My MacBook Air 2, purchased in June 2024, was charging normally, but I later noticed the MagSafe indicator blinking amber. The battery did reach 100% at the time, but now the MagSafe connection no longer charges the laptop. I gently cleaned the port with a brush and wooden toothpick, but that did not help. Charging through USB-C with an Android cable still works. The MagSafe light takes about four seconds to start blinking after I connect it and continues blinking for roughly two seconds after I disconnect it. Could the MagSafe cable or power adapter have failed, and is it safe to keep charging through USB-C?
2 Answers
Charging over USB-C is safe as long as you are using a decent USB-C Power Delivery charger and cable with an appropriate wattage. It should not damage the battery, although a lower-powered Android charger may charge more slowly or may not keep up while the Mac is under heavy use. Avoid forcing anything into the MagSafe port and have Apple or a repair shop inspect it if a known-good cable and adapter do not solve the problem.
Since USB-C charging works but MagSafe does not, the MagSafe cable is the first thing I would suspect. Check both ends for dirt, bent contacts, discoloration, or damage, and try another compatible MagSafe cable if possible. If a different cable behaves the same way, test with another compatible Apple power adapter before assuming the Mac itself needs repair.
Testing the adapter with an iPhone only confirms that it can provide power over USB-C. It does not prove that the MagSafe cable or its connector is working, so the cable still needs to be checked separately.