If your desktop Mac or MacBook won’t turn on, or might not start up past the Apple logo, don’t worry. While it can be frustrating, it’s usually fixable.
Where is the power button on a MacBook?
Before getting started, make sure you know how to turn on your Mac. Newer MacBook models don’t have a physical power button. Instead, look for an unmarked black square in the top-right corner of the keyboard. It is twice the size of the Touch ID sensor. Press it briefly to turn on the computer.
On older MacBooks, the power button is a marked physical button, located in the same top-right corner as the function keys.
On an iMac, you can find the circular power button at the lower-left corner of the back (when facing the front of the computer).
On a Mac Mini, the power button is located on the right-hand side at the back.
These are all the steps needed to restart your Mac. Follow them in order, unless your Mac fails to start after an operating system update. In that case, skip directly to Step 8.
1. Check if your Mac has power
First, check whether your Mac is connected to a power source. It may seem obvious, but anyone who has worked in tech support knows you have to rule out the simple issues first.
If your MacBook won’t start on battery power, the battery may be completely drained or malfunctioning.
If your MacBook doesn’t charge or turn on even when connected to a power adapter, make sure it is properly plugged in and that nothing is damaged. If there are extra power cords around, try using another one. Also, check that the ports are clean, as dust buildup can affect charging.
While doing this, also check any external hardware. Disconnect all peripherals, such as printers or graphics tablets, because sometimes they can be the cause. If you have a Mac Mini, make sure the display is properly connected and powered on.
2. Restart the power
The next step is to restart the power. This completely cuts off all power to the Mac, allowing you to start fresh.
-
On the latest MacBook models, unplug the power cord and hold the power button for 10 seconds.
-
On older MacBooks, unplug the power cord and remove the battery for at least 10 seconds.
-
If you are using a desktop Mac, unplug the power cord for at least 10 seconds.
Now, reconnect the power and try to start the computer again. This can breathe new life into your Mac.
3. Start in Safe Mode
If your MacBook won’t start, try to recall what you were doing the last time it worked. Were you installing an app, importing fonts, or adjusting system settings?
If your Mac shows any signs of life on startup (but doesn’t go past the Apple logo or login screen), starting in Safe Mode may help fix it.
Press the power button on your Mac, then immediately hold down the Shift key. Keep holding it until you reach the login screen, then continue as usual.
Safe Mode runs a series of diagnostic tests and launches a simplified version of macOS. It does not load your startup apps, custom fonts, extra hardware functions, or other nonessential items.
If your Mac successfully starts in Safe Mode, you can begin uninstalling any new apps, disabling startup items, removing hardware, or undoing any recent changes that might have caused the problem.
4. Reset the SMC
The System Management Controller (SMC) controls many basic functions on your Mac. It handles everything from keyboard backlighting to battery management and what happens when you press the power button.
Resetting the SMC is a good way to fix many issues, including a MacBook that won’t start or doesn’t wake when the lid is opened.
Different methods depend on your Mac model:
Desktop Macs:
-
Unplug the power cord and wait 15 seconds.
-
Reconnect the power cord and wait another 5 seconds.
-
Restart your Mac.
2018 MacBook Pro & MacBooks with T2 Security Chip:
-
Press and hold the right Shift key, left Option (Alt) key, and left Control key for 7 seconds.
-
While holding these keys, press and hold the power button for 7 seconds.
-
Release all keys, wait a few seconds, then restart.
MacBooks without removable batteries:
-
Press and hold the left Shift, Option (Alt), Control, and power button (or Touch ID button) for 10 seconds.
-
Release all keys, then restart the computer.
Older MacBooks with removable batteries:
-
Remove the battery.
-
Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds.
-
Reinsert the battery, then restart the MacBook.
5. Reset NVRAM or PRAM
NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random-Access Memory) is a special part of your Mac’s memory that stores certain settings your Mac needs quick access to. While issues with NVRAM are unlikely to prevent your Mac from starting, resetting it as a precaution does not harm.
Older Macs use PRAM (Parameter RAM) instead. The reset process is the same:
-
Press the power button, then immediately hold down Option (Alt), Command, P, and R keys.
-
Keep holding the keys for about 20 seconds, even if your Mac seems to restart.
-
If your Mac plays a startup chime, release the keys after hearing the second chime.
-
If your Mac has a T2 chip, release the keys after the Apple logo disappears for the second time.
After your Mac restarts, some basic settings—such as time zone or volume—may need to be readjusted.
6. Run Apple Diagnostics
By now, hopefully your Mac has restarted and is running. If not, you can use the Apple Diagnostics tool to check for hardware issues. This tool checks for problems, suggests fixes, or shows your support options.
-
Disconnect all unnecessary external devices, such as printers. You can keep the keyboard, mouse, and display connected if needed.
-
Press the power button.
-
Hold down the D key. Keep holding it until you see a screen asking you to choose a language.
-
Select a language, and Apple Diagnostics will begin its tests. These tests take a few minutes to complete.
Once finished, you’ll see the test results. Some issues will suggest quick fixes and give you an option to rerun the test. Others will generate reference codes, which you can look up on the Apple Diagnostics page. It will also show your Mac support options. If no problems are detected, the issue is likely not hardware-related.
On Macs released before June 2013, you’ll get Apple Hardware Test instead. It is activated in the same way and works on the same principle. Choose your language, then click “Test” to begin.
7. Use Recovery Mode Tools
Every Mac hard drive has a special Recovery partition. This is separate from the full macOS boot and provides a set of tools to help you repair your computer.
To boot into Recovery:
-
Press the power button.
-
Hold down the Command and R keys.
-
Release the keys when you see the Apple logo.
-
Once booted, you will see a new macOS Utilities menu.
The first tool to try is Disk Utility. This is a version of the same tool available in macOS that lets you scan and repair your hard drive or SSD. Select your drive, then click First Aid to begin the repair process.
Additional tools are available from the Utilities menu, including the Terminal for more advanced users.
8. Reinstall macOS in Recovery Mode
If you’ve reached this point, your issue is likely not hardware-related and not solvable by a simple software fix. The best solution now is to restore a Time Machine backup or completely reinstall macOS.
You can do this through Recovery. Press the power button and hold Command + R to start.
If you have a recent Time Machine backup, you can restore it to see if it resolves your problem. If not, select Reinstall macOS from the menu.
When you choose to reinstall macOS, the system gives you the option to format your disk. If you only want to repair your installation, do not choose this option—reinstalling macOS over itself is safe.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. You will need an internet connection because the tool downloads the operating system from scratch. If this does not resolve the problem, you may need to boot your Mac from a USB drive.
Check for Other Warning Signs on Your Mac
All Macs, whether high-end MacBook Pros or older iMacs, are known for reliability. However, they can still encounter issues.
Although fixing a Mac that won’t start is usually fairly straightforward, it’s best to check for warning signs and address problems before they occur.
Follow the recommendations in our guide to identify and solve common macOS issues—from memory problems to malware—to keep your Mac running smoothly and trouble-free.
If your MacBook won’t turn on, you can find reliable troubleshooting tips and repair solutions at BatteryMall.com.
Want to learn more about MacBook care, battery maintenance, and common fixes? Please visit: BatteryMall.com/blogs/support.
0 comments