Mac or MacBook Won’t Turn on After macOS Sonoma Update

🗓️ August 28, 2023 By ✍️ Jaysukh patel

Whether it is a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or just a Mac desktop computer, it can be very frustrating when it fails to turn on. The MacBook won’t turn on issue is rare, and when it happens, it is often easy to fix.

As you will learn in this guide, multiple things can cause a Mac not to startup or go black. Depending on the cause, different methods may be used to resolve the problem. Get to know why your Mac is not responding.

This guide will also enlighten you on what you can do if your Mac doesn’t turn on after pressing the Power button.

Why is My Mac Not Turning On?

Different things may cause a Mac not to turn on, ranging from a drained or damaged battery to software glitches. Discussed below are the common causes of the MacBook won’t turn on problem:

• Display Malfunction

Sometimes, the display may be dimmed put to an extent that you cannot see anything when the MacBook powers up. In such a case, adjusting the screen brightness will solve the problem. In yet other cases, the hardware itself is damaged and may require that the display be repaired or replaced by a qualified technician.

• Drained or Damaged Battery

If it has been a while since you last used the MacBook, chances are that the battery is drained. If your MacBook won’t turn on or charge or the MacBook won’t turn on unless plugged in, you need to troubleshoot the battery.

In other case, the battery may be damaged to the extent that it cannot retain charge. If you suspect this to be the problem, try powering on the Mac while it is plugged in.

• Startup Processes

Whenever your Mac powers up, some applications (apps) and processes are set to start by default. A conflict among such startup items may cause your Mac not to turn on. This often results in a black or unresponsive screen.

To fix the problem, you need to force shutdown the MacBook, as described below, and then disable the unnecessary Startup items and processes.

• Software Glitches

Software glitches on some third-party MacBook apps have been known to cause the black screen issue. Others may cause the computer to become unresponsive. In such a case, you need to force quite the problematic app.

How to Fix the MacBook Won’t Turn On Problem

If your MacBook won’t turn on, the best course of action would be to first figure out what the problem may be. To begin with, figure out whether your Mac does actually turn on or it just won’t start up. Well these two may sound like the same thing, but are not.

Your MacBook may turn on, but fail to start up or it may fail to turn on altogether. To figure this out, you should simply press the Power button and watch out for the following:

• The startup chime sound
• The sound of fans turning on or turning
• Subtle hard drive sounds as it powers on
• If enabled, does the keyboard backlight light up?

Next, wait a few seconds after pressing the Power button, then press the Caps lock key on the keyboard. Does the caps lock key indicator light up?

If you observe any of the above things, the good news is that your MacBook is actually turning on. In such a case, you probably have a display problem—which often has to do with hardware malfunction or improper brightness settings, as you will learn later on in this guide.

If you don’t observe any of the things listed above, your MacBook is not turning on. Which points to a different problem altogether. Regardless of the problem you are facing, these are some of the proven methods you should try if your MacBook won’t turn on:

Solution 1: Check the Power Connection

Check whether your MacBook is plugged in correctly to the socket. If connected to an extension, try plugging it directly to the wall socket. If it is a laptop, check to see whether the battery is dead, as described later on in this guide.

Next, check whether the cable is loose. Try pulling it out and then plug it back in firmly. You can also try connecting the MacBook using a different power cable or adapter. If it powers o after changing the power cable, then your power cable or adapter is damaged and needs to be replaced.

If none of these seem to solve the problem, then the power connection is not the problem.

Solution 2: Troubleshoot the MacBook Display

If you are using a desktop Mac model, chances are that the display is faulty. In such a case, check whether the Mac is powering up—listen for the bootup sounds mentioned above. If your Mac is turning on, but the display is still black, you probably have a display issue.

It is also possible that your Mac is turning on, but not booting up simply because it cannot access the display. If the display is separate from the Mac, check whether its power connection is connected properly. Next, you should do the following:

1. Remove any display switches, extenders, or any such device that may be connected between the Mac and your display.
2. If you happen to be using more than one display—in a Daisy chain—unplug all the connected monitors and test the Mac using just one monitor.
3. Pull the video cable out and then plug it back in.
4. Connect the Mac to a different monitor or try using a different adapter—you could use DVI in place of VGA or the other way around.

