentication handshake, and verify that your charger is delivering the correct voltage and wattage. If it's fake, we'll show you - and we'll make sure you leave with the right information to protect your MacBook going forward.
One of the quickest giveaways? Weight. Genuine Apple chargers use higher quality components inside - more copper, better shielding, a proper transformer. Pick up a real one and a fake side by side and you can feel the difference immediately. The knockoffs are noticeably lighter because they cut corners on the internals - which is exactly why they damage your MacBook.
If you want to save money on a charger without the risk, we sell pre-owned genuine Apple chargers. A pre-owned genuine charger is always safer than a brand new fake one. They've already passed Apple's quality standards - the knockoffs never did.
Battery Damage From Bad Chargers
Even if the CD3215 chip survives, knockoff chargers can still destroy your battery over time. Without proper power negotiation, the battery receives inconsistent voltage that degrades its cells faster than normal use.
Signs your battery has been damaged by a bad charger:
"Service Recommended"
macOS flags the battery as needing service well before its normal lifespan. This often shows up after months of knockoff charger use.
Rapid Health Drop
Battery health percentage drops much faster than expected. A 2-year-old MacBook showing 60% health is a red flag.
Battery Won't Hold Charge
Full charge lasts 30 minutes instead of hours. The battery cells are degraded beyond normal wear.
Random Shutdowns
MacBook powers off at 20%, 30%, or even 50% battery. The cells can't deliver consistent power under load.
What We Do to Fix It
Test Your Charger and Cable
We test your charger and USB-C cable with professional equipment to determine if they're genuine or counterfeit. If the charger is the problem, sometimes just switching to a real one fixes everything.
Diagnose the Board
If a genuine charger doesn't solve it, we check the CD3215/CD3217 chip and the power delivery circuit on the logic board. We'll identify exactly what failed and why.
Repair or Replace
If the USB-C controller chip is fried, we replace it with micro-soldering. If the battery is damaged, we replace that too. You get a quote before we do any work.
Educate and Protect
We make sure you leave with a genuine charger setup so this doesn't happen again. We've seen customers come back with the same problem because they went right back to the cheap Amazon charger. Don't be that person.
Real Talk: Don't Cheap Out on Chargers
We get it - $79 for a charger feels like a lot. But we see this every week: someone saves $50 on an Amazon knockoff and ends up paying $350+ for a board repair. Some are unlucky enough to do it twice because they still don't buy the real charger after the first repair. A genuine Apple charger and cable is the cheapest insurance your MacBook has.
MacBook Not Charging FAQ
Yes. Genuine Apple chargers and cables use a proprietary authentication handshake to safely negotiate power delivery with your MacBook. Knockoff chargers skip this process, which can burn out the CD3215 or CD3217 USB-C controller chip on the logic board. Once that chip fails, you're looking at a board-level repair starting at $350+. We see this multiple times a week.
It's hard to tell visually - the fakes are convincing. The safest approach is to buy directly from Apple or an authorized retailer. If you're unsure about your current charger, bring it in and we'll test it with professional equipment that checks for the Apple authentication handshake and verifies proper voltage output. Third-party sellers on Amazon and eBay frequently sell counterfeits labeled as genuine.
It could be either. Step one: try a known-genuine Apple charger and cable. If it charges normally, your charger or cable was the problem. If it still won't charge with a genuine setup, the issue is on the MacBook's logic board - likely the USB-C controller chip or power management circuit. Bring it in for a free initial inspection and we'll figure out which it is.
Absolutely. Without proper power negotiation, knockoff chargers deliver inconsistent voltage that degrades battery cells faster than normal use. We see MacBooks with "Service Recommended" battery warnings and rapidly declining battery health from months of knockoff charger use. The battery may need replacement even if the logic board is fine.
If it's just a bad charger or cable, the fix is simply buying a genuine replacement ($50-80). If the CD3215/CD3217 chip on the logic board is fried, board-level repair starts at $350+. Battery replacement varies by model. We provide a firm quote after diagnostics so you know exactly what you're paying before any repair work begins.
MacBook Not Charging? Bring It In.
We'll test your charger, diagnose the issue, and give you a straight answer. Free initial inspection.
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Serving the Greater Atlanta Metro Area
Located in Marietta, we serve customers from across the Atlanta metro area including Roswell, Kennesaw, Woodstock, Smyrna, Acworth, Cartersville, Adairsville, and all of Cobb, Cherokee, and Fulton counties. Just off I-75 with easy access from anywhere in the metro Atlanta area.
Visit The Mac Space
2200 Roswell Rd. Suite 130, Marietta, GA 30062
Mon-Fri: 11AM-6PM | Sat-Sun: Closed