Sound an alarm when your MacBook charger is unplugged

Quick setup

1. Connect the MacBook to power.
2. Enable Power Unplugged and choose your alarm actions.
3. Activate Unplug Alarm.
4. Disconnect power in a controlled test and check the selected alerts.

Set up the power-disconnection trigger

Open Unplug Alarm from your Mac’s menu bar. Under Alarm On, enable Power Unplugged. Under Alarm Actions, enable Play Siren Sound if you want a local alarm. Activate the app while the MacBook is connected to its charger.

The power connection is the starting point for this trigger. A MacBook that is already running on battery has no charger to disconnect. If you work without power, consider enabling the separate Screen Closed trigger rather than assuming the unplug option covers that session.

Test with the charging setup you actually use. If your MacBook receives power through a dock or monitor, reproduce the disconnection you want to detect and confirm the response before relying on it. A loose connector or an accidental power loss can also cause an unplug event.

Choose what happens when the charger comes out

A siren draws attention at the table. Unplug Alarm supports sounding the alarm even when the Mac is muted, so your normal work volume does not have to dictate the response. Set it up somewhere you can test without surprising other people.

For an alert on your phone, install Unplug Alarm Client and pair it with your Mac. Remote alerts and photo notifications are included in the yearly plan. The lifetime purchase covers core protection on the Mac. Choose based on whether you need the sound nearby or notifications on another device.

Photo capture is an optional alarm action. It provides a picture from the Mac when an event is detected; it is not continuous monitoring. Check the camera permission and verify the photo notification during your test.

Use a charger alarm at a café or shared desk

A charging cable often has to be removed before a laptop can be carried away. Monitoring that event gives you a specific signal to react to while you are nearby. It is useful at a café table, library desk, or shared workspace where other people can approach your computer.

Enable Screen Closed as well if you want the app to respond to the lid being shut. These are separate triggers, and enabling both covers two common changes to the laptop. Neither option should be described as movement detection: carrying an open, already unplugged laptop is a different event.

Before you pack up, deactivate the alarm so your own charger removal does not set it off. Build a short routine: connect, choose your actions, activate, then deactivate before leaving with the Mac.

Check the alert path before your first session

Run one controlled test with the Mac alarm active. Confirm the siren, then confirm any phone alert or photo you selected. If the phone stays quiet, check that it is paired, notifications are allowed, and the required plan is active.

Keep your MacBook in sight where possible and lock the screen when you step away. An unplug alarm adds awareness around the device; sensible placement and your normal account security still matter. Start with a tested setup rather than enabling every option and hoping they behave as expected.

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