If none of these seem to solve the problem, check and probably adjust the display brightness properly. If your MacBook is turning on, but the display is still showing nothing, try the following:

1. Shine a flashlight through the Apple logo—located at the back of the display. If you can see a dim image on the display, then the display brightness is not configured properly.
2.  If so, simply press the screen/display brightness up (+) button on the keyboard several times to increase the brightness.

Note: if you turn the brightness all the way up, but are still getting dim images on the display, your MacBook had a backlight problem—often caused by a faulty logic board or a damages screen.

If your screen is still black, but Mac is running at this point, try connecting the Mac to a different display (through the mini display port, HDMI port or the Thunderbolt port). If the separate monitor you just connected shows images, then your primary display is damaged and should be replaced by a qualified MacBook repair technician.

Solution 3: Disconnect all Accessories from Your Mac

If your MacBook detects that an attached accessory has a short circuit or is drawing more current than normal, the SMC will automatically terminate the power-on process. In such a case, your MacBook won’t turn on when you press the power button.

As such, it is advisable to first disconnect all the attached accessories before attempting to turn on the MacBook once again. In this case, you need to unplug any unnecessary peripherals and accessories, such as printers and USB hubs. If a new Hard drive or RAM was recently installed on your computer, ensure that they are installed correctly as this may also impair the boot-up process.

If your MacBook won’t turn on even after removing the unnecessary peripherals and accessories, try the following solution. 

Solution 4: Power Cycle the MacBook

A MacBook computer has can only be in any of the tree main states at any given time: Sleep, Off, or On. A power cycle essentially means forcing the Mac back to the Off state, regardless of the state it is currently in. 

MacBook models produced before 2013 have a sleep indicator—positioned on the front edge. This indicator is designed to flash whenever the MacBook is in the Sleep mode. In newer models that don’t have this indicator, it is hard to tell whether the MacBook is Off or in the Sleep mode.

Though rare, your MacBook may get stuck in the Sleep mode. This renders the computer unresponsive to conventional wake-up signals. As such, opening the MacBook lid, clicking the touchpad buttons, or pressing the power button will not turn the MacBook back on.

When this happens, there is nothing much you can do, other than force the MacBook to shut down. In such a case, a power cycle operation will come in handy. To perform a power cycle on your MacBook:

• Press and Hold the Power button for about 10 seconds.

Note: If you happen to be using a spinning hard drive on your Mac, you may hear a squeak. This is normal as the power supply to the hard drive is cut, and the hard drive forced to shut down. If your Mac is equipped with an SSD drive, you won’t hear a thing as the Mac shuts down.

• Allow the Mac to sit a few minutes after releasing the power button.
• Now press the power button to power the Mac back on.

To power cycle a desktop Mac, unplug it from the socket and allow it to stay unplugged for about 10 seconds. This should drain the capacitors and effectively power cycle your Mac. After the 10 seconds, plug the Mac back in and try turning it on once again.

If it turns on without a problem, the MacBook won’t power on issue has been fixed. If not, try the following solution.

Solution 5: Configure the Sleep and Wake Settings on Your Mac

A change in the sleep and wake settings on your Mac could also cause the black screen problem. Assuming that the MacBook turns on at some point, follow these steps to change the sleep and wake settings and prevent the problem from recurring:

1. Click on the Apple logo on your desktop to launch the Apple menu.
2. Select System Settings from the drop-down menu
3. From the sidebar, choose the Battery option and then select Options from the right

Now you can choose to update your system as the Mac sleeps, putting the hard disk to sleep, and even choose to have the Mac wake briefly to allow you access to shared services—where applicable.

