What Steps To Take When Your MacBook Won’t Turn On

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Even though Macs are pretty reliable, they won’t always work perfectly because same as any other computer, a Mac isn’t resistant to errors, and hardware and software issues. If your MacBook won’t turn on, there are a few steps that you can take and we are going to share them here.

See also: How to take a Mac screenshot

MacBook won't turn on

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What to do if MacBook won’t turn on

If your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro won’t turn on, there are a couple of things you can try before you take your computer to the Apple Store. The steps we are going to talk about are not some extreme measures, these are really simple solutions, which means that you won’t cause any damage by trying them out.

Check the power

When MacBook won’t turn on, the best place to start is by checking if the computer has power. Take a look at the adapter and the power cable to make sure these are firmly connected and properly plugged in. Good connection from the computer to the outlet is a must.

The other thing you need to check is if the wall outlet working or not, so plug another electrical device. If everything is ok with the outlet, try using another adapter or power cable if possible. Perhaps the cable is damaged. Also, if the battery is empty, keep in mind that Mac won’t turn on the same second when you plug it in, which means it won’t respond if you press the power button. Wait for a few seconds, and then try again.

Power button

Another solution that you should try is to press the power button on your computer and keep holding it for ten seconds. After that, try to turn your computer on, by pressing the power button again. If your MacBook won’t turn on, move to the next step.

Unplug the accessories

In case any devices or accessories are plugged into your Mac, such as your mobile device, USB hub, printer, or any other, what you need to do is to disconnect such devices. When you do that, press the power button, and see if your computer will turn on.

MacBook won't turn on

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Check the hardware

Issues like this one, when MacBook won’t turn on, may occur if you recently installed a drive or memory on your computer. You need to make that a drive or a memory is supported and compatible. Most importantly, these components should be properly installed and securely placed. On its official website, Apple shared a detailed guide on how to remove or install memory, so you should check it out:

MacBook won't turn on

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System Management Controller (SMC) reset

If the previous steps we shared didn’t help, and if your Mac won’t turn on, resetting SMC may help. As Apple recommended, this is something you should try only if you already tried standard troubleshooting (in this case, the steps we shared above).

When it comes to SMC reset, what you need to do depends on the battery on your computer.

If your computer has a non-removable battery, follow these steps:

  • Plug in the power cord to a power source.
  • At the same time, press Shift/Control/Option keys located on the left side, and the power button.
  • Release the power button and the keys all at once.
  • To turn on your Mac, press the power button.

If your computer has a removable battery, follow these steps:

  • If the power adapter is connected to Mac, disconnect it.
  • Remove the battery from your computer.
  • Press the power button, and hold it for five seconds.
  • Release the button.
  • Put the battery back.
  • Reconnect the power adapter.
  • To turn on your Mac, press the power button.

If you tried all these steps, and your MacBook won’t turn on, you should take your computer to one of the Apple Stores nearby.

You can also read: How to recover not readable photos inside Micro SD card on Mac

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