MacBook Pro Won't Turn On: 10 Troubleshooting Tips to Try

Force a MacBook Pro to turn on when the screen is black

Co-authored by Rain Kengly Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: March 7, 2025 Fact Checked

Is your MacBook Pro unresponsive? If your MacBook Pro doesn't turn on when you press the power button, this could indicate a charging/power issue, a software issue, or a hardware issue. In most cases, you may just need to check your power connections. Here's what to do if your MacBook Pro won't turn on.

What to Do If Your MacBook Pro Won’t Turn On

Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds, release it, then press it once more quickly. If it still won't turn on, check the charging cable for loose connections or damage, try a different cable, and then try a different wall outlet. If using MagSafe 3, make sure the adapter MagSafe 3-compatible.

1

Press and hold the power button.

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Do this for at least 10 seconds. After 10 seconds have passed, release the power button. Then, press the power button normally to turn on your MacBook Pro. In many cases, this is all you'll need to do to turn on your laptop.
- If your MacBook Pro has a Touch ID, press and hold that for 10 seconds instead.

2

Check your charging cable and adapter.

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Inspect the charging cable for loose connections and damage. Make sure the charging cable is securely connected to the power adapter, as well as to your MacBook Pro, and that the power adapter is connected to an outlet. Also, check the cables for damage—if you have a damaged or faulty cable, it won't give your MacBook Pro the charge it needs, no matter how long it's plugged in.^{[1]
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Research source} If the cable is damaged or not providing power even though it's securely connected, try swapping it out for another.
- If you're charging via MagSafe, the USB-C end of the MagSafe 3 cable must be connected to the power adapter, and the MagSafe 3 end (the wider connector) to the MagSafe port on the side of your MacBook Pro.
  - Make sure you're using a MagSafe 3 adapter. MagSafe 2 and MagSafe adapters are not compatible with MagSafe 3, so you won't be able to use an older MagSafe adapter to charge or power on your MacBook Pro.^{[2]
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3

Look for lights on your MagSafe charger.

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A flashing orange or amber light can indicate a larger problem. If the light on the MagSafe 3 connector (the part that's plugged into your MacBook) is flashing, here's what to do:
- Unplug the charging cable from the power adapter and your MacBook.
- Unplug the power adapter from the wall outlet.
- Wipe off all connectors and ports with a dry, soft, lint-free cloth.
- Restart your MacBook Pro, then reconnect the cable and adapter.
- If the light still flashes repeatedly, contact Apple for service.^{[3]
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4

Try a different power outlet.

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If your MacBook Pro's power adapter is plugged into a power strip or an extension cord, try plugging it directly into the wall. Then, try plugging it into a different outlet. If no other outlet is available, try plugging a different device into the outlet to see if that device is able to get power.

5

Allow your MacBook Pro to charge longer.

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If your MacBook has been dead and powered off for a while, it can take much longer to charge up enough to power on. Plug it in and leave it to charge for a few hours before attempting to turn it on.

6

Unplug all accessories.

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Sometimes, a problem with a connected device can prevent your MacBook Pro from turning on. If you use a wired mouse, disconnect that as well. Once all accessories have been unplugged from your device, press and hold the power button for 10 seconds and release. Then, press the power button normally.

7

Reset the SMC (on Intel-based MacBook Pros).

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This is the System Management Controller, which controls power management on your Mac. You should only do this if you're using an Intel-based MacBook Pro (2020 and earlier).^{[4]
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Research source} To reset the SMC, do the following:
- Press and hold ⇧ Shift+Control+⌥ Option and the Power button at the same time.
- Continue holding for 10 seconds, then release all buttons.
- Press the power button to turn on your MacBook Pro.^{[5]
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8

Use an alternate display.

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If your MacBook Pro turns on but the screen is black, the issue may be with the screen itself. Plug your laptop into an external monitor to check if you can project your laptop's screen. If you can see your MacBook's screen on the external display, your MacBook screen is likely broken and needs repairing.

9

Try using Recovery Mode.

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Enter Recovery Mode to run Disk Utility. If the issue is not power-related, this might help you get your MacBook to turn back on. Do the following:
- Apple silicon: With the Mac turned off, press and hold the Power button until the startup screen appears. Click Options > Continue.
- Intel-based Mac: With the Mac turned off, press and hold Cmd + R, and then press the Power button. Release Cmd + R when you see the Apple logo.
- Click Disk Utility.
- Select your Mac's drive.
- Click First Aid.
- If prompted, click Repair Disk.

10

Contact Apple.

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This may be a hardware issue, and you may still be covered by Apple's warranty.^{[6]
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- You can contact Apple on their website at https://getsupport.apple.com/.