A dead MacBook that won’t turn on can be frustrating. But don’t worry, there are several troubleshooting steps you can try to revive your MacBook. With some basic tools and a systematic approach, you can often resolve the issue yourself and get your MacBook up and running again.
First Steps for Troubleshooting a Dead MacBook
When your MacBook won’t power on, the first thing to do is check the basics. Here are some initial troubleshooting steps:
- Make sure the MacBook is plugged in. If the battery is completely dead, you’ll need to connect the power adapter for the MacBook to turn on.
- Check that the power adapter is working correctly. Try a different power cable if you have one available. Make sure the adapter is firmly plugged into both the MacBook and wall outlet.
- Press and hold the power button for at least 10 seconds to reset the MacBook hardware.
- Try starting up your MacBook in safe mode. To do this, hold down the Shift key while powering on.
- Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) by pressing Shift-Control-Option on the left side of the built-in keyboard, then press the power button at the same time. Hold these keys and the power button for 10 seconds.
If you don’t see anything on the display or hear any sounds after trying these basic steps, move on to the advanced troubleshooting techniques below.
Check for Signs of Life
Before you assume your MacBook is completely dead, check for any signs of life:
- Listen for any noises from the fans or hard drive when attempting to turn it on.
- Look for any indicator lights near the ports that may blink when connected to power.
- Connect the MagSafe power adapter and see if the LED indicator light comes on.
- Press the caps lock key and see if the indicator light toggles on and off.
If you observe the LED on the MagSafe adapter or caps lock key illuminating, that indicates some power is getting through. That’s a good sign as it means the logic board is likely functioning.
Try an SMC Reset
Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) can sometimes resolve quirky power-related problems. To reset the SMC on a MacBook:
- Shut down your MacBook
- Unplug the power cable
- Press and hold Shift-Control-Option keys on the left side of the keyboard and the power button simultaneously for 10 seconds
- Release all keys
- Plug in the power cable and turn your MacBook back on
This resets the MacBook’s power management system hardware, which can clear up problems like a dead display or fans not starting up when attempting to turn on.
Attempt Target Disk Mode
Target disk mode allows one Mac to access another Mac’s hard drive. You can use this feature to potentially back up data from the internal drive of a dead MacBook.
To try target disk mode:
- Connect your MacBook to another Mac using a Firewire or Thunderbolt cable.
- Power on the dead MacBook while holding down the T key.
- The other Mac should now mount and recognize the hard drive of your MacBook so you can transfer files.
If this method works, you know the hard drive on the dead MacBook is likely still functioning properly and your issue is isolated to the power or logic board.
Check RAM
Issues with the MacBook’s RAM (memory) could prevent your laptop from powering up properly. To troubleshoot this:
- Power off your MacBook and unplug the power cable.
- Carefully remove the bottom case to access the internal components.
- Remove and reseat the RAM modules one at a time, making sure they are fully pushed in.
- Try powering on your MacBook after each RAM module is reseated.
If this allows your MacBook to turn on, you know the issue was related to the RAM seating. If it still doesn’t turn on, try replacing the RAM with new modules one by one and testing each time.
Reset NVRAM
Resetting the NVRAM (non-volatile RAM) can help resolve software-related startup issues.
To reset NVRAM on a MacBook:
- Shut down your MacBook.
- Press and hold Option-Command-P-R immediately after pressing the power button.
- Keep holding the keys until your MacBook reboots and you hear the startup chime a second time.
- Release the keys after the second startup chime.
This will clear out any corrupted NVRAM data that may be preventing your MacBook from booting up properly.
Check for Physical Damage
Physically inspect your MacBook for any signs of damage that could cause startup issues:
- Look for cracks in the logic board or damaged ports.
- Check for detached or loose display cables.
- Inspect for signs of liquid damage inside the case.
- Examine the battery for swelling or leakage.
Liquid damage in particular can short circuit components and stop power from flowing properly. If you see evidence of significant physical damage, you may need to have your MacBook repaired or replaced.
Attempt a PRAM Reset
Resetting the Parameter RAM (PRAM) can help clear out power management and other settings that may be preventing startup.
