How to fix a MacBook that will not turn on: There are few things more frustrating than a Mac that won’t turn on. Whether you have a MacBook, an iMac, a Mac mini, or a Mac Pro, you may encounter this problem at some point. You press the power button, but nothing happens. You don’t hear the startup chime, you don’t see any lights, and you don’t get any images on the screen. Your Mac is completely dead.
What can you do in this situation? Is your Mac broken beyond repair, or can you fix it yourself? How can you prevent this from happening again, and how can you recover your data and settings?
In this article, we will show you how to troubleshoot and fix a Mac that won’t turn on, using some simple steps and tips. We will also explain the possible causes and solutions for this problem, and how to avoid it in the future.
Check the Power Connection
The first thing you should do when your Mac won’t turn on is to check the power connection. This may sound obvious, but sometimes the problem is as simple as a loose or faulty cable, or a dead outlet.
Make sure that your power cable is undamaged and plugged securely into your Mac and a working electrical outlet. If you have a laptop, make sure that the battery is not drained, and that the charger is working properly. You can also try a different power cable or adapter, if you have one, or borrow one from a friend.
If you have a desktop, make sure that your display is also connected to power, and that it is turned on. You can also try a different display, if you have one, or connect your Mac to a TV or a projector, using an HDMI cable or an adapter.
If your Mac still won’t turn on after checking the power connection, move on to the next step.
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Press and Hold the Power Button
Sometimes, your Mac may not turn on because it is stuck in a low-power state, or it has a software glitch that prevents it from booting up. In this case, you can try to force your Mac to restart, by pressing and holding the power button for about 10 seconds.
The power button is located in different places, depending on your Mac model. For MacBook models, it is usually on the top right corner of the keyboard, or on the Touch Bar, if you have one. For iMac models, it is on the back of the display, in the lower left corner. For Mac mini models, it is on the back of the device, on the right side. For Mac Pro models, it is on the front of the device, on the top right corner.
Press and hold the power button until you hear a sound, see a light, or get an image on the screen. Then release the power button, and wait for your Mac to start up normally.
If your Mac still won’t turn on after pressing and holding the power button, move on to the next step.
Unplug All Accessories
Another possible reason why your Mac won’t turn on is that one or more of your accessories or their cables are faulty or incompatible, and they are causing a conflict or a short circuit with your Mac. This can include printers, scanners, drives, USB hubs, keyboards, mice, headphones, speakers, and more.
To rule out this possibility, you should unplug all accessories from your Mac, and try to turn it on again. If your Mac turns on, then you can plug in your accessories one by one, and see which one is causing the problem. You can then replace or repair the faulty accessory, or update its driver or firmware, if available.
If your Mac still won’t turn on after unplugging all accessories, move on to the next step.
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Reset the SMC (Intel-based Mac only)
If you have an older, Intel-based Mac, you can try to reset the SMC, or the System Management Controller, which is a chip that controls various aspects of your Mac, such as the power, the fans, the lights, the battery, and more. Sometimes, the SMC can get corrupted or misconfigured, and cause your Mac to not turn on, or to behave erratically.
To reset the SMC, you need to follow different steps, depending on your Mac model. For MacBook models with a removable battery, such as the MacBook Pro (Early 2009) and earlier, and the MacBook (Mid 2009) and earlier, you need to:
- Shut down your Mac, and disconnect it from power.
- Remove the battery from your Mac, and press and hold the power button for 5 seconds.
- Release the power button, and reinsert the battery.
- Reconnect your Mac to power, and turn it on.
For MacBook models with a non-removable battery, such as the MacBook Pro (Mid 2009) and later, and the MacBook Air, you need to:
- Shut down your Mac, and connect it to power.
- Press and hold the Shift-Control-Option keys on the left side of the keyboard, and the power button at the same time, for 10 seconds.
- Release all the keys and the power button, and wait for a few seconds.
- Turn on your Mac.
For desktop models, such as the iMac, the Mac mini, and the Mac Pro, you need to:
- Shut down your Mac, and disconnect it from power.
- Wait for 15 seconds, and reconnect your Mac to power.
- Wait for another 5 seconds, and turn on your Mac.
If your Mac still won’t turn on after resetting the SMC, move on to the next step.
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Reset the NVRAM
Another thing you can try to fix your Mac that won’t turn on is to reset the NVRAM, or the Non-Volatile Random-Access Memory, which is a small amount of memory that stores some settings and preferences of your Mac, such as the sound volume, the display resolution, the startup disk, and more. Sometimes, the NVRAM can get corrupted or misconfigured, and cause your Mac to not turn on, or to have some issues with the display or the sound.
To reset the NVRAM, you need to:
- Turn off your Mac, and wait for a few seconds.
- Turn on your Mac, and immediately press and hold the Option-Command-P-R keys on the keyboard, for about 20 seconds.
- Release the keys, and wait for your Mac to start up normally.
If your Mac still won’t turn on after resetting the NVRAM, move on to the next step.
Start in Recovery Mode
If none of the above steps worked, you may need to start your Mac in Recovery Mode, which is a special mode that allows you to access some tools and utilities that can help you fix your Mac, such as Disk Utility, Terminal, and macOS Reinstall. You can use these tools to check and repair your disk, run some commands, or reinstall the operating system, if necessary.
To start your Mac in Recovery Mode, you need to:
- Turn off your Mac, and wait for a few seconds.
- Turn on your Mac, and immediately press and hold the Command-R keys on the keyboard, until you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe on the screen.
- Release the keys, and wait for the macOS Utilities window to appear.
- Choose the tool or utility that you want to use, and follow the instructions on the screen.
If your Mac still won’t turn on after starting in Recovery Mode, move on to the next step.
Read also: Exploring the Powerful Features of the MacBook Pro M3
Contact Apple Support
If none of the above steps worked, and your Mac still won’t turn on, then you may have a hardware problem that requires professional assistance. In this case, you should contact Apple Support, and make an appointment with an Apple Genius or an authorized service provider. They can diagnose your Mac, and offer you a repair or a replacement, depending on your warranty status and the extent of the damage.
You can also check if your Mac is eligible for any of the Apple repair programs, which cover some common issues that affect some Mac models, such as the keyboard, the display, the logic board, and more. You can find more information about these programs on the Apple website.
Conclusion How to Fix a MacBook that will not turn on
We have shown you how to troubleshoot and fix a Mac that won’t turn on, using some simple steps and tips. We have also explained the possible causes and solutions for this problem, and how to avoid it in the future.
We hope that this article has been helpful and informative for you, and that you have managed to get your Mac working again. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below, or contact us through our website. Thank you for reading, and have a great day!
FAQ
- How can I backup my data if my Mac won’t turn on?
- If you have a backup of your data on an external drive, or on iCloud, you can restore it to your Mac after you fix it, or to another Mac, if you have one. If you don’t have a backup, you may be able to recover your data by using a data recovery software, such as Disk Drill, or by taking your Mac to a data recovery service, such as DriveSavers. However, these methods are not guaranteed, and they may be expensive or risky.
- How can I prevent my Mac from not turning on in the future?
- There are some things you can do to prevent your Mac from not turning on in the future, such as:
- Keep your Mac updated, and install the latest software and firmware updates from Apple, which can fix some bugs and issues that may affect your Mac.
- Keep your Mac clean, and avoid exposing it to dust, dirt, liquids, or extreme temperatures, which can damage your Mac or its components.
- Keep your Mac protected, and use a surge protector
- There are some things you can do to prevent your Mac from not turning on in the future, such as:
