MacBook Won’t Start? 9 Things You Can Try

Your MacBook doesn’t turn on and it brings you right here. Whenever you press your Mac’s power button or Touch ID, it doesn’t start and seems to be dead. Countless reasons can be responsible for a Mac that doesn’t turn on.

Don’t panic as you can restore your Mac and get it up and running with the following fixes suggested by MacBook Repair Dubai specialists. We get how stressful an experience it is as you can’t use the Mac where you have tasks pending. Let’s check out the potential solutions without wasting your time.

How to Fix a MacBook that Doesn’t Turn on?

Before proceeding with the solutions for your Mac not starting, it’s better to evaluate the underlying reasons. If you can detect the exact reason then it will be easier to apply the fix and restore your Mac. As reported by a MacBook Repair Dubai shop, the following causes are more common for a malfunctioning Mac that doesn’t start:

• Dead battery
• Defective power adapter
• Damaged charging cable
• Software glitches
• Damaged keyboard
• Faulty RAM
• Defective trackpad
• Display issues
• Interference from connected peripherals

If you are not aware of the reason, you can try the following solutions one by one and see which one clicks.

1. Test Power Connections

A MacBook that has drained all its battery won’t turn on unless and until you plug it into its power supply. So, press the power button or Touch ID on the Mac and observe whether you can hear any sort of spinning drive or fan noises. If not, then your MacBook fails to turn on and an exhausted battery can be responsible for this.

Hence, connect your MacBook to its charger and execute the following checks as recommended by a MacBook repair in Dubai. 

• Start by checking the power outlet. For example, you can plug a lamp or anything convenient into the same power outlet to make sure that the outlet is working. Or else, you can change the outlet.
• A damaged AC power cord won’t be enough for your MacBook to charge. Look for wear and tear on your existing AC power cable and tightly connect the cable to the charger.
• Furthermore, a frayed DC cable will prevent your Mac from charging successfully. Replace it if you find signs of damage.
• If your Mac still doesn’t turn on, use an original adapter along with other power supplies to test your MacBook’s power connections.

2. Remove External Accessories from Your Mac

MacBook Repair Services Dubai experts have confirmed that your Mac can automatically turn off and stay shut if it detects peripherals that have short circuits. Similar incidents can happen when a peripheral draws too much power from your Mac. 

The System Management Controller equipment of your Mac will protect your device from such types of harm. So, a MacBook repair near me recommends unplugging all the attached external accessories from your system, including the following ones:

• USB hub
• Printer cable
• HDMI cable
• External USB hard drive
• MagSafe
• Mini display cable, etc.

If your Mac turns on after removing all the peripherals then it can be one of them that has been restricting your device from powering on. Inspect your Mac accessories one by one before you connect them to your device again. 

Check for physical or external damage or you can plug them one by one to see which one shuts down your MacBook. Make sure you don’t use the faulty hardware anymore.

3. Boot Your Mac to Recovery Mode

Inspect your MacBook closely and see if you can hear sounds from your computer. If yes, then you can try this solution. Let your MacBook boot into Recovery Mode. In short, this fix is necessary if your MacBook experiences any interference from startup items or programs.

According to a MacBook repair Dubai shop, here’s how you can boot your Mac into Recovery Mode:

• Turn off your MacBook by holding the power button.
• Now, turn it back on.
• While your MacBook is booting, use the keyboard combination of Command + R.
• The macOS Utility window must appear.
• Now, reboot your Mac.

Check if your MacBook starts normally.

4. Power Cycle Your MacBook

This specific simple fix may work wonders for you and your Macbook if you’re in luck. Indeed, MacBook repair services Dubai professionals tell how you can get a power cycle on your Mac:

• Start by plugging your Mac into its respective charger.
• After that, hold your computer’s power button for 10 seconds minimum. This step will drain all the remaining power from your Mac. probably, you will get a chime while executing this step.
• Wait for a while before you turn your MacBook back on.

Now, see if your MacBook starts or remains dead.

5. Reset the T2 or SMC Chip

Are you still struggling with a Mac that doesn’t turn on? Try resetting the SMC or T2 chip depending on your Mac model. The latest MacBooks with Apple silicon have their System Management Controller or SMC chips in the T2 security chip or Apple M1 and M2 CPUs. 

MacBook repair services in Dubai suspect that an error with the SMC or T2 chip can lead you to a device that refuses to turn on. So, you can follow the guidelines below if you have one of these newest MacBooks with Apple silicon:

• Hold the power button for 10 seconds to ensure that your Mac stays shut.
• Next, hold the following 3 keys for 7 seconds: Left Control, Left Option, and Right Shift.
• Afterwards, hold the power button with them. Keep these 4 keys pressed for another 7seconds. Make sure you release all these 4 keys at once.
• Wait for a while and then, turn on the Mac.

