A dead MacBook Pro that won’t turn on can be frustrating. However, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to try and revive your MacBook Pro.
Quick Overview
Here is a quick overview of the steps to try when your MacBook Pro won’t turn on:
- Charge the MacBook Pro – Plug in the charger and let it charge for at least 15 minutes.
- Reset the SMC – Reset the System Management Controller to restore startup functions.
- Reset NVRAM – Reset the Mac’s non-volatile RAM to clear any software issues.
- Try safe mode – Boot into safe mode to isolate software issues.
- Check for water damage – Look for corrosion or water indicators inside the chassis.
- Remove peripheral devices – Unplug any connected devices like external drives.
- Check the battery condition – The battery may need to be replaced if it’s worn out.
- Use external monitor – Connect an external display to rule out a bad laptop screen.
- Re-seat internal connectors – Check that internal cables and connectors are properly seated.
- Reset PRAM – Reset the Mac’s Parameter RAM as a last resort.
If none of these steps work, the MacBook Pro likely requires professional service or repair.
Step 1: Charge the MacBook Pro
If your MacBook Pro won’t turn on, the first step is to plug it into the charger and let it charge for at least 15 minutes. Use the Apple power adapter that came with your MacBook Pro, or an equivalent charger designed specifically for MacBooks.
While the MacBook is charging, check for an LED indicator on the MagSafe connector to see if it lights up. On newer MacBook Pros with USB-C charging, check for a charging status light next to the port. If you see a light, it means your MacBook is receiving power.
Give the MacBook Pro some time to charge before trying to turn it on again. The battery may have become fully depleted, so let it charge for at least 15 minutes up to an hour or more.
If there are no indicator lights when connected to power, the issue could be with your AC adapter, battery, or charging port/logic board. You can test with another compatible Mac charger if available.
Step 2: Reset the SMC
If charging the battery does not help your MacBook Pro turn on, the next step is resetting the SMC or System Management Controller. The SMC controls functions like power management, battery charging, sleep/wake functions, temperature sensors, and other low-level functions on MacBooks.
Resetting the SMC will clear any glitches or issues that may be preventing system startup. Here are the steps to reset SMC on different MacBook Pro models:
For MacBook Pros with Removable Batteries
- Shut down the MacBook Pro
- Remove the battery from the bottom
- Unplug the MagSafe power adapter from the Mac
- Hold down the power button for 5 seconds
- Release the power button and wait a few seconds
- Put the battery back in and plug in the power adapter
- Turn on the MacBook Pro as normal
For MacBook Pros with Non-Removable Batteries
- Shut down the MacBook Pro
- Plug in the MagSafe or USB-C power adapter
- Press left Shift – Control – Option keys and the power button at the same time. Hold for 10 seconds.
- Release all keys
- Press the power button again to turn on the MacBook Pro
The SMC reset process clears any unusual conditions that may be preventing the MacBook Pro from turning on. Try powering up the MacBook Pro normally after resetting SMC to see if the issue is resolved.
Step 3: Reset NVRAM on your Mac
NVRAM or non-volatile RAM stores certain settings and information that OS X and Mac apps use for proper functioning. Resetting NVRAM can help clear any corrupted data that may be causing system problems.
Follow these steps to reset NVRAM on MacBook Pro:
- Shut down your MacBook Pro
- Turn it on and immediately press and hold Command + Option + P + R keys together
- Keep holding the keys until you hear the startup chime again
- Release the keys after second startup chime
- Mac will restart with NVRAM reset
This should clear any invalid or improperly configured NVRAM settings that may be preventing a normal system boot. Try turning on MacBook Pro as usual after performing NVRAM reset.
Step 4: Start up in Safe Mode
Booting into Safe Mode starts up your MacBook Pro with only essential software and services. This allows you to isolate certain software issues or conflicts that may be preventing proper startup.
To start in Safe Mode:
- Restart your MacBook Pro
- Immediately press and hold the Shift key after hearing startup chime
- Keep holding Shift until you see the login window
- If MacBook Pro boots up, restart again without holding Shift to exit Safe Mode
If the MacBook successfully starts up in Safe Mode, the problem may be related to third-party apps, software drivers, or system extensions. Updating or uninstalling problem software could resolve the issue.
Step 5: Check for Liquid Damage
If your MacBook Pro still won’t turn on, liquid damage is a possibility, especially if you have spilled liquids on or near your Mac. Shutdowns, boot failures, and dead MacBooks can occur due to liquid corroding electronic circuits inside the computer.
Carefully inspect the external chassis of the MacBook Pro for any visible signs of corrosion or stains from liquid. Pay close attention near intake vents, ports, under keyboard keys, etc.
If possible, open up the bottom case and examine the internals. Look for moisture or corrosion on the logic board, connectors, thermal sensors, etc. You may need a qualified repair shop to properly examine internal components.