Solution 6: Reset the NVRAM/PRAM

If the screen goes black and your MacBook won’t turn on, resetting the PRAM / NVRAM can help resolve the problem. The procedure for doing this mainly depends on the type of processor you are running, as elaborated below:

A.   For Intel-Based Macs

To reset the PRAM on an Intel-based Mac:

1. Press and hold down the Command + P + Option (Alt) + R keys on your keyboard at the same time.
2. Hold these keys down until the Mac restarts—wait until the Mac reboots for a second time before releasing the keys.

B.   For Apple Silicon MacBook

If you are running an Apple Silicon M1 or M2 chip on your MacBook, you can only reset the NVRAM by running some Terminal commands. Here is how you should go about it:

Solution 7:  Reset the SMC

The System Management Controller (SMC) receives the command to turn your Mac on and manages the entire power-on process. You may thing of it as a tinny computer that runs the boot up process. A glitch in the SMC can disrupt the entire process rendering it impossible to turn on your Mac.

In such a case, resetting the SMC will resolve the problem.

Note: Resetting the SMC will not cause you to lose any data on your MacBook.

Follow these steps to reset the SMC when your MacBook fails to turn on:

A.   For A MacBook with a Non-Removable Battery

If your MacBook has a non-removable battery, use these steps to reset the SMC:

1. Press and hold the power button for about 10 seconds to power cycle the MacBook.
2. With the MacBook off, connect the MagSafe charger.
3. Press, and hold down the Control, Shift, and Option keys on the keyboard as well as the power button simultaneously.
4. Keep holding the keys and power button down for about 10 seconds
5. After the 10 seconds release all the keys and the power button, wait a few seconds and the press the power button to turn on the MacBook.

This operation will successfully reset the SMC on your Mac.

B.   For Intel-Based Mac Laptops

To reset the SMC on an intel-based Mac laptop:

1. Shut down or power cycle the laptop as discussed in solution #4 above.
2. With the MacBook turned off, unplug the power cable for a few seconds and then plug it back in.
3. Press and hold down the Power button + Option (Alt) + Ctrl + Shift keys at the same time. Now release all the keys and the power button at the same time.

The light indicator on your power cable may flicker during the process. This is normal. Now restart your MacBook and check whether the MacBook won’t turn on issue had been fixed.

C.   For Mac Desktops

If you are using a desktop, especially the Intel-based Macs, you an reset the SMC as follows:

1. Shut down or power cycle your Mac.
2. Unplug it from the power outlet socket
3. While the Mac is unplugged, press and hold the Power button for about 5 seconds.

You can now plug the Mac back in and try turning it on once again.

• For Apple Silicon M1 and M2 CPUs.

The manufacturer integrated an SMC chip into the Apple Silicon computers—onto the T2 Security chip. If you wish to reset the SMC on such MacBook computers, here is how you should go about it:

1. Press and hold down the power button for about 10 seconds to power cycle the Mac
2. Simultaneously press and hold the Option, Shift and Control keys for about 7 seconds.
3. With those 3 keys pressed down, press and hold the Power button as well.

After seven seconds, release the keys as well as the power button, wait a few more seconds then power your MacBook back on.

Solution 8: Apple Support

NOTE: If you have mistaken something while pressing keys then the standard desktop will appear. You have to follow the steps again.

Get Free Help from Apple support: The first check your MacBook is under warranty or not. Check Macbook Warranty online, then Find Apple Support Center nearby or Call Apple Support for Book Appointment at apple genius bar.

Final Verdict

Despite being some of the most reliable computers, MacBook computers can develop an array of complications. It can be very frustrating to discover that your MacBook won’t turn on after pressing the power button.

Regardless of the cause or Mac model you own, this guide will help you fix the problem in a matter of minutes.

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in this article, I have listed all the things on What to Do When Your Mac Won’t Start-Up. Your MacBook Won’t turn on means a Black screen on macOS 13, You can not see the Error Message on Screen that at that time we haven’t any idea what you should do first. So it’s a Very apprehension situation and I recommend to fix using the most helpful solutions at first. Generally, a black screen comes after MacOS Update So you are not alone and we can fix it. And Another case is the random black screen MacBook, iMac, Mac mini, MacBook Air.