For Intel-Based MacBooks

If you have an Intel-based Mac with a non-removable battery then it has a separate SMC chip and is not integrated into another chip. A Macbook repair in Duba suggests the following steps to reset the SMC:

• Hold the power button for 10 seconds to keep it shut.
• After that, connect your MagSafe charger to the MacBook and hold the following keys simultaneously for 10 seconds: Left Shift, Left Control, Left Option, and Power.
• Once 10 seconds are over, release those keys.
• Now, press the power button to turn on your Mac and see if the device turns on.

Also, you need to reset the SMC of a MacBook that comes with a removable battery if the system doesn’t power on no matter how many times you press the power button. Here’s what you need to go through, as recommended by a MacBook repair in Dubai:

• Keep your Mac turned off and ensure it by holding the power button for 10 seconds straight.
• Now, unplug your Mac’s power adapter from it and detach the battery.
• Afterwards, hold the power button for 5 seconds. This step will discharge all the remaining electric energy in the SMC circuit’s capacitors. Otherwise, you have to wait longer for the MacBook to discharge on its own.
• Next, you can reload the battery into your MacBook.

By now, the SMC chip of your MacBook should have been reset successfully. Proceed with the next fixes if you still see an unresponsive and black screen on your Mac display.

6. Reset Your Mac’s Memory Partitions (PRAM/NVRAM)

Though Apple silicon-based Macbooks don’t allow an NVRAM reset, you can simply reboot your device. If you have an Intel-based MacBook then you need to go through dedicated guidelines for resetting PRAM/NVRAM. This is because these memory partitions store the following information for your Mac:

• Startup disk selection
• Kernel panic details
• Volume settings
• Screen resolution and more

So, a quick reset of the PRAM/NVRAM equipment of your Mac can fix issues with the above elements and bring life back to the device. As per a MacBook repair near me, you need the following steps to reset your Mac’s PRAM or NVRAM.

• Turn off your Mac. Ensure its shutdown state by holding the power button for a minimum of 10 seconds.
• Now, hold the following 4 keys: Command, Option (Alt), P, and R.
• Immediately, press the Power button to turn on the device without releasing the above 4 keys. Let go of these keys only when the Mac restarts. For better results, allow your MacBook to restart twice.
• Once your Macbook restarts once or twice, release those keys at the same time.

7. Watch out for Defective Screen Signs

Your Mac doesn’t show anything on the screen and hence, you assume that it doesn’t start or turn on. Chances are that your Mac may be powered on already and its display doesn’t function. Macbook repair services in Dubai state how you can avoid misdiagnosis by looking out for these signs:

• Can you hear a startup chime when you turn on your Macbook? Apart from this, you can hold your MacBook closely to your ears and check if you can hear noises from the fans or spinning drive. If you can sense a noise or wind from your Mac vents then screen or motherboard problems might be present.
• Try to increase the brightness level using the dedicated function keys on your Mac. otherwise, it can be a backlight issue. Additionally, press the Caps Lock key and see if the respective light turns on. Then, you can be sure of whether it’s a severe hardware failure or not.

8. Check for a Damaged RAM

Do you get to listen to consecutive beeps from your MacBook when it appears to be dead? Then, your Mac is likely to have RAM issues. As confirmed by a MacBook repair Dubai specialist, your Mac can beep every 5 seconds if it doesn’t detect any RAM.

Have you recently installed a new RAM on your system? Then, chances are that the RAM is not properly seated. On the other hand, a Mac can give you 3 consecutive beeps with a 5-second pause if the RAM fails in a data integrity check. So, correctly install RAM modules on your MacBook to make sure no issue is there.

If the problem persists, then you need a chip-level repair service from a MacBook service near you. Based on your MacBook model, the cost of this particular service may vary.

9. Is This a Battery Damage?

A swollen battery can make your MacBook’s screen blank since the lifeline has discharged itself completely. You can open up the case of your MacBook and see if the battery is swollen for a device with a non-removable battery model.

You need to get the battery replaced, as well. Otherwise, you can take out the battery if possible and plug the charger into your device. Let it charge for a minimum of 10 minutes before you turn it on.

What Else Can You Try?

Hardware failures can make your Mac obsolete. You can opt for restoring the T2 security chip firmware by connecting the bricked Mac to a working one. However, the process can be quite complicated. So, consult with a MacBook repair service in Dubai before you decide to throw your Mac out.