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Picture this: you‘re on a trip or at a critical meeting when suddenly your MacBook battery is running perilously low. You reach for your trusty Apple charger only to realize you forgot to pack it or left it behind somewhere. Don‘t panic! While ideally you want to regularly charge your MacBook with the charger it came with, there are actually several ways to juice it up when you find yourself without the original power adapter.
As someone who relies on my MacBook for work while frequently traveling, I‘ve found myself in this predicament more than once. Through trial and error, I‘ve discovered a number of handy alternatives and backup methods to charge a MacBook in a pinch. In this guide, I‘ll share some of the best options I‘ve found to keep your Apple laptop powered up no matter where you are, even if your original charger is MIA.
But first, a few important notes:
- These methods are meant as temporary backup solutions if you‘re caught without your charger. For day-to-day charging, you should use the original Apple charger that came with your MacBook (or an Apple-certified third party charger) for maximum performance and battery health.
- Always check the wattage and voltage of any charger before using it with your MacBook. Using the wrong wattage/voltage risks damaging your computer.
- Charging speeds will likely be slower compared to your original Apple charger. Be patient and keep an eye on your MacBook as it charges.
With those caveats out of the way, let‘s look at some of the most useful ways to charge your MacBook without the factory charger:
1. USB-C Smartphone Chargers
Most newer MacBooks (2016 and later) use USB-C charging, which is rapidly being adopted as a universal charging standard. Many newer smartphones, tablets, and laptops from various brands now charge via USB-C.
This means that, in many cases, you can use a USB-C phone charger to top up your MacBook if needed. For example, I‘ve used chargers from recent Samsung Galaxy phones, Google Pixels, and even an iPad Pro to charge my MacBook Pro in a pinch. The wattage is lower than the MacBook‘s included charger, so it will charge more slowly – but it works!
If you have an older MacBook that charges via the MagSafe port, you‘re out of luck with smartphone chargers. But if you have a 2016 or newer MacBook with USB-C, this is one of the easiest backup charging methods. Just make sure the USB-C charger is from a reputable brand to avoid damaging your pricey laptop.
2. Portable Battery Packs and Power Banks
Portable batteries have become one of the most popular ways to keep devices charged on the go. You can find compact power banks that hold a single charge for your phone, or larger ones that can charge a laptop multiple times.
For MacBooks, you‘ll want to look for batteries with a USB-C PD (power delivery) output, at least 30W (for smaller MacBooks) and ideally 60-100W for the 14" and 16" MacBook Pro models. I‘m a fan of Anker‘s PowerCore line, which offer different battery sizes at reasonable prices.
The key with portable batteries is remembering to keep them charged. Throw one in your laptop bag and you‘ll have a ready backup power source if you‘re low on battery and can‘t find an outlet.
3. Solar Chargers for Off-Grid Power
If you‘ll be spending extended periods off-grid, away from outlets, solar chargers are an environmentally-friendly way to keep your MacBook charged using the power of the sun.
Solar chargers have come a long way in recent years. Modern ones are lightweight, affordable, and can often charge a laptop fully in a few hours of direct sunlight. Many also have built-in battery packs, so you can store solar power to charge your devices later.
Popular options like the BigBlue 28W Solar Charger or Anker‘s 24W PowerPort Solar Lite are compact enough to take camping or on remote work trips. Just make sure to get one with a USB-C output that matches your MacBook‘s charging wattage needs.
Of course, the downside of solar is that you need a sunny day to charge up. So have a backup option with you as well.
4. Universal Power Adapters for International Travel
Traveling abroad with your MacBook? You may find that your Apple charger‘s plug doesn‘t fit the outlets in other countries. You could buy Apple‘s World Travel Adapter Kit, but that‘s pricey and means carrying around multiple plugs.
A more convenient and affordable option is a universal power adapter. These compact devices have slide-out plugs that work with the most common outlet types around the world. Most also have built-in USB-A and USB-C ports, so you can charge your MacBook and phone/tablet at the same time.
I like the Uppel Universal Travel Adapter, which is only $25 on Amazon and even has a spare fuse inside the case. Just confirm it has a USB-C port that supports the right wattage for your MacBook (for the Uppel adapter linked, it‘s 65W – more than enough for a 13" MacBook Pro or Air).
5. Charging From Your Car
If you spend a lot of time driving, you can actually charge your MacBook right from your car in a few different ways:
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12V "cigarette lighter" socket: Some newer cars have 12V sockets with built-in USB ports, which may include USB-C. If you have one of these, you can plug a USB-C to USB-C cable right in and charge your MacBook, albeit slower than with a wall charger.
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12V to 110V inverter: For cars with only a standard 12V socket, you can buy an inverter that plugs into the 12V outlet and offers standard 110V/120V outlets (like in your home). Then just plug your MacBook‘s regular charger into the inverter. Bestek‘s 300W model is a popular and reliable choice.
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USB-C PD car charger: These plug into your car‘s 12V socket and have a USB-C port for charging devices. Some can output up to 100W – enough to rapid-charge even a 16" MacBook Pro. Nekteck‘s 100W USB-C car charger is a good example.
Of course, don‘t forget to unplug the inverter or car charger when you turn off your vehicle, so it doesn‘t drain your car‘s battery!
6. Finding USB-C Charging Ports in Public Places
Finally, it‘s worth noting that more and more public places are offering USB ports for charging your devices, and some even have USB-C ports compatible with newer MacBooks.
When I‘m traveling, I‘ve often found available USB-C ports for charging my MacBook at:
- Airports (check near your gate‘s seating area)
- Coffee shops and cafes
- Fast food restaurants
- Hotels (often in the lobby or business center)
- Coworking spaces
- University campuses
- Public libraries
Of course, speeds will vary, and there‘s always a slight risk with using public USB ports (I recommend having your Mac‘s built-in firewall enabled). But in a pinch, if you‘re traveling or working remotely and desperately need to charge your MacBook, it‘s worth searching for public USB-C charging options.
Stay Charged Up, Even Without Your Apple Charger
As you can see, being caught without your MacBook‘s original Apple charger doesn‘t have to mean being stuck with a dead laptop. From USB-C smartphone chargers to portable batteries to solar chargers, there are plenty of ways to keep your MacBook charged up when you don‘t have the standard charger handy.
The key is to plan ahead and have a few backup charging options available, especially if you frequently work on the go. Throw a small USB-C PD power bank in your everyday carry, or stash a 12V car charger in your vehicle‘s center console. When traveling, pack a universal adapter with USB-C ports. And consider a solar charger if you‘ll be off-grid for extended periods.
By being prepared with alternative ways to charge your MacBook, you can have peace of mind and keep working no matter where you are or what misadventures come your way. Say goodbye to low-battery anxiety!
Do you have a favorite way to charge your MacBook without the Apple charger? Planning to try out one of the methods covered here? Let me know in the comments below!