Here Are 6 Fixes to the Battery Not Charging After the MacOS Catalina Update Problem

This year, the Apple community welcomed Catalina, the 10.15 macOS version named after California’s Catalina island. This new operating system boasts a multitude of exciting features, such as Sidecar and iOS apps porting.

Although the launching of Catalina seems like a great start for Apple, MacBook users are advised to summon up patience and prepare for some serious troubleshooting. Along with this new macOS are some known and reported issues. One notorious problem is the battery not charging after installing the Catalina update.

The Battery Not Charging Problem of Catalina

Did you just update your macOS to Catalina? Have you noticed that its battery no longer charges after that? Yes, it is likely that the Catalina update caused the battery not to charge. But it’s no reason to panic because you are not alone. In fact, there are already many easy fixes to a MacBook’s battery not charging after updating to Catalina problem.

However, before we enumerate some handy fixes, allow us to share the reason why your MacBook’s battery is draining.

Battery Won’t Charge After the Catalina Update? Spotlight Is the Reason.

Is your MacBook’s battery not charging after the macOS Catalina update? Well, that is completely normal. During the first few days, your new macOS has to complete a few background processes. You might have even come across a few warnings about these processes during the installation of the update. But just to be sure, you can verify it by hovering your mouse to the battery icon in the upper right corner of your screen.

If Spotlight is listed, then this means your computer is still working on a few processes in the background. These processes use more power than usual, hence the odd draining of battery life or the battery not charging problem.

The problem will most likely fix itself after a few days. But you can help speed things up by leaving your computer plugged in overnight and preventing it from going into the sleep mode. To do this, you may use some amazing free macOS apps or adjust your MacBook’s sleep settings.

After two to three days, restart your MacBook. And then, check if Spotlight is still on the list of processes that are running in the background. If you notice that Spotlight is no longer there but the battery problem still persists, then you have another issue to deal with.

6 Fixes to a Bad MacOS Catalina Battery Life

If Spotlight is not to blame for your bad macOS Catalina battery life, you may try the fixes we have listed below:

Fix #1: Restart Your MacBook.

The first thing you might want to try doing is restart your MacBook. Restarting your device can end faulty and rogue processes and help increase its battery life. A number of users who have come across this Catalina battery problem have found success by trying this fix. Thus, give it a shot and check if it improves your MacBook’s battery life.

You have three ways to restart your MacBook. The first method requires the user to press the Power button and choose Restart. The second method asks the user to hit the Apple key and select Restart. The third and final method requires pressing three keys altogether: CTRL + CMD + Eject.

Fix #2: Make Sure Your Apps Are Updated.

A lot of apps have already gotten updates for Catalina, so a new version might really make a difference and fix any battery-related problems. You can check for app updates in the App Store.

Assuming you already know how to update apps, the next thing you should do is hover over the battery icon and check the Using Significant Energy section. Check if an app is listed in it. Next, open the App Store and check if there is a Catalina-compatible update. If there is, download it right away.

Fix #3: Reset the NVRAM and PRAM.

This fix might sound quite technical, but it is actually pretty straightforward and has been proven to fix a lot of battery life-related problems already. When you reset your MacBook’s NVRAM and PRAM, it will reset some settings. However, it won’t delete your important files and data.

After resetting the NVRAM and PRAM, you might just need to set up a couple of components, including the screen resolution and the speaker.

Here’s how to reset the NVRAM and PRAM of your MacBook:

1. Turn off your MacBook.
2. Switch it on.
3. When you hear the startup tone, press and hold the CMD, Option, P, and R keys simultaneously.
4. Release them once your MacBook has completely rebooted and you hear the startup sound once again.

Note: If you are using a 2016 MacBook Pro version or a newer model, you have to hold the mentioned keys as soon as you switch on your machine. Hold them for around 15 to 20 seconds.

Fix #4: Try to Reset the SMC.

If you are using a notebook, another possible fix you may try is to reset the SMC. Of course, it can help. But it does not always guarantee success.

The good thing about this fix is that it only takes a minute or two to do it. However, it is worth noting that the steps vary across all MacBook models.

As for the most common MacBook models, you may follow the instructions below to reset the SMC:

1. Click on the Apple menu.
2. Select Shut Down.
3. Once your MacBook shuts down, immediately press the Shift + CTRL + Option combo.
4. While pressing the three keys, press the Power button.
5. Hold the keys and the button for 10 seconds. If you are using a MacBook Pro with a Touch ID, know that the Touch ID serves as the power button.
6. Release all the keys and the button.
7. Press the Power button once again to switch on your MacBook.

Fix #5: Optimize Your MacBook’s RAM.

When your MacBook’s memory is occupied and taken up by unnecessary apps, there might be a little of it left for more important processes and apps. As a result, random problems arise.

Fortunately, there are lots of apps and tools that are designed to clear your MacBook’s RAM and make room for crucial processes out there. One is Mac repair app.

Interestingly, macAries not only optimizes your MacBook’s RAM. It also finds battery-draining issues and recommends tweaks to save battery life. To get this app, simply visit Outbyte website and download the tool from there.

Fix #6: Seek Help from Experts.

Sure, it is frustrating to encounter problems like the battery not charging after the Catalina update, especially when you have lots of tasks on your plate. Not only will it impact your productivity, but it will also force you to go out and spend your hard-earned cash for repairs.

Should you think to just leave the problem as it is, then it is you who will suffer in the long run. You won’t be able to complete tasks on time. You might also find yourself in a never-ending loop of unproductivity and money wastage.

So, save yourself. If you don’t trust your technical skills, seek help from experts. Take your MacBook to the nearest Apple Repair center the moment you suspect something’s not right. If your device is still under warranty, then great! You can save a lot.

If no Apple Repair center is near you, try reaching out to Apple’s official support team. They should be able to provide you with more relevant answers or other possible fixes to your problem.

Conclusion

Giving up Catalina may not be a wise decision to make. But should you consider rolling back, make sure you have tried the fixes above. Sometimes, rebooting your MacBook is all it takes to resolve your concern.

What Catalina issues have you encountered? The community wants to know! Comment on them below.