If your computer says that the network cable is unpluged, but in fact it is plugged in, there may be a temporary software glitch. This glitch can be resolved if you restart your computer. Restarting your computer will restart all the programs that were running on it. Okay, I figured out that everytime I booted onto my Mac OS 10.12.5 (I setup a dual boot system on 10.12.5 and 10.13 on 2 seperated SSD ) then restart, the computer then boot into Mac OS 10.13 just fine and works great. But if I try to boot into 10.13 from a fresh start, the computer just crash on booting screen.
Sometimes your computer might not operate correctly.
Nobody enjoys it when this happens but the reality is, any computer can experience problems – even high-end machines like a MacBook Pro. It could be a small issue that is easy to resolve and caused by user error or the problem could be some sort of mechanical malfunction.
Either way, when you experience a problem with your computer it's nice to know how to get help.
One alarming issue that can affect your MacBook Pro is when your computer suddenly shuts down when the charging cord is unplugged. This is an infrequent problem but it does occur on this type of computer and if you've found this article, it might have happened to you.
Let's take a look at what might be causing this issue and how to fix the problem and get your computer back to normal again.
Contents
- What to Do if This Problem Happens to You
Symptoms of This Problem
If your MacBook Pro is shutting off when disconnected from its charger, you are most likely frustrated and concerned about what is causing this problem.
Unfortunately, there have been a number of reports of MacBook Pro owners experiencing this same issue and while it is not a common issue, it has happened enough to make it a possibility for any MacBook owner.
This problem occurs after the computer is unplugged from a charging adapter and causes the machine to shut off completely immediately after being removed from the power source. Even if the battery is fully charged, this problem can still occur, making it a confusing and troubling issue if you are experiencing it. Computers affected by this issue seem to only work correctly when connected to a power cord, which limits the functionality of your MacBook.
What makes this problem seem even more strange is that there are usually no signs or symptoms leading up to the computer shutting down unexpectedly.
You would probably think this could be a sign of a bad battery, but many who experience this issue have batteries that are in good condition and operating normally.
What to Do if This Problem Happens to You
The good news about this problem is that it is usually not as big of a deal as it first seems. One of the solutions below should work to get your computer operating normally again and prevent it from shutting off when the power cable is unplugged.
If none of these solutions work, you may have to take your MacBook Pro into an Apple store or other computer repair shop to diagnose and fix the issue.
1. Start With the Small Stuff
If this problem happens to you, start with a quick check on small issues that might be causing your computer to turn off when unplugged. Check on your battery health by holding down the Alt (Option) key and then clicking on the battery symbol from the top menu of your screen. If the condition of your battery says anything other than Normal, your issue might be with your internal battery.
Also, check to make sure that the connection between your computer and charging cable is clean and in good order. Clean any dirt or debris from the connection points as these are magnetic and can collect particles, leading to a poor connection. Inspect your charging adapter for any signs of damage. You might need to get a new cable but do not do so until running through all of the steps listed here.
2. Reset SMC and Cycle Battery
A common cause of this problem is due to leaving your computer plugged in a lot of the time.
This can cause the System Management Controller (SMC) to believe the power level is below a set threshold resulting in it triggering the computer to go into deep sleep mode and shutting off when unplugged.
If your computer says that the network cable is unpluged, but in fact it is plugged in, there may be a temporary software glitch. This glitch can be resolved if you restart your computer. Restarting your computer will restart all the programs that were running on it. Okay, I figured out that everytime I booted onto my Mac OS 10.12.5 (I setup a dual boot system on 10.12.5 and 10.13 on 2 seperated SSD ) then restart, the computer then boot into Mac OS 10.13 just fine and works great. But if I try to boot into 10.13 from a fresh start, the computer just crash on booting screen.
Sometimes your computer might not operate correctly.
Nobody enjoys it when this happens but the reality is, any computer can experience problems – even high-end machines like a MacBook Pro. It could be a small issue that is easy to resolve and caused by user error or the problem could be some sort of mechanical malfunction.
Either way, when you experience a problem with your computer it's nice to know how to get help.
One alarming issue that can affect your MacBook Pro is when your computer suddenly shuts down when the charging cord is unplugged. This is an infrequent problem but it does occur on this type of computer and if you've found this article, it might have happened to you.
Let's take a look at what might be causing this issue and how to fix the problem and get your computer back to normal again.
Contents
- What to Do if This Problem Happens to You
Symptoms of This Problem
If your MacBook Pro is shutting off when disconnected from its charger, you are most likely frustrated and concerned about what is causing this problem.
Unfortunately, there have been a number of reports of MacBook Pro owners experiencing this same issue and while it is not a common issue, it has happened enough to make it a possibility for any MacBook owner.