MacBooks have small liquid contact indicator strips inside that change color when exposed to moisture. If you see any color changes on the strips, liquid damage is present.
Unfortunately liquid damage often requires component replacements or board-level repairs to fix. Severe liquid damage can permanently destroy electronic circuits.
Step 6: Disconnect Accessories and Peripherals
Try unplugging any accessories connected to your MacBook Pro that may be interfering with the system starting up properly.
Eject any SD cards or external drives. Disconnect devices like printers, scanners, cameras, or music players attached to USB or Thunderbolt ports. Remove any adapters, dongles, or hubs connected to the system.
Also inspect ports and connectors on your MacBook Pro for any damage, broken pins, or debris inside that may be shorting out connections. Damaged ports could prevent proper power delivery or data transfer.
Removing any unnecessary external devices improves startup reliability by isolating the MacBook Pro hardware itself. Try powering up again without peripherals attached.
Step 7: Check Your MacBook Battery
If your MacBook Pro battery is worn out or damaged, it could be preventing normal system operation or boot up. Batteries have a limited lifespan and can lose charging capacity over time and repeated charge cycles. Symptoms like a bulging battery case, random shutdowns with sufficient charge, or the laptop shutting down immediately after startup indicate battery replacement is needed.
First make sure your MacBook Pro battery is in good physical condition with no case swelling or leaking fluid. Then check battery charge levels and health in System Information:
- Go to Apple Menu > About This Mac > System Report
- Under Hardware > Power, check Charge Information
- Also check Battery Information to see Cycle Count and Condition
Compare the Maximum Capacity with Original Capacity values – significant lower capacity indicates battery is due for replacement. A high cycle count over 1000 charges also suggests the battery is worn out.
Stop using battery if you see swelling or leaks. Consult an Apple service center or qualified repair shop for battery replacement to restore normal MacBook Pro functionality.
Step 8: Connect an External Monitor
Using a secondary external monitor can help determine if the MacBook Pro’s failure to turn on is due to a bad logic board or internal hardware failure versus an issue with the built-in laptop screen or connections.
Connect an external monitor or TV to your MacBook Pro’s HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, or USB-C port depending on model. If the external display shows the normal Mac login screen but your laptop screen remains black, it points to a failed laptop display or ribbon cable.
However if the external monitor also does not turn on or show anything, it is likely a broader internal hardware failure on the logic board, RAM, storage, or critical power delivery circuits.
Step 9: Reseat Internal Connectors
Another possibility for a MacBook Pro not turning on properly is an internal connector or socket that has become loose or dislodged. This affects critical data and power transfer paths.
The most common connections to check inside a MacBook Pro are:
- Logic board power connector cable
- Display/monitor cable
- SSD/hard drive connectors
- Memory RAM sockets
- Keyboard ribbon cable
- Battery connector and cable
Carefully open up the MacBook Pro and reseat all connectors by disconnecting and plugging them back in properly. Make sure cables are fully inserted and snapped into their sockets. Also check that cable locking clips or screws are tightened in place.
This simple step of reseating connectors often resolves no power issues caused by loose or misaligned connections. Assemble the MacBook Pro back and see if properly seating the connectors allows it to start up normally.
Step 10: Reset PRAM
The PRAM or Parameter RAM stores a variety of hardware settings used by OS X for things like display resolution, startup disk selection, and sleep/wake config. Resetting PRAM can help clear any problematic settings that are stopping boot up.
To reset PRAM on MacBook Pro models follow these steps:
- Shut down MacBook Pro and turn it on
- Immediately press and hold Option-Command-P-R keys
- Keep holding keys until Mac restarts and you hear startup chime again
- Release keys after second startup chime
The PRAM reset clears any corrupted or bad parameter values that could cause startup failures. Try normally powering up MacBook Pro after performing PRAM reset to see if issue is resolved.
Conclusion
To summarize, here are the steps to troubleshoot and try to turn on a dead MacBook Pro that won’t start up:
- Charge MacBook Pro for at least 15 minutes
- Reset the SMC controller
- Reset NVRAM
- Start up in Safe Mode
- Check for liquid damage
- Disconnect peripherals and accessories
- Check condition of battery
- Connect external monitor
- Reseat internal cable connectors
- Reset PRAM
Following this structured troubleshooting approach can help isolate what is preventing your MacBook Pro from turning on properly. In many cases, you may be able to resolve a failed startup on your own with these steps.
However if your MacBook Pro still does not start up after trying these solutions, the underlying problem is likely hardware-related. A component like the logic board, display, or internal cables may have failed and need repair or replacement.
For complex hardware issues requiring component-level repairs, seek assistance from Apple support or a qualified Mac repair center. They can diagnose the specific failed parts and provide the needed service to get your MacBook Pro working again.