MacBook Won’t Turn On? 7 Powerful Methods to Start It Again

There are many possible reasons your MacBook won’t turn on, or Mac won’t turn on, but you may need to get it running again. We’ll go through the different tests and adjustments you can make to ensure that your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, or another Mac starts up so you can begin using it again.

Learn a few easy tips to fix the MacBook won’t turn on issue, starting with the obvious things, such as checking the power connection, performing the power cycle, beginning from Recovery, and then checking your file system. If you find that your MacBook won’t turn on, we’ll tell you what to do next.

The fixes described in this article apply to the majority of current macOS versions. The interfaces and menus might appear slightly different based on the OS you’re running; however, the functions they serve are identical. Additionally, M-series computers perform certain tasks in different ways than older Intel-powered Macs. For example, the process for launching the computer in safe mode or recovery will differ on a previous Mac, and we’ll discuss both options when needed.

Why Won’t my MacBook Turn On (Common Causes)

• Dead battery or faulty charger
• Software crash or system freeze
• Display issues (black screen)
• Faulty power button
• Hardware failure (logic board, battery)

Also read: Why Is My MacBook Not Charging? 7 Common Reasons and Fixes

How to Fix MacBook Won’t Turn On Issue

1. Make Sure Your Mac Is Turning On

Let’s first determine if the MacBook won’t turn on. They may appear to be the same; however, there’s an important distinction.

Hit the power button of your Mac. If you don’t hear a startup sound or any noise from the drive, fan, or any videos, images, or other images displayed on your screen, likely that your Mac is not turning on. It’s not even at the point where it won’t allow you to boot up.

A Mac that doesn’t work needs a different approach from a computer that fails to start up. If your computer won’t turn on, you must take the following steps:

i. Check the Power Connection

Don’t fall for the cliché. Check that the power is working and that the Mac is properly connected. If it’s a laptop computer, be sure that your battery’s not dead, and if it requires charging, give it time to charge before trying the other solution.

ii. Try a Different Power Cable or Adapter

It could be a problem with your power cable. Take your friend’s Mac power cable and see if it helps resolve the MacBook won’t turn on. If so, there may be a quick fix to buy a new cable to replace the old one. We recommend against purchasing third-party power cables that aren’t manufactured by Apple because they’re significantly more likely to be faulty and dangerous.

If you’ve recently experienced a power outage, this could be the reason the power adapter has been damaged during an electrical surge, and you may require to replace it.

It’s also possible that it’s loose, taking it out and replugging it to fix the issue. But it’s unlikely to be as simple.

iii. Disconnect All External Devices

Unplug all of the peripherals (such as USB hubs, printers, and USB printers) connected to the Mac. One or more of these peripherals may be creating problems during the start-up sequence.

If none of these steps are successful, you’re ready to move next step to fix the MacBook won’t turn on issue.

2. Perform a Power Cycle

If you’re not hearing signals of life, you can try a power cycle, which is the process of making your Mac reboot after cutting off the power source to it.

• When using the MacBook, you have to hold the power button for ten seconds. There will be a sound when the Mac’s power is cut. If you wait ten seconds and restart, all will be fine.
• If the Mac uses a PC, computer, you must unplug it and then leave it unplugged for at minimum 10 seconds before reconnecting it and trying to start it again.

If running a power cycle on your Mac isn’t helping, there are options to fix the MacBook won’t turn on issue. You move to the next steps.

3. Start Your Mac in Safe Mode

Safe Boot is a limitation on what tests and features your Mac concentrates on during startup, and it can perform certain diagnostics. It’s rare, but there are times when you get your unsatisfied Mac to run smoothly by using Safe Boot and then restarting normally, and it will be back to normal. If you require further assistance on this procedure,

To enter Safe Mode on an M-series Mac: Click the power button until the options for starting up appear on your screen. Select your startup disc (Macintosh HD). Hold Shift before clicking to continue in safe mode. After that, release the Shift button. You’ll see the phrases Safe Mode in the menu at the top right corner of your screen.

• To enter Safe Mode with an Intel Mac: Start your Mac up by pressing the Shift key. Safe Boot might take a long time to begin.
• To gain more insight into what’s going on, begin to boot an Intel-powered Mac by pressing Shift, Command, and V. That will launch Safe Boot andsomething called Verbose Mode. This mode will give you a few messages regarding how Safe Boot is actually trying to accomplish.

You are now entering Safe Mode. We will discuss how you can utilize Safe Mode to fix your Mac startup issues.

While in Safe Mode, the interface will appear slightly different with colored blocks instead of transparent ones. The most obvious difference is the Dock at the bottom of the screen, like in the image below, for instance.

