Solved: Apple MagSafe and Airpod not charging Windows USB C
Issue: Apple MagSafe wireless chargers and AirPods are no longer charging when connected to a Windows laptop’s USB-C port after a recent update.
Background:
Apple MagSafe wireless chargers and AirPods used to work with Windows laptops, but Microsoft broke compatibility with a late 2021 update. Even reinstalling the OS won’t fix the issue.
The issue seems to be specific to Dell laptops. Other laptops with Windows 11 seem to work fine, even though they may give an error message saying “USB device not recognized”.
Workaround:
To fix the issue, you can disable a HID device in Device Manager. This prevents Windows from detecting the Apple device, which allows power delivery to continue.
Steps Windows 10:
- Open Control Panel and then Devices and Printers
- Right-click on the Apple MagSafe Charger (or AirPods) and select Properties.
- Go to the Hardware tab.
- Select the HID-compatible-vendor-defined device (the first one usually works).
- Click Properties.
- Click Change settings (if applicable).
- Go to the Driver tab and Disable the device.
- Unplug and replug the MagSafe charger or AirPods.
Steps Windows 11:
- Open Settings
- Under Bluetooth & devices click “View more devices” and then scroll down and click “More devices and printers”
- Right click Apple MagSafe Charger and open properties
- Go to the Hardware tab.
- Select the HID-compatible-vendor-defined device (the first one usually works).
- Click Properties.
- Click Change settings (if applicable).
- Go to the Driver tab and Disable the device.
- Unplug and replug the MagSafe charger or AirPods.
Your Apple device should now start charging.
Why does this work?
Apple devices only need power from the laptop to charge. They don’t need the drivers to be working. For some reason, Windows is disabling power delivery to the device after the update. This is why the device charges during computer boot time, but stops charging as soon as the login screen appears.
By disabling the HID device, you are preventing Windows from detecting the Apple device. This allows power delivery to continue, even though Windows doesn’t recognize the device.
Microsoft’s response:
Many users have reported this issue in Microsoft forums and on Reddit. However, Microsoft has yet to fix the issue, even after 1.5 years.
It is unclear why Microsoft has not fixed this issue yet. However, it is likely that they are aware of the issue and are working on a fix.
In the meantime, you can use the workaround described above to fix the issue.
I’m on Windows 11 and need to click “Other Devices” in Control Panel \ Devices & Printers \ Bluetooth & Devices” on order to see “Airpod Case.” However, no amount of clicking on that icon with either mouse button yields a contextual menu. My only option is to click the “elipsis” to the far right of the “Airpod Case” icon, and then my only choice is “Remove Device.” I’ve also tried looking for the Airpod Case in Device Manager, but can’t find it. Am I screwed by Windows 11? Thanks for any help!
For me this has not happened on Windows 11. The tricky part in Windows 11 is the option to view the devices the traditional way is kind of hidden. In Settings, under Bluetooth & devices click “View more devices” and then scroll down and click “More devices and printers”.
Hah! That let me see the “AirPod Case” and disable the driver. Followed the instructions and now the iPhone status pop-up that appears when you open the case next to the phone shows the case as charging! No orange light on the case, I will check back in in a bit to let you know if the charge level is increasing. Regardless, thanks for the super-fast reply, much appreciated!
Glad to hear that.
Just some additional info. I experienced this issue last year on my old Dell laptop and found this work around. This started happening when Microsoft released some update for Windows 10 in late 2021 which broke the charging for apple magsafe/airpods. It was working perfectly fine before. Reinstalling the OS also didn’t fix it. But the workaround worked.
I got a new laptop last year with Windows 11 and my magsafe worked(even though I get popup for unrecognized device). So I thought Microsoft fixed it. Seems they haven’t. But it is interesting this issue doesn’t affect newer devices.
Solved! Case is charging! Thanks very much!
thank you so so much dealing with this for weeks
This works, as you said. My system showed AirPod Case instead of MagSafe. Thanks for sharing; I knew they were doing this on purpose. I love hacking their hack. LOL
Cool. Thanks for the comment.
This absolutely worked! Thank you! Been wracking my brain for weeks as to why it was not charging!
Hey man, sending a big thank you for your instructions! I can charge my iphone on my computer now!
Glad to hear it.