This problem occurs after the computer is unplugged from a charging adapter and causes the machine to shut off completely immediately after being removed from the power source. Even if the battery is fully charged, this problem can still occur, making it a confusing and troubling issue if you are experiencing it. Computers affected by this issue seem to only work correctly when connected to a power cord, which limits the functionality of your MacBook.
What makes this problem seem even more strange is that there are usually no signs or symptoms leading up to the computer shutting down unexpectedly.
You would probably think this could be a sign of a bad battery, but many who experience this issue have batteries that are in good condition and operating normally.
What to Do if This Problem Happens to You
The good news about this problem is that it is usually not as big of a deal as it first seems. One of the solutions below should work to get your computer operating normally again and prevent it from shutting off when the power cable is unplugged.
If none of these solutions work, you may have to take your MacBook Pro into an Apple store or other computer repair shop to diagnose and fix the issue.
1. Start With the Small Stuff
If this problem happens to you, start with a quick check on small issues that might be causing your computer to turn off when unplugged. Check on your battery health by holding down the Alt (Option) key and then clicking on the battery symbol from the top menu of your screen. If the condition of your battery says anything other than Normal, your issue might be with your internal battery.
Also, check to make sure that the connection between your computer and charging cable is clean and in good order. Clean any dirt or debris from the connection points as these are magnetic and can collect particles, leading to a poor connection. Inspect your charging adapter for any signs of damage. You might need to get a new cable but do not do so until running through all of the steps listed here.
2. Reset SMC and Cycle Battery
A common cause of this problem is due to leaving your computer plugged in a lot of the time.
This can cause the System Management Controller (SMC) to believe the power level is below a set threshold resulting in it triggering the computer to go into deep sleep mode and shutting off when unplugged.
You can fix this by resetting the SMC and letting the battery go through a few complete charging cycles.
To reset the SMC:
- Shutdown your computer if it is not already.
- Press the Shift, Control, and Option keys at the same time.
- While holding Shift, Control, and Option press the power button.
- Hold these four keys for about 10 seconds.
- Release the keys.
- Power your computer back on.
If you have an older MacBook with a removable battery, remove the battery before running through the SMC reset steps above.
Next, let your battery run through a few complete battery cycles. A full battery cycle is from full charge to no charge, so let your battery fully charge and then operate it without connecting to power until it dies. Do this 2-3 times after the SMC reset and you should not experience the problem any longer.
3. Perform a PRAM Reset
Another option to try and resolve this issue is to reset the PRAM on your MacBook Pro. Do this by following the steps below:
- Shut down your computer.
- Press the power button to turn back on.
- Hold down the Option, Command, P, and R keys all at the same time.
- Hold down these keys until you hear 2 startup chimes.
- Release keys and allow your computer to start up normally.
If this didn't work, complete the steps again but wait until you hear 3 startup chimes instead of 2.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, one of these steps above helped to fix your problem of what to do when your MacBook Pro shuts down after being unplugged.
I've had this happen to an old MacBook I had and the PRAM reset did the trick. If none of these steps worked, you might need to take your computer into a repair shop or get a new charging adapter and/or battery.
Also, run through the resets listed above a few times if the problem isn't fixed on the first attempt.
Unplugged Maf Sensor With No Change
Have you ever experienced this issue? What worked to fix the problem?
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Question mark
Learn what to do if your Mac starts up to a question mark.
Unplugged Mashup
Options with a gear icon
Learn what to do if your Mac starts up to Options with a gear icon.
Blank (empty) screen
Learn what to do if your Mac starts up to a blank screen, such as an empty gray, black, or blue screen.
Apple logo
Learn what to do if your Mac starts up to an Apple logo or progress bar.
Globe with alert symbol
A globe with an exclamation point means that your Mac tried to start up from macOS Recovery over the Internet, but couldn't. Learn what to do if your Mac can't start up from macOS Recovery.
Lock icon
If your Mac is using a firmware password, the lock icon appears when you try to start up from another disk or volume, such as an external drive or macOS Recovery. Enter the firmware password to continue.
System lock PIN code
Your Mac asks for a PIN code when it has been remotely locked using Find My. Enter the four-digit or six-digit passcode to continue.
Login window
At the login window, enter your user account password to log in to your Mac. If FileVault is turned on, this also unlocks your disk. You might see a default desktop picture in the background, which might change to your chosen desktop picture when you select your account.
Thunderbolt, USB, or FireWire symbol
A large Thunderbolt , USB , or FireWire symbol against a dark background means that your Mac is in target disk mode.
Unplugged Mac Os X
Learn more
- Learn what to do if your Mac displays a message that it restarted because of a problem.
- When starting up from Windows using Boot Camp, your Mac doesn't show an Apple logo or the other macOS screens in this article.
