How to Charge MacBook Without Charger


The common way to recharge your MacBook is, of course, using its charger. However, what if your charger is unavailable? What if it’s broken? What if you’re at a coffee shop and you forgot to bring it with you? Fret not, as there are other things you can do to charge your MacBook without using its charger. Do note though that these solutions aren’t permanent. They’re only temporary fixes if you really don’t have any other choice. In case you’re stuck in this situation, here are some ways on how to charge your MacBook without a charger.

Use a USB Type C

Depending on the version of the MacBook that you’re currently using, you can charge it using an Android USB Type C phone charger. You can simply plug the cable into your MacBook and charge it from an outlet. This charging system is similar to how you usually charge your iPhone. It should be able to charge your MacBook, albeit slowly.

Get a USB Converter

If you have a PC on hand, you can take advantage of this to charge your MacBook. You will need a USB 3.0 to USB Type C converter cable to accomplish this. Simply plug the cable between the two devices and it should do the trick.

Using a Power Bank

Believe it or not, you can also charge your MacBook using a power bank. Of course, this would also depend on the type of MacBook that you have. Plus, the power bank should also sport a USB 3.0 port for this to work. Simply use a USB 3.0 to USB Type C converter cable and it should be able to charge your MacBook.

Some Reminders:

Before you attempt doing any of these, here are some precautions that you need to consider:

  1. If you’re going to use a mobile charger or any sort different from the original MacBook charger, there could be repercussions on your MacBook battery. Some risks include battery damage and battery swelling, so consider yourself warned.
  2. While these methods may work, the charging time is a different issue. Because you won’t be using the original MacBook charger, this fix could take longer than usual to charge.
  3. If you constantly do these alternatives to charge your MacBook, the USB Type C port on your MacBook may be loosened over time.

In the meantime, if you still have some battery juice left on your MacBook, you’ll want to preserve it as much as possible. Especially if you’ve thought about it and you’re opting not to use the alternative methods of charging your MacBook, what battery life you have left is all you got for now. So, here are some ways to prolong the battery life of your MacBook if you don’t have your charger with you.

Decrease brightness of the display

One of the biggest sources of battery drainage is powering your MacBook’s display. In order to prolong the battery life of your MacBook, consider dimming the brightness of your screen. However, still make sure that the amount of brightness is still comfortable for your eyes. After all, no one wants to have eye strain as a result of preserving the battery life of your MacBook. You can also adjust your settings so that your screen can shut off if your MacBook is inactive for a certain period of time. In addition, consider disabling the auto-brightness feature of your MacBook to preserve its battery life.

Turn off keyboard backlights

Another thing that you can also turn off is the backlights of your keyboard. While it is ideal to have them on when you’re typing in the dark, they do drain your MacBook battery much faster. If you really do need them to be turned on, consider dimming the brightness of the backlights to decrease its power usage. Similar to your display, you can also set your backlights to automatically turn off if found inactive for a certain amount of time.

Turn off Bluetooth 

If you’re not using any portable accessories for your MacBook such as a mouse or a speaker, it would be best to also turn off the Bluetooth of your Mac. You can simply use your trackpad and built-in speakers instead. Turning off this radio can help conserve the battery life of your MacBook, which is presumably your priority if you don’t have its charger with you.

Quit unnecessary applications

Another way to help decrease the consumption of your MacBook’s battery life is by quitting unnecessary applications. These are programs that you’re already done using but are still open on your MacBook. Just press Command + Q to quit these apps and help preserve your MacBook’s battery life.

The aforementioned quick fixes can be applied if you’re in a jiffy and you don’t have your charger with you. However, please remember that these methods are only temporary and shouldn’t be done so often. These methods are not capable of supplying the necessary proper power that your MacBook truly needs. Hence, if your charger is broken, the best thing to do is to buy a new charger for your MacBook. If you just forgot your charger at home, be sure to take note and remember next time.



Kokou Adzo

Kokou Adzo is a stalwart in the tech journalism community, has been chronicling the ever-evolving world of Apple products and innovations for over a decade. As a Senior Author at Apple Gazette, Kokou combines a deep passion for technology with an innate ability to translate complex tech jargon into relatable insights for everyday users.

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