M3 Pro won’t charge and repair centre claims it’s software related

Forums › Laptops and mobile computers › M3 Pro won’t charge and repair centre claims it’s software related

turtleattacks

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#319806 4-Jun-2025 13:56

Has anyone ever encountered a charging issue with MacBook and MacOs where the software is causing it from charging?

I really don’t think it’s software related and think it’s hardware related.

As it’s software related, it’s not under warranty and I need to pay.

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#3380428 4-Jun-2025 14:00

Nope, what is the exact issue? Won't charge with certain cables? Is dead flat and wont charge at all? What is the exact wording from the repairer?

Is this an authorized apple repair?

turtleattacks

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#3380431 4-Jun-2025 14:07

Assessment & Diagnostics Results: Apple VMI inspection passed, no signs of physical or liquid damage found. Verified the device having charging issues and device cannot power on even when plugged into a known good power source. Apple AST diagnostics cannot be conducted. Left the device on charge for overnight and next day device charged to 22% and still device is showing that its not charging even though its on charge. confirmed this is caused due to software fault.

Recommended Solution: Need to restore and update the Mac OS system software under Apple out of warranty paid service. During this process customer data will be erased.

Quoted Price ($ incl GST): $149.00

or $90 to get back the laptop.

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Mrcutiepatootie

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#3380441 4-Jun-2025 14:35

I think software like Aldente can change and limit your Mac power settings, but I never use it.

Have you tried charging via usb-c? You can also try booting into Recovery or from an external macOS install to further troubleshoot if it is a software fault.

alasta

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#3380442 4-Jun-2025 14:36

If it won't charge then it's faulty and not fit for purpose. Whether it's a hardware fault or a software fault is academic.

I would be serving a formal notice to the retailer that you bought it from, stating that you expect it to be fixed under CGA or you'll take them to the disputes tribunal.

turtleattacks

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#3380444 4-Jun-2025 14:39

Mrcutiepatootie:

I think software like Aldente can change and limit your Mac power settings, but I never use it.

Have you tried charging via usb-c? You can also try booting into Recovery or from an external macOS install to further troubleshoot if it is a software fault.

I would be more than happy to try that but just don’t want to pay the $95 assessment fee!

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turtleattacks

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#3380446 4-Jun-2025 14:39

alasta:

If it won't charge then it's faulty and not fit for purpose. Whether it's a hardware fault or a software fault is academic.

I would be serving a formal notice to the retailer that you bought it from, stating that you expect it to be fixed under CGA or you'll take them to the disputes tribunal.

Service centre claiming it’s due to Public beta MacOs

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CYaBro

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#3380449 4-Jun-2025 14:45

turtleattacks:

alasta:

If it won't charge then it's faulty and not fit for purpose. Whether it's a hardware fault or a software fault is academic.

I would be serving a formal notice to the retailer that you bought it from, stating that you expect it to be fixed under CGA or you'll take them to the disputes tribunal.

Service centre claiming it’s due to Public beta MacOs

Ah, so you are running a beta version of macOS on it?

How about backing up and going back to the latest full release version and seeing if that fixes it?
If not then you can go back to them and tell them that it's not a software issue.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

turtleattacks

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#3380450 4-Jun-2025 14:47

CYaBro:

Ah, so you are running a beta version of macOS on it?

How about backing up and going back to the latest full release version and seeing if that fixes it?
If not then you can go back to them and tell them that it's not a software issue.

They want $95 for me to get the laptop back or $150 to reimage it for me.

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lxsw20

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#3380460 4-Jun-2025 15:33

Who is they?

turtleattacks

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#3380461 4-Jun-2025 15:34

lxsw20:

Who is they?

One of the very few Apple certified repair centres in Auckland.

To narrow it down for you, it’s not in Parnell or Newmarket.

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lxsw20

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#3380464 4-Jun-2025 15:50

OK i don't get exactly why its so secret. Personally Id recommend pay the $150 and put it down to experience. Not exactly a great test bed for the repairer if its running beta OS, as they also include beta firmware with MacOS updates.

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#3381173 6-Jun-2025 11:47

Agree with others, You have contracted into the service (fix fee or inspection fee whichever applied).

it’s not their fault you have loaded a beta version of macOS, then experienced some issues.

if anything, you could have re installed a good copy before contracting into an agreement with a service outlet who have obviously spent time diagnosing (and that diagnosing came from experience, time and money spent to get that diagnostic ability to become an auth repair centre to which you have employed).

Just shell out the 150 for the fix, it’s cheaper and quicker than you figuring this out.

turtleattacks

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#3382003 9-Jun-2025 11:07

Just got the laptop back as Apple waived the $95 assessment fee.

Just as I suspected, it’s not the beta OS that’s causing the issue.

Within recovery, laptop is still not charging and wifi card not detected.

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Aaron2222

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#3382338 10-Jun-2025 02:51

turtleattacks:

Left the device on charge for overnight and next day device charged to 22% and still device is showing that its not charging even though its on charge.

So it sounds like it might be trickle-charging? If you can get it to a reasonable battery level (even if you have to leave it for a day or two), you've got another Mac handy, and you want to completely rule out a software issue, I'd try a DFU restore. It does a complete wipe of the SSD and reload of the OS and firmware. If it's still not charging after that, then you can be confident that it's not a software issue.

fearandloathing

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#3382342 10-Jun-2025 06:59

Does it charge using usb-c. My m3 MacBook Air had a faulty MagSafe cable.

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