Macbook charge cable doesn't work in my macbook. Macbook #2's cable works in my macbook. Why isn't my macbook able to charge with my cable? So, I've been having an issue on and off for a year or two where my macbook airs magsafe charger wouldn't actually charge my device, and I'd have to reset the SMC 10+ times to get it to recognize my charger.

I've recently gotten access to a second macbook (pro) so I was curious if that charger would work for my macbook air. Lo and behold, it works immediately after plugging it in the first time. So, the other macbook charger works for both that macbook and mine. My charger works for the other macbook, but in mine it takes a bunch of resetting to get it to work.

What could be causing this weirdness?

Not sure if it would help, but here's a pic of my magsafe port (there is no removable debris, it just appears to be discolored and scratched a bit):
I would suggest swapping the chargers and avoiding the problem.

The original charger may not have been the correct rating - had this before where they charge but so slowly or not at all.

Macs and chargers do check what they are connected to so smaller chargers don't try to charge the larger batteries as the chargers have different ratings 60W, 85W etc...