Macbook USB C power adapter for RPi 4

[jeffridder]

Can a Macbook USB C power adapter be used to power the Raspberry Pi 4? It seems like it would but just wanted to make sure before plugging on in.

[jrodin]

I’ve tried both the 29W and 61W Apple USB C power adapters and unfortunately they don’t work with the Pi4.

[jokinc]

Macbook charguers also don't charge some other usb-c devices, i think they don't support 5v modes.

[jeffridder]

Thanks for the feedback. I thought USB C was supposed to be easier.

[scorpia]

I suspect this might be a result of the pi only having a single cc pulldown resistor (there should be two) on the USB connector on the pi.
I have stared a discussion on this here https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/view ... 3&t=243875 were there is also a technical write-up for those interested in the specifics.

[Dygear]

Confirmed doesn't work with a Apple 87W USB-C Charger. But I did have a old iPad power brick laying around and a USB-Type A to USB Type-C connector on it and that works a treat!

[richjc]

I am successfully powering my Raspi 4 with an old Macbook Air 45w magsafe power supply via an Apple magsafe to magsafe 2 adapter and an XCsource usb-c to magsafe 2 adapter, see:

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07FP6JBBG ... TE_3p_dp_1
and
https://www.apple.com/au/shop/product/M ... -converter

Regards,
Richard

[misterrobot]

What works though is to directly connect the pi to one of the Macbooks USB C ports.
As long as it is only for setting up the pi this should be a good workaround I guess

[gruvin]

directly connect the pi to one of the Macbooks USB C ports.

Doesn't work for me using USB C to USB C cable I use for my external backup drive. No lights at all.

[W. H. Heydt]

directly connect the pi to one of the Macbooks USB C ports.

Doesn't work for me using USB C to USB C cable I use for my external backup drive. No lights at all.

What version of the Pi4B PCB do you have? What kind of USB-C cable are you using? (There was a PCB change that makes Pi4Bs work with "e-marked" cables and PD PSUs. You might want to try with a plain cable.)