Symptoms
- Screen is completely black but the Mac appears to be running (fans, sounds, or lit keyboard)
- External display also shows nothing if connected
- Caps Lock key or other keyboard lights still respond normally
- Mac makes a startup chime or sound but the screen stays dark
Likely causes
- CommonA stuck sleep/wake state despite the Mac otherwise runningThe system can be awake internally while the display itself stays off.
- CommonA display or graphics driver glitchThis can cause the screen to fail to initialize even though the Mac is functioning.
- PossibleExtremely low screen brightness accidentally setOccasionally the simplest explanation is the display being nearly all the way dimmed.
- PossibleA failed macOS update or startup processAn interrupted update can sometimes leave the display unresponsive.
- PossibleA hardware fault with the display, backlight, or graphics chipThis is more likely if the issue persists across multiple restarts and external displays.
What to do
- Check screen brightness by pressing the brightness-up key a few times in case it's simply turned all the way down.
- Connect an external display if possible to see if the Mac outputs video there, which would point to an internal display issue rather than a full system failure.
- Force a restart by holding the power button for about 10 seconds, then press it again to power on.
- Listen for a startup chime or feel for fan activity to confirm whether the Mac is actually powering on.
- Reset the SMC and, on Intel Macs, the NVRAM/PRAM (hold Option+Command+P+R at startup) to clear display-related settings.
- Boot into Safe Mode to see if the display works there, which can indicate a software rather than hardware cause.
- Shine a flashlight at an angle very close to the screen to check for a very faint image, which would indicate a backlight failure rather than a total display failure.
- If none of these restore the display, especially with an external monitor also showing nothing, the issue likely needs professional repair.
Tools and parts
- Flashlight
- External display and cable (for testing)
When to call a pro
If the screen stays black across restarts, resets, and external display tests, an Apple Store or authorized repair shop can diagnose a display, backlight, or graphics hardware fault.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.