Here’s how you can fix random shutdown issue in MacBook Pro

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Apple devices are not immune to issues. In fact, there is always an ongoing debate if it is acceptable that such premium devices face issues just like other budget devices on the market. Those against Apple now have one more reason to back their statement. Recently, several MacBook Pro users complained about their devices randomly shutting down. Thankfully, it is possible to fix the shutdown issue in MacBook Pro.

MacBook Pro randomly shutting down: what’s happening?

Over the past couple of months or so, several MacBook Pro users have reported that their device is shutting down randomly, even when there is battery power left. The issue appears to be widespread as users are reporting it on various forums and support threads.

“…it comes fully charged on 100%, so i use it as normal (not charging it) gets to about 25% and just cuts out. Only turns back on if i put the charger in. Battery shows as 0% then jumps back up to 25% happened 4 times,” one affected user said on MacRumors forum.

So far, the random shutdown issue is reported for the 2019 13-inch MacBook Pro with two Thunderbolt 3 ports. Apple also has admitted the issue with the same models. However, there have been a few complaints for the 13-inch MacBook Pro model from 2017 as well. So, it is expected that more MacBook models may be affected by this random shutdown issue.

For most users, the shutdown is happening at a 20% to 30% battery level. A few users reported that they were able to exchange their affected MacBook with a new one, but the new one had the same issue as well.

Apple recently admitted the issue, saying some users have found that their MacBook Pro randomly shuts down even when it still has a charge. The company not only admitted the issue, but gave a solution (a weird one) as well, via a support document.

How to fix shutdown issue in MacBook Pro

To fix the shutdown issue in MacBook Pro you will need to keep the device closed and unused for several hours during the processs. Thus, it is recommended that you run the fix overnight. Follow the below steps to fix the shutdown issue in MacBook Pro:

  1. If your MacBook Pro is fully charged, then unplug it from charging and leave it turned on until the battery level drops below 90%. (If the battery level on your device is already below 90% then move to the second step.)
  2. Once the battery level drops below 90%, plug in the charging cable.
  3. Close all the apps and then force-close everything. You can force close by pressing Option + Command + Esc keys, and then clicking “Force Close.”
  4. Close the MacBook Pro to put it into the sleep mode for at least 8 hours. During this time, keep the device closed and plugged in.
  5. After charging the device for 8 hours or more, open the device and install the latest macOS update (if available).

Hopefully, this weird solution should fix the shutdown issue on MacBook Pro. If not, then Apple recommends contacting the support team or schedule an appointment at your local Apple store.

For now, Apple has not announced any replacement program. It is possible that the company is waiting for more information before starting such a program. Apple is already running a keyboard service program for the 13-inch MacBook Pro (2019).

Apple fails to halt class-action over flawed keyboard design

In separate news, Apple lost the bid to stop the proposed class-action lawsuit related to the butterfly-mechanism keyboards. In 2015, Apple first introduced such keyboards that were later found to be clicky, low-travel and debris-prone.

Apple launched such a keyboard to make the devices thinner. However, it turned out to be a big headache not only for Apple’s management team, but also for the repair team. Talking of the keyboard, repair specialist iFixit said previously that you “can’t even swap out the upper case containing the keyboard on its own. You also have to replace the glued-in battery, trackpad, and speakers at the same time.”

Apple offered a free keyboard replacement program this May, and last month, brought back the scissor-switch with the new 16-inch MacBook Pro. The lawsuit, however, was filed in 2018, shortly after Apple announced that it would replace jammed keyboards.

U.S. district judge Edward Davila in San Jose, California, dismissed Apple’s plea to get the case dismissed, notes a report from Reuters. The lawsuit claims that the replacement program is not an effective fix for the defects in the keyboard design and that it does not fully compensate the affected users for the expenses they incurred while seeking repairs.

While Apple claims that its Keyboard Service Program is enough, the plaintiffs argue that it is inadequate as the new keyboards suffer from the same issues as well. Basically, the lawsuit accuses Apple of “selling MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air laptops with defective keyboards in violation of state consumer protection and warranty laws”.

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