It is obvious to be afraid and panic if you are in this situation for the first time. This isn’t the end of your Mac, and it won’t start again on your own. There are some pretty good tricks available here when your Mac won’t boot/start you can do it on your own without spending a single buck. So let’s try to fix Mac won’t turn on.

This tutorial is also helpful for those Apple Mac users having issues that Mac won’t turn on but is charging; Mac won’t start at All, Mac not begins after sleep or after a Power outage. Lost of users also reporting mac won’t start on fan running or after restart/ after three beeps/ water spill/ after shutdown or on the loading bar.

This kind of failure arises when you have updated to macOS Ventura/Monterey/Big Sur, mac Catalina from macOS High Sierra, Mojave, but often people face such situations and try to fix them with some tricky solutions. Let’s head over to mac won’t turn on/boot after updating to Latest MacOS Update Version.

Solved: How do you fix a Mac that Won’t Turn On? 

Common Solutions to Mac Won’t turn on After Update MacOS

#1: Charge your MacBook At least 1 Hour.

#2: Disconnect your Charger [Unplugg charging port], Put one finger on Trackpad center areas, and at the same time Press and hold the power button of the MacBook. Now Keep Pressing both for at least 30 to 60 seconds. I hope it will work and turning on the Macbook screen. that’s it. if still does not work follow the next point.

#3: Connect your Charger, And Press and Hold the power button for 60 seconds, Also keep in your mind that if your Mac’s charging port is not light up Green/Yellow light that means you need to replace the charger.

#4: This point fixes the hardware issues, if you don’t know and don’t need that this is for information only, Remove the bottom piece of the back body,  Remove 10s screws and Take out the body. Now First you will see Green RAM [To identify do google Macbook Ram], Take it our One or Two RAM and put it back again after 30 seconds. Next is Problem with MacBook hard Drive, Remove MacBook Drive, and put it back in after 60 seconds. Still does not working.

Your MacBook has a problem with Battery or Motherboard.

What to Do When Your Mac Won’t Start Up?

1. I presume that your Mac is already turned off, if not then shut it down.
   • For M1 Mac: Press and Hold on Power button [Touch ID Button] Until your Mac see Loading startup options. Click on Options Gear icon. On MacOS Recovery Screen, Click on Next > Enter Password, Now From Top Mac menu > Utilities.
   • For Intel Mac: Press the Command+R together and turn on the Mac, Until you see MacOS Recovery window.
2. You’ll see Utilities window.
3. Choose Utilities and then Terminal.
4. Enter, ‘csrutil enable‘ and then try to restart the Mac.

Solution 1: Try to Remove the Power Cable and Hard Reboot

1: Remove or Disconnect the power cable that is used to charge your Macbook.
2: Press and hold the Power button for at least 10 seconds.
3: Again Take a power cable and Plugin.
4: Now Hold Down the Power button for 7 seconds. This will help to boot your Mac Laptop.
5: This technique works all Macbook Modle and years.

Solution 2: Shake and Fix Loose Contacts of RAM, HARD DRIVE, Battery

Why would my Mac not turn on? Don’t worry. Let’s clutch your laptop with both hands and Shake your MacBook and after that Try Again to turn on, One of Redditter finds out the solution and that amazingly works for many MacBook owners.

Solution 3: Reset PRAM/NVRAM Settings Using Keyboard Keys

M1 Silicon Chip Mac users can skip this step.

On your MacBook Keyboard, Press and Hold these keys at once:
Click on Shift + Control + Option + Power Button on MacBook.
After that only press the power button to turn on the MacBook Screen.

Solution 4: Check Power or Charger’s Cable

Carefully look at the power cable to see if it is not damaged or broken at some part. At the same time, also check the AC power socket is working correctly by connecting another device.

Alternatively, try to use a different power cable or adapter that is compatible with your Mac. These are the only ways to check the power cable.

Solution 5: Perform Power Cycle: How do I fix the black screen of death on my Mac?

