Due to the not-so-many reasons that can cause you not to have your charger when you need it like if your charger is missing, this article has outlined a few ways you can get around it including using a power bank (and the kind of power banks to use), car adapters, and solar chargers.
I’ve also included an explanation of how safe these methods are, and how to conserve your battery so you don’t have to charge your MacBook all the time.
Ways to Charge Your MacBook Pro Without A Charger
1. Use A Power Bank
For MacBook Pro owners with the latest devices, a power bank is a terrific alternative to your normal charger. It will help you use your MacBook without a charger, working efficiently all day long when you receive the dreaded
“power low” message.
However, users of earlier MacBook Pro models have to be careful because using a power bank requires a MagSafe adaptor or specialized power bank, both of which can cost a fair bit of money.
Recommended Power Banks
- If you frequently require a dependable full charge, the Omni 20+ 20000mAh is a good option. It is a light power bank that looks stylish all while having the ability to charge your Mac very fast through USB-C. It also has a LED indicator for you to see how much battery life is remaining.
- For those using Macs with MagSafe, you may try charging your MacBook using the Jackery Portable Power Station for a speedy and efficient power-up.
- You should consider the EASYLONGER or MAXOAK as less expensive alternatives for the recent 16-inch MacBook Pro.
- The Anker 525 20000mAh has a little less capacity, but it should still charge your MacBook almost entirely if you want to go with a well-known brand. It also comes with a wall adaptor that makes regular charging faster.
2. Use An Adapter
A USB Type-C adapter is another alternative to use in the absence of a charger.
In contrast to Type A, USB-C employs a more compact oval-shaped connector built for high-power connectivity. It can move at significantly higher speeds and conduct more electricity. This makes it a fantastic stand-in for a charger when it comes to charging your computer.
While a power bank is a standalone power source, a USB Type-C adapter, like the Anker USB-C Wall Charger, will charge your laptop in the same way as a power bank but will require you to plug it into an electrical outlet.
3. Use a Car Battery
Let’s say you are far away from home (maybe you are traveling) and you need to hop on your dead MacBook Pro real quick, you could use that car battery to juice it up too. Anything requiring up to 300 watts can be powered by an inverter like the BESTEK 300W Power Inverter.
Although it may not be sufficient to run power tools, it is more than sufficient in this instance to charge your laptop which is what we need it for at the moment!
There are several different chargers on the market that may be plugged into your automobile auxiliary power outlet (also known as your car’s cigarette lighter) to charge laptops while they are in your vehicle. Connect your Apple laptop to the charger once it has been inserted into the cigarette lighter. If you’re interested in purchasing one, you can check
Amazon.
Related Reading
4. Use a Portable Solar Charger
Using a portable solar charger is another option for charging your MacBook Pro. Although there are several solar chargers for sale on the market, relatively few of them are effective at charging electronic devices. Check Amazon to see a solar charger that’s worth buying.
Is It Dangerous to charge your MacBook without Charger?
Apple released the first MacBook with a USB-C port in 2015. Subsequent MacBooks followed suit and now, just about every recent MacBook uses USB-C for charging.
Apple does not own the USB-C design. This means that independent producers of USB-C chargers for your MacBook are within legal bounds to produce theirs.
Now, most unofficial third-party chargers lack the same safety safeguards as genuine Apple chargers. Even Apple’s adapters occasionally melt or flare up. No charger, not even the genuine Apple ones, is impervious to failure.
Although it’s possible to find USB-C chargers from reputable brands, like Anker, which are likely to offer similar safety features to Apple, low-quality cheap USB-C chargers also exist, and they aren’t as safe.
That said, here are a couple of things to have at the back of your mind when using any of these methods:
- Your MacBook battery may suffer if you use a mobile charger or any other type other than the standard charger for your laptop. Please be aware that there are hazards, such as battery swelling and damage.
- These techniques might be effective, however, the charging time is another problem. This workaround may take longer to charge than usual because you won’t be utilizing the original MacBook charger. Your MacBook USB Type-C port may become looser over time if you frequently use these alternatives to charge it.
The adapters too can cause battery damage for your MacBook, set your home on fire, or even shock you as they don’t hold as many components.
If your MacBook’s battery still has some life in it, you should try to conserve it as much as you can. So, if you don’t have your charger with you or you want to learn to in case of future contingencies, here are some methods to extend the life of your MacBook’s battery.
How To Conserve Your Battery
Reduce Your Display brightness
Powering the display on your MacBook is one of the largest battery drainers. Consider lowering the screen’s brightness to extend the life of your MacBook’s battery. However, make sure that your eyes are still comfortable with the light level. After all, nobody wants to develop eye strain from trying to prolong their MacBook’s battery life. Additionally, you can change your settings to have your screen turn off after a predetermined amount of inactivity on your MacBook. Additionally, to extend the battery life of your MacBook, think about turning off the auto-brightness feature.
Turn off the keyboard’s backlight
The illumination of your keyboard is another item that can be disabled to conserve battery. While it is great to keep them on when typing in the dark, they significantly shorten your MacBook battery’s life. If you truly need them to be switched on, consider reducing the brightness to lessen their power usage. Similar to your display, you may program your backlights to switch off automatically after a predetermined period of inactivity.
Disable Bluetooth
You might want to turn off your Mac’s Bluetooth, especially if your Bluetooth isn’t using any portable devices, like a mouse or speaker, for your MacBook. Instead, you can just use your built-in speakers and trackpad.
Close unused programs
Quitting unused applications is another method for extending the battery life of your MacBook. These are applications open on your MacBook that you are not using at the moment or won’t use anytime soon. To close these programs and prolong the battery life of your MacBook, simply press Command + Q.
Conclusion
The fixes offered in this article are short-term. Same for the ways you can conserve your battery.
If you need to act quickly and don’t have your official charger with you, use the aforementioned workarounds. Please keep in mind, though, that these techniques should only be used occasionally. These methods fall short of providing the power and safety you get from an actual MacBook Pro charger.
Therefore, purchasing a new charger for your MacBook is the best course of action if your charger is damaged. And if you just forgot your charger, make a note so you won’t forget it the next time.