For a lot of people, being able to bring their MacBook Pro anywhere they go is one of the best features of this device. Unfortunately, one of the struggles any portable device owner is aware of is that they eventually need to have their battery charged. And things can get pretty annoying if you bring your MacBook Pro and forget to bring the charger too. This is typically done with the charger that the device originally came included with, but with most devices, not only can you get replacement chargers, you can get different types of chargers than what was originally included. But can you charge your MacBook Pro without a charger?
If you forgot your MacBook Pro charger, there are other ways to charge it. For instance, you can charge your MacBook Pro from a Windows PC using a converter cable that converts USB 3.0 to USB-C. Another good option to charge your MacBook Pro without its charger would be to use a power bank. These devices are essentially external batteries that you charge up and, as needed, plug in a compatible device to charge it from the power bank itself.
But is it safe to use these alternative charging methods? And even if they are, are they worth it?
How to Charge MacBook Pro without Charger
There are multiple other ways to charge your MacBook Pro without a charger, but one of the biggest issues with this is the fact that, if you forget your charging cable, you are not likely to have these alternatives on hand to substitute. Still, if you happen to have one of these on-hand, they can definitely do you a lot of good in a pinch. You can also buy them if you are able to do so, and need to keep your MacBook Pro charged.
One alternative method to charging your MacBook Pro would be to get a converter cable that converts USB 3.0 to USB-C. This ensures that if, for instance, you have access to a Windows PC, you will be capable of charging your MacBook Pro by plugging it into the PC directly.
One solid option, however, and one that MacBook Pro users should consider whether they remember the charger or not, is to get a power bank. Power banks are one of the best ways to keep your devices charged, as they essentially serve as an external battery that allows you to extend how long your MacBook Pro can run without being plugged into an electrical outlet. Power banks come in many shapes and sizes (literally), so be sure to look up a power bank that suits your MacBook Pro the best. Some power banks are better than others, and reviews should be able to reflect this.
What kind of charger does the MacBook Pro come with?
If you are looking to get a MacBook Pro charger replacement, you ideally want to make sure that you get the most exact charger. Which charger is best for you, however, will ultimately come down to the specific type of charger that came with your MacBook Pro. The MacBook Pro either uses a 61w or an 87w charging cable, depending on the version of MacBook Pro you use.
If you have the 13-inch MacBook pro that was originally released starting in 2016, it comes with a 61w cord. If you have the 15-inch version that was originally released in 2016, it will come with an 87w cord instead. If you are unsure as to whether your charger is 61w or 87w, check your specific MacBook Pro model to see which you have.
Can you use a higher or lower-capacity charger with your MacBook Pro?
When trying to decide what charger alternative you want to use with your MacBook Pro, you may be wondering whether your MacBook Pro is capable of using a wattage of charger that is higher or lower than the charger included with your device. Generally, while using either is not particularly recommended by Apple, they are not considered unsafe to use.
When it comes to using a cord that has a lower wattage, this is certainly possible, but it is not the most advisable. This is because a lower wattage may be less able to charge your device quickly. This capacity of charger may be usable while the MacBook Pro is not in use, but if you are using the MacBook Pro while a weaker-capacity charger is in use, it is highly possible that it may drain the battery faster than it can actually charge your device. Thus, it would only serve to slow the drain rather than stopping it from draining altogether.
On the other hand, if you want to use a higher-capacity charger, you should be fine, but there is no actual benefit to using it instead of the normal wattage of your MacBook Pro’s charger. Thus, if you want to try to charge your MacBook Pro faster, this will not confer any benefit.
Are power banks safe to use with a MacBook Pro?
We discussed power banks earlier, but an important question to ask is, are power banks even safe to use with your MacBook Pro? Well, the answer to that is that it depends on the power bank you use. Depending on the quality of the power bank, it is possible that a low-quality one could be not only of poor quality, but also potentially dangerous. A device’s power cell could become overcharged and damage your devices or worse.
In order to avoid getting a bad power bank, be sure to not only read reviews, but read both positive and negative ones. Reading a healthy selection of one, two, and three-star reviews gives you a good idea of what problems the power bank may or may not have. Even with a good power bank, you may see a mention of this kind of problem, but if it is not commonly mentioned, you should not worry about the risk too much.
- How to Pair Meta Quest 3 Controllers with Your Quest 3 Headset: A Quick Guide
- How to Charge Meta Quest 3: A Guide to Powering Up Your VR Experience
- How to Cast Meta Quest 3 to Samsung TV: A Step-by-Step Guide
- How To Factory Reset Your Meta Quest 3: A Step-by-Step Guide
- How to Power On and Off the Meta Quest 3
