Here are the steps to do if your MacBook Pro won’t turn on and if it won’t charge.
I’ll walk you through on how to fix these issues I’m dealing with when my MacBook Pro won’t turn on. You can also use this if your MacBook won’t turn on. After you get it up and running again, you might want to check if you need a MacBook Pro battery.
Dealing with a MacBook that won’t turn on is a huge hassle and never happens when you have time to deal with the problem. I’ll help you try out the easy steps you can do yourself to fix your MacBook or MacBook Pro, and what to do if that doesn’t work.
You don’t need to be an expert or understand computers to solve this problem.
How To Fix My MacBook Pro Won’t Turn On In 10 Seconds
This is how you can fix a MacBook Pro that won’t turn on.
With the new MacBook Pro, I find it often won’t turn on after putting the MacBook Pro to sleep and connecting it to a dock. Here are some things to try before more complex tasks.
- Remove all accessories from your MacBook Pro – Everything.
- Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds. Here you should close the laptop with a small click or buzz.
- Press the power button again.
- Wait for the MacBook Pro to boot up.
This doesn’t always work, but it is the fastest way to fix a MacBook not turning on. It works for minor hiccups that occur in macOS when laptop won’t turn on after being put to sleep or left in a bag overnight.
First Things to Check When Your MacBook Pro Won’t Turn On
The first thing you should do is make sure that your MacBook Pro is not booting. This may seem like the problem, but it could also be a screen issue or a charging issue.
Do you observe any of the following when you press the power button;
If you answered yes to any of these questions, the good news is that your MacBook Pro boots up. The bad news is that there is something wrong with the screen.
To fix this temporarily, try plugging your MacBook Pro into a monitor or TV with an HDMI cable or similar. If you have a 2016 or newer MacBook, you will need an adapter or a USB C to HDMI cable to test it.
In cases where your screen is not working but your MacBook Pro is still showing up on a connected monitor, you can use it that way until you visit an Apple Store or a repair shop to have your screen repaired.
Test Your MacBook Pro’s Charge and Power
Check your charger. This could be a reason why your MacBook Pro won’t turn on.
If you did not solve your problem in the above section, you should now check the charge and power of your MacBook Pro. Yes, you might think everything is working and nothing is wrong, but I fixed an older MacBook Pro not turning on by switching to another charger.
Most of the time the problem is power related. It’s easy to dismiss this, but charging cables can break and chargers can break. This is especially true if you often keep the charger in a bag and always wrap and untie it.
MacBook Pro Won’t Turn On? Try Safe Mode
Apple includes a special version of Mac OS that will boot when your computer is not working properly. If you can get your MacBook Pro to boot in Safe Mode, you’re halfway through solving the problem on your own.
- Start with your Mac turned off, probably since it’s not booting.
- Press the power button and immediately hold down the shift button.
- The Apple logo should appear on your screen.
- Keep holding the key until you see a login screen.
If that works, you are now in Safe Mode and can start troubleshooting. If your MacBook stopped turning on right after you installed something or made a big change, try uninstalling the app you installed.
In some cases simply booting to safe mode will fix the problem. Try restarting normally and see if your MacBook Pro boots up as it should.
Reset SMC to Fix Your MacBook Pro
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Another step you can try to fix your MacBook Pro is to reset the SMC. This is the System Management Controller and it does many tasks for your Mac, including the power button, waking the MacBook Pro when you open the lid, and much more.
If your MacBook Pro is too new to remove the battery, these are the instructions for resetting the SMC.
- Make sure your Mac is turned off; If it doesn’t open, no problem.
- Hold down Shift + Control + Option and hold the power button for 10 seconds.
- Release the keys after 10 seconds, wait a second and press the power button to see if it turns on.
The process is different on the 2018 MacBook Pro. You need to turn off the computer. Next, press and hold the power button for 8 seconds. Wait a few seconds and then press the power button again to turn on your Mac.
This won’t fix every problem, but it’s an easy step you can try to fix your laptop.
Remove RAM or Secondary Drive
If you’ve ever booted up your Macbook Pro to upgrade RAM or add a new hard drive, that could be the problem. It may even be a problem after a few months.
I had to remove RAM on a 2015 MacBook Pro as RAM stopped working properly. Installing the old RAM fixed the problem.
If you’ve just upgraded a hard drive or SSD, you may need to do the same. It’s an annoying step but a good way to rule out something simple.
Try Recovery Mode
This is a long time since your MacBook Pro needs to be powered on to work, but it’s worth a try before seeking professional help.
- Hold down Command + R and press the power button on your Mac.
- Release the power button but keep holding Command and R until you see the Apple logo.
- If that works, you will see a macOS Utilities Menu.
From here you can restore from a Time Machine Backup or reinstall macOS. There’s a good chance this won’t work, but it’s worth a try if you’re not near a repair shop.
Bring Your MacBook Pro to Apple
If none of the above options helped, you will either need to take your Mac to an Apple Store, a local repair shop, or start working on a DIY solution to repair your MacBook Pro that won’t turn on.
For most users, the next step is to set up a Genius Appointment at the nearest Apple Store. If you have three years of AppleCare or AppleCare+ for your MacBook Pro, you can get repair service at an Apple Store at no additional charge. If you have a warranty, this is your best bet.
If you don’t have AppleCare, you can still get a free repair or replacement service. Check this out List of Apple Exchange and Repair Extension programs To see if your MacBook Pro is turned off
You can also go to an Apple Store to get a free diagnosis. If you’re out of warranty, Apple will continue to test the MacBook Pro to see what can be done. Sometimes they can fix something for free in a few minutes. In other cases, they can tell you what’s wrong so you can decide whether you want to fix the problem yourself or pay them to fix it. You will receive an estimate before any repairs are made.
Another option is to go to a local computer or Apple repair shop to find out what is wrong and how much they will charge to fix it. This may be cheaper, but it’s a good idea to check reviews and find out what warranty the work comes with.
Finally, if you know what’s wrong and are comfortable ordering new parts online and replacing them yourself, you can opt for a do-it-yourself repair. You can use Tools from iFixit and guides on iFixit To disassemble your MacBook Pro and replace parts to boot.