In Safe Mode, you may be in a position to run specific tests (we’ll go through them below) and make adjustments that can fix the issue on your Mac. For instance, you can restart macOS or update any other software.

If you can start with Safe Mode, the issue is probably due to one or more of the startup components, which is why you need to visit Control Panel > Users and Groups and uninstall all of the items (click on the -). You can try the method of trial and error to figure out which item in your startup causes the issue.

4. Reset NVRAM / PRAM (Intel Macs)

We discussed resetting the PRAM. For Intel Macs, the term is resetting the NVRAM. The NVRAM on M-series Macs resets automatically; however, there is a method to reset the NVRAM for the M-series Mac.

The term refers to specific memory sections on your Mac that store information that remains even when the MacBook not powering on, like the volume settings or screen resolution.

Resetting the data won’t cause harm; it’s rarely really useful. However, it’s not a bad idea.

It’s possible to need an extra finger for this task or ask a trusted friend to assist you. We explore the fascinating world of the mind—breaking down psychology concepts into simple’s how you reset the PRAM/NVRAM in the Intel-powered Mac:

It’s possible to need an additional finger or two to accomplish this, or ask a trusted friend to assist you. We explore how you reset the PRAM/NVRAM in an Intel-powered Mac:

• Hold down all these keys, such as Command Option (Alt) P, Command, and R, and then turn on your Mac (it’s the same keys to reset the RAM).
• Continue to hold your keys down until you can hear the Mac restart.
• Check for a reboot and then release the keys.

5. Reset the SMC

In certain circumstances, it is possible restart your Mac’s SMC (System Management Controller). This is typically a last-ditch attempt to correct macOS’s current software version before trying to restore the data and then reinstall the OS.

SMC isn’t present in M-series Macs, so you aren’t resetting it. You can change the settings that the SMC handles.

on a Mac laptop:

• Turn off the MacBook.
• Unplug the power cable and then connect it to your power cord.
• Use the Shift, Ctrl, and Option keys, and the power button simultaneously.
• Release all the keys and the power button simultaneously.
• There is a possibility that an electric light from the cable is flickering.
• Start your MacBook.

On a Mac desktop:

• Shut down the Mac.
• Unplug it.
• Hold the power button for 5 minutes.
• Connect the Mac back to the computer.
• Turn on your Mac.

Also read: Orange Spot on MacBook Screen? 6 Easy Fixes You Must Try

6. Run Disk Utility in Recovery Mode

If your Mac is booting, and your operating system’s not loading, it could be due to a corrupted drive. Fortunately, it’s possible to repair this issue in Recovery Mode.

Another time, accessing Recovery Mode is a little different with the M-series Mac.

It is the first thing to run Disk Utility. If you have a Mac operating Mountain Lion or later, which is the most Macs, you can use Disk Utility by booting into Recovery Mode.

If you have an M-series Mac: Hold the power button for a few seconds until the Mac begins to boot up, and then it will display the Start-Up Options. Select Options > Continue. Now you will be in Recovery.
If you have an Intel Mac, ensure it is turned off. If the screen isn’t responsive, and you’re stuck with a blue, grey, or white display, hold the power button for a couple of minutes until it quits and shuts down. Press your Command and R keys, and then power the Mac on again. Continue pressing Cmd + R as your Mac is booting up until you can see the Apple logo.

In recovery mode, here’s how to do:

• When your Mac is in Recovery Mode, you will gain access to Utilities. Select”Disk Utility” to access it. Disk Utility Option.
• Find your Mac’s drive. It’s likely Macintosh HD, select it.
• Click First Aid.
• If there’s a problem with your drive, Disk Utility should find the errors and either fix them automatically or ask if you’d prefer to repair them. Click Repair Disk if it is.

In Recovery Mode, you may also perform the following:

• Restore from a Time Machine backup.
• Get help online.
• Install or reinstall macOS

7. Reinstall macOS

This can be quite drastic, however, if you’ve tried everything, restarting your operating system may fix the issue hindering your Mac from functioning correctly.

Initiate Recovery mode in the same way, following the steps previously described (hold both the R and Command keys as you boot up or press and keep the power button if you are using one of the models in the M-series Mac).

Once you are in Recovery, you can install the most recent OS, then follow the on-screen prompts.

Final Thoughts

It’s frustrating when your MacBook won’t turn on. In most cases,  this issue can be resolved at home. Don’t be afraid to try these steps, one at a time. Most often, the fix is as simple as an unresponsive battery or a damaged charger.

MacBook Won’t Turn On – FAQs