Mac won't turn on

Symptoms

• Pressing the power button does nothing at all
• No chime, no fan noise, no light on the case or keyboard
• Screen stays completely black even after waiting a minute
• Charging light doesn't turn on when plugged in (on models with one)

Likely causes

• CommonBattery fully drained with a faulty or disconnected chargerA MacBook with zero charge and a bad cable will look completely dead.
• CommonThe Mac is actually asleep or in a black-screen state, not truly offA stuck display can look identical to a powered-down Mac.
• CommonA faulty power adapter or cableCables fray internally and can stop delivering power with no visible sign.
• PossibleA drained internal backup battery (on some iMacs) or power supply faultDesktops rely on internal power components that can fail with age.
• Less commonA more serious logic board or power circuit failureThis is less common but possible on older machines.

What to do

1. Plug the Mac directly into a wall outlet (not a power strip) using a charger and cable you know works, and let it charge for 30–60 minutes before trying again.
2. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to force a full shutdown, then press it again briefly to turn it on.
3. On a MacBook, check the charging cable and port for lint, damage, or bent pins.
4. Try a different known-good charger and cable if you have access to one, since cables are a common failure point.
5. For MacBooks with a visible charging light, confirm it lights up (usually amber or green) when plugged in.
6. If nothing happens after a proper charge and forced restart, try an SMC reset (the exact steps depend on your Mac model and chip type).
7. Check if the screen is simply not displaying anything by shining a flashlight at an angle at the dark screen to look for a faint image (indicating a backlight issue, not a full power failure).
8. If there's still no response at all after charging and resets, the Mac likely needs professional diagnosis.

Tools and parts

• Known-good charger and cable
• Flashlight

When to call a pro

If the Mac shows absolutely no response after a full charge, forced restart, and cable swap, an Apple Store or authorized repair shop can diagnose power or logic board issues.

Safety