There are some weird cases that occur in which Mac’s green light is glowing perfectly, and on the other side, the Mac won’t turn on. You must try to perform a power cycle and reboot the Mac in a particular mode. This involves some steps,

• Step #1: Remove the “Power cable.”
• Step #2: Press and hold the “Power” button for 10 seconds.
• Step #3: Keep pressing the power key and connect the power cable.
• Step #4: Hold ten more seconds.
• Step #5: Release the key and let the Mac usually start.

Solution 6: Restart Mac Safe Mode

Safe mode on Mac is a foolproof solution if your Mac won’t start or Mac crashes continuously. It limits some of the apps while startup and Mac feel little reliable and start without carrying much load at the startup. Safe mode process is different for M1 and Intel Mac.

Safe mode process determine the software issue on Startup your Mac. and Fix the issue automatically by disabling some functionality of your Mac, But know your Mac is M1 or Intel, and Checkout the below steps,

M1 Mac:-

1. Shut down your Mac and Wait for 20 seconds. Now, Press and Hold on Power Button [Touch ID Button], until you see the startup volume and Options screen.
2. Now, Click on Startup Volume, and Press Shift Key from Keyboard and Click on “Continue in Safe mode“. Login your Mac, and Your Mac is in safe mode.
3. That’s it.

Check your Mac is updated to latest software update. and Turn off your Mac to Exit from safe mode. Now your issue is fixed, still not then Try Reinstall macOS In recovery mode.

Intel Mac:-

1. On Intel Mac, Shut down your Mac. after wait for 20 seconds. Turn on your Mac, and Quickly Press and Hold on Shift key from keyboard and Wait for your Mac see the login screen.
2. Login your Mac and You are in safe mode.
3. That’s it.

Check your issue if fixed now, and Restart your Mac to Exit from safe mode.

Solution 7: If You’re Mac is Stuck on a Black Screen after Booting

It is the most reported issue on the forums that while starting up the display of Mac goes black. This happens because of low power, and that’s why you can’t see the bright part of the screen. However, if you put the display in the darkroom, you might see the dialogue box of login and password.

Besides, you can give a flash behind the display and try to locate the cursor on the dialogue box, and enter a password. The screen should generally start after entering the password.

Solution 8: Reset SMC on Apple Mac

System Management Controller plays an essential role in many functioning parts of Mac. Hurdles related to battery, display, and most specifically power key related can be easily fixed by resetting SMC.

• Step #1: Remove the “Power cable.”
• Step #2: Leave at least 15 seconds.
• Step #3: Re-plug the “Power cable.”
• Step #4: After 5 to 10 seconds, press “Power” again.

Solution 9: Reinstall in Recovery Mode

If you are facing these issues regularly, then try recovery mode. This Reinstallation of MacOS doesn’t erase any data from your Mac drive. Although I recommend to Take Time Machine Backup to follow the Risk-free process.

1. Step #1: Restart the “Mac.”
   • For M1 Mac: Press and Hold on Power button [Touch ID Button] Until your Mac sees Loading startup options. Click on the Options Gear icon. On MacOS Recovery Screen, Click on Next > Enter Password, > Select Reinstall macOS. – Reinstallation macOS In recovery mode, Never Harm your Mac data that’s saved on your Mac.
   • For Intel Mac: When the Mac restarts press and holds “Command+R” keys when you hear reboot tone. Release the keys when the Apple logo appears on the screen.
2. Step #3: Now you will see the macOS “Utilities” window.

Update: 1 Nov 2021, Several users reported the issue on the Recent Monterey update.

None of the above solutions is working for you for this update and Bricked Mac.

Revive Your mac

Specially on the Intel-Based Mac with Apple T2 Security chip on mac for the below models,

• iMac (2020)
• Mac Pro (2019)
• Mac mini (2018)
• iMac Pro (2017)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
• MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018)
• MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020)
• MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2019)
• MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)

Check out this apple suggested guide to Boot your Mac in DFU mode after installing Apple Configurator on Second Mac and Restore data on First Mac. If you are not a tech Person then you can contact apple support from the given next solution.