Why Does My MacBook Vibrate While It's Charging?
Ali Adnan
15 hours ago

If you've ever touched the chassis of your MacBook while it's charging, you may have felt a tingling or vibrating sensation. This vibration isn't a cause for concern, and it's completely normal. Read on to learn why it happens and what you can do to counter this sensation.

Why Do MacBooks Vibrate When Charging?

Your MacBook may vibrate while charging because of a lack of grounding. In simple terms, grounding is the process of connecting an electric device to the Earth's ground. Since the Earth has a massive electric charge of its own, it dissipates any excess charge of an electric device.

Standard electrical outlets, like the one your MacBook charger plugs into, are usually grounded to prevent any excess charge. However, improper or weak grounding can result in excess electric charge being conducted through the aluminum chassis of your laptop.

So, when you touch the device, this electric current will flow through your body to reach the ground. As a result, you may notice a little tingling sensation or vibration.

How to Solve a Vibrating MacBook During Charging

There are a number of things you can do to prevent this buzzing sensation from happening. For starters, make sure you're using a three-pin charger. This third pin (often the top-most one) is the ground pin. It connects to the grounding system of your home's wiring and ensures any excess current safely reaches the ground.

It goes without saying that this three-pin power adapter should be genuine, as avoiding cheap third-party adapters can make your MacBook last as long as possible. The best way around this is to buy chargers sold officially by Apple. This will ensure the charger's grounding feature works properly.

Secondly, make sure your MacBook is resting on a flat, non-conductive surface. This can be a wooden desk or a leather mat. Similarly, you should not sit on a surface made from conductive materials while using a MacBook that's being charged.

If you use your laptop on a desk with your feet resting on the floor, consider wearing a pair of shoes. The rubber or leather in it will act as an insulator and prevent the charge from flowing through your body and reaching the ground. You can also add a rug under your desk to break this flow of current.

MacBook Vibrations During Charging Are Normal
Vibrations from a charging MacBook are caused by poor grounding. A three-pronged charger can reduce this current leakage by offering a safe route for the charge to reach the ground.

You can further prevent this sensation by keeping your bare feet from directly touching the ground when using a MacBook that's plugged into the wall. So, consider wearing footwear or resting your bare feet on a rug.