To reset PRAM on a MacBook:
- Shut down your MacBook.
- Press and hold Option-Command-P-R as you turn on the power.
- Keep holding the keys until your MacBook reboots.
- Release the keys after you hear the startup chime a second time.
Some MacBook startup issues are tied to PRAM parameters, so this reset can fix them in some cases.
Try Safe Mode
Booting into safe mode starts your MacBook with only the essential kernel extensions and software. This allows you to isolate software-related startup problems.
To boot into safe mode:
- Fully shut down your MacBook.
- Press and hold the Shift key immediately after powering on.
- Keep holding Shift until you see the login screen appear.
- Sign in then restart your computer normally once in safe mode.
If your MacBook successfully boots up in safe mode, you can then restart back into normal mode and see if the issue persists. This helps identify software conflicts.
Check Startup Disk Settings
Make sure your MacBook is set to boot from the correct drive:
- Power on your MacBook and press Option-Command-R to boot to recovery mode.
- When the recovery menu appears, select Disk Utility.
- Select your usual startup disk/volume.
- Click First Aid to check for and repair disk errors.
- Make sure your startup disk is highlighted in the sidebar.
- Exit Disk Utility and select Restart from the menu.
This ensures your MacBook tries to boot from the expected startup disk rather than an external drive or other volume.
Reinstall macOS
If your MacBook starts up but is acting erratically, reinstalling macOS may fix software corruption that could be preventing normal boot.
To reinstall the MacBook operating system:
- Boot to recovery mode by holding Command-R on startup.
- Select Reinstall macOS from the utilities window.
- Follow the prompts to reinstall the latest macOS version.
- Choose your startup disk when asked to select a destination.
- Allow the reinstallation process to complete.
This will overwrite any OS files that may have become damaged or corrupted with fresh versions.
Reset SMC and PRAM Together
For a more comprehensive reset of power and firmware parameters, reset both the SMC and PRAM in sequence:
- Shut down your MacBook.
- First reset the SMC by holding Shift-Control-Option and the power button together for 10 seconds.
- Immediately reset PRAM next by holding Option-Command-P-R during startup until the second chime.
- Your MacBook will then power up with default settings.
Doing both these resets together can fix underlying firmware issues causing startup failures.
Attempt Data Recovery
If all else fails and your MacBook will not start up, you may need to recover your data before further troubleshooting or repairs:
- Remove the hard drive and connect it externally to another Mac using a USB enclosure or adapter cable.
- Scan and recover your files from the external drive.
- Alternatively, take your MacBook to a data recovery specialist for professional file extraction.
As a last resort before more invasive repairs, data recovery can at least ensure you don’t lose your important files and documents.
Conclusion
Troubleshooting a MacBook that won’t turn on requires methodical isolation of the issue. Start with simple steps like checking connections and power resetting hardware. If the problem persists, progressively move on to software resets, reinstalling macOS, and data recovery. With persistence and by working through each potential fix, you can often revive an unresponsive MacBook.
| Troubleshooting Step | Details |
|---|---|
| Check basics | Confirm power cable connection, try SMC reset |
| Check for signs of life | Listen for fan noise, check indicator lights |
| Attempt target disk mode | Connect to another Mac to access files |
| Reseat RAM modules | Remove and reinsert RAM sticks one by one |
| Reset NVRAM | Clears parameter settings that could prevent boot |
| Check for physical damage | Inspect for liquid damage or broken components |
| PRAM reset | Resets power management and other firmware settings |
| Safe mode boot | Isolates software and extension issues |
| Check startup disk | Confirms boot volume and repairs errors |
| Reinstall macOS | Overwrites corrupted system files |
| Reset SMC and PRAM | Comprehensive firmware reset |
| Data recovery | Extract files before further repair attempts |
Having a dead MacBook may seem like a catastrophic failure, but methodical troubleshooting can often pinpoint and resolve the underlying issue. Don’t give up hope if your MacBook initially refuses to turn on. With persistence and by working through the potential solutions above, you have a good chance of reviving your unresponsive Apple laptop.