How Long Does It Take to Charge a “Dead” MacBook Pro/Air?

You’ve probably found yourself in the following situation – you try to turn on your MacBook, but it refuses to power on (even if it’s plugged in). So, you probably wonder how long does it take to charge a dead MacBook Pro/Air, at least just enough for you to continue with your work.

In short, today's MacBook Pro/Air models come with fast charging, which should make them operational even after only a couple of minutes of charging. Of course, to understand this situation fully, we need to take a more in-depth look. So, let's jump right in.

How Long It Takes for a "Dead" MacBook Pro/Air to Charge Enough to Turn On? 

In general, you should be able to turn on your MacBook Pro/Air in a matter of minutes, even if its battery is depleted. Apple doesn't provide precise information about this, but it can take around five to ten minutes of charging for a depleted MacBook to become functional, based on our personal experience. 

In the past, MacBooks required at least 3% of their full charge before allowing you to boot their operating system. However, today's notebooks come with fast charging, which especially applies to newer MacBook Pro models (which come with 60W+ chargers). That's why it shouldn't take more than a few minutes to wake up a "dead" MacBook Pro/Air. 

You should also know that the 2021 MacBook Pro models (14- and 16-inch) support the fastest type of fast charging yet - if you use Apple's 96W or 140W power adapter. They can charge up to 50% in around 30 minutes. However, even when it comes to those models, they require at least a couple of minutes of charging to become operational.

How Long It Takes for a Depleted MacBook Battery to Charge to 100%? 

Depending on which MacBook Pro/Air model you use, it could take around two hours to around three hours for its battery to be fully charged. Of course, no one can give you precise information about a specific notebook, as many variables affect the process of your notebook battery's charging. 

Besides, Apple doesn't provide any concrete information on how much it should take to charge a completely depleted MacBook Pro/Air. With that said, we can give you estimates only based on our personal experience. 

With that said, Intel-based MacBook Pro/Air models charge in around two hours (especially those made in the last couple of years). If you have an older MacBook, it could take slightly more (especially if you’ve taken care of its battery). 

We also now have MacBooks powered by 'Apple Silicon' chips. On average, it takes around three hours to charge those specific models fully. Recently introduced MacBooks powered by the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips enable fast charging, but they still require around two hours for their battery to reach its full charge.

How to Know If Your MacBook Pro/Air Is Fully Charged? 

Depending on the age of your MacBook Pro/Air, there are different ways to check whether your notebook is fully charged. So, here’s what you need to know. 

• Older MacBook Pro/Air models as well as the 2021 MacBook Pro models come with a MagSafe power adapter (which has a light indicator built-in). If that light is orange/amber, that means that your MacBook is charging at the moment. And if the light shines green, that indicates that your MacBook is fully charged. 
• MacBook Pro/Air models relased in the last couple of years come with a USB-C adapter (which doesn’t have a light indicator). Therefore, the only way of checking its battery-related stats is via macOS. You’ll need to power your MacBook on, boot it up, and then check the top-right corner of your MacBook’s screen.

What To Do If Your MacBook Won’t Turn on Despite Being Plugged-In? 

Your MacBook Pro/Air should power on after charging it for around ten minutes. If that doesn't happen, we recommend leaving your notebook to charge for at least thirty minutes to one hour (to be on the safe side). 

If your MacBook Pro/Air won't turn on even after charging it for an extended period, that means there's a serious hardware problem. Perhaps your computer's battery is ready for a replacement, or maybe there's a hardware issue preventing your MacBook from powering on. With that said, our best advice would be to take your MacBook to an Apple Store. If you don't have an Apple Store nearby, try searching for an authorized service provider. 

Have we answered all your questions regarding how long it takes to charge a dead MacBook Pro/Air? If not, make sure to post your comment below. And finally – thanks for reading!