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Complete Guide on Using The Right MacBook Power Adapter

Charging MacBook with MagSafe Power Adapter

Image source from Apple Support

Intro to Using The Right MacBook Power Adapter

Using the correct MacBook power adapter is essential for several reasons. The correct charger ensures optimal performance and safety. It guarantees the right power output, helping to maintain the battery’s health and preventing issues like overcharging or undercharging, which can reduce battery life and performance over time.

Additionally, the MagSafe charger incorporates built-in safety features like overcurrent protection and temperature control, which prevent damage to your MacBook and reduce the risk of fire hazards.

Using a low-quality third-party charger might lack these safety measures, putting your MacBook at risk of damage or malfunction. Moreover, using the correct MagSafe charger ensures compatibility with other MagSafe accessories, such as external displays and storage devices and enables seamless connections to other Apple devices, promoting a streamlined and efficient user experience overall.

Identify your Mac

If your Mac computer is still functioning and able to turn on normally, you can easily identify your Mac by following these steps:

Click on Apple logo on top left of the screen and select About This Mac

Click on the Apple logo on the top of your screen and click on About This Mac.

Details about this MacBook


If your MacBook cannot turn on due to a drained battery and you have a faulty MagSafe charger, you can identify the MacBook using its serial number. Wondering how to do it? You can find a guide here. After that, you can check your serial number here.

After identifying your MacBook model and type, you can now determine the right charger for your Mac.

MacBook Air Power Adapter

MagSafe 1 45W Power Adapter with "L" style connector

Image source from Apple Support

MagSafe 1 45W with L shape connector

Compatible with MacBook Air 11-inch year 2010 to 2011 and MacBook Air 13-inch year 2008 to 2011.

Note: Since the charger is no longer available at the Apple official store, it is highly recommended to consider purchasing a high-quality third-party adapter instead.

MagSafe 2 45W Power Adapter with T shape connector

Image source from Apple Support

MagSafe 2 45W with T shape connector

Compatible with MacBook Air 11-inch and MacBook Air 13-inch year 2012 to 2017.

Apple 30W USB-C Power Brick and USB-C Charging Cable

Image source from Apple Support

30W USB-C Power Brick and USB-C to USB-C Charging Cable

Compatible with all MacBook Air year 2018 to 2020.

Apple 30W USB-C Power Brick, 35W Dual USB-C Port Power Brick, 67W USB-C Power Brick, or 70W USB-C Power Brick and USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable

Image source from Apple Support

30W USB-C Power Brick, 35W Dual USB-C Port Power Brick, 67W USB-C Power Brick or 70W USB-C Power Brick and USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable

Compatible with MacBook Air 13-inch and MacBook Air 15-inch year 2022 and later.

MacBook Pro Power Adapter

MagSafe 1 60W Power Adapter with "L" style connector

Image source from Apple Support

MagSafe 1 60W with L shape connector

Compatible with MacBook Pro 13-inch year 2009 to mid-2012.

MagSafe 1 85W Power Adapter with "L" style connector

Image source from Apple Support

MagSafe 1 85W with L shape connector

Compatible with MacBook Pro 13-inch year 2006 to mid-2012.

Note: Chargers come in either L shape or T shape designs, but they serve the same function.

MagSafe 2 60W Power Adapter with "T" style connector

Image source from Apple Support

MagSafe 2 60W with T shape connector

Compatible with MacBook Pro Retina 13-inch year late 2012 to 2015.

MagSafe 2 85W Power Adapter with "T" style connector

Image source from Apple Support

MagSafe 2 85W with T shape connector

Compatible with MacBook Pro Retina 15-inch year late 2012 to 2015.

Apple 61W USB-C Power Brick and USB-C Charge Cable

Image source from Apple Support

61W USB-C Power Brick and USB-C to USB-C Charging Cable

Compatible with MacBook Pro 13-inch year 2016 and later.

Apple 87W USB-C Power Brick and USB-C Charge Cable

Image source from Apple Support

87W USB-C Power Brick and USB-C to USB-C Charging Cable

Compatible with MacBook Pro 15-inch year 2016 and later.

Apple 96W USB-C Power Brick and USB-C Charge Cable

Image source from Apple Support

96W USB-C Power Brick and USB-C to USB-C Charging Cable

Compatible with MacBook Pro 16-inch year 2019.

Apple 96W USB-C Power Brick and USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable

Image source from Apple Support

67W or 96W USB-C Power Brick and USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable

Compatible with MacBook Pro 14-inch year 2021 and later.

Apple 140W USB-C Power Brick and USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable

Image source from Apple Support

140W USB-C Power Brick and USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable

Compatible with MacBook Pro 16-inch year 2021 and later.

Where to purchase MacBook Power Adapter

You can easily purchase an original Apple power adapter through the Apple official site under the accessories section or by visiting any Apple official retail store, Apple authorized dealers or resellers.

FAQ MacBook Power Adapter

My MacBook power adapter isn’t charging my MacBook. How can I determine if it’s faulty or not?

The easier approach would be to ask a family member, friend or colleague who owns a similar MacBook model to test charging with their power adapter.

Can I purchase those cheap MacBook power adapters (MagSafe) from an e-commerce site and use them? They are significantly cheaper compared to Apple’s original ones.

Using third-party MagSafe adapters can pose dangers due to possible compatibility issues, the absence of safety features and the risk of damaging your MacBook or causing hazards like fires.

How do I take care of the MagSafe charging cable, which can break and spoils easily?

Easy, avoid twisting or bending the cable excessively like this:

MagSafe cable twisted

Should I be using a damaged charger or one that has been repaired?

Purchasing and replacing a new MagSafe charger can be costly. However, it remains more affordable than repairing a MacBook damaged by using an unsafe charger.

How do I check how much is the wattage output of the MacBook power adapter?

To find the wattage output of the power adapter, simply check the certification label on the charger.

USB-C 96W Power Adapter with 96W highlighted

Image source from Apple Support

Contact us

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