MacBook Pro/Air Won't Turn On? 10 Fixes & Bootable Recovery Techniques

Quickly access 10 troubleshooting steps to fix issues with your MacBook or iMac not turning on, formatted in UTF-8:

What might cause a MacBook or iMac to not turn on?

Unlike the issue of Mac won't shut down, Mac won't turn on is another common problem that Mac users often encounter. There are numerous reasons that can cause your Mac not to start up. Let's take a look at some possible causes that may lead to Mac boot failure:

• Hardware failure: Your Mac needs a keyboard, screen, SSD drive, battery, and trackpad to work properly. If any of these components fail, your Mac might not turn on.
• SMC (System Management Controller) issues: The SMC handles power management for your entire Mac. So, every time you turn it on, the SMC deals with all power-related issues. If the SMC is malfunctioning, your Mac won't start up.
• Battery: Without a power cable, your Mac relies on its battery to run. If the battery is depleted, your Mac won't function normally.
• Corrupted apps: Issues with firmware or startup applications that don't work as they should can also lead to startup problems on your Mac.

These are some of the major reasons that can cause issues with your Mac.

How to Retrieve Data from an Unbootable Mac

Your data is the most important thing on your Mac. So how can you get it off your Mac if your Mac isn't working? Fortunately, you can use Mac data recovery software to do the job.

Top Mac data recovery software can help you recover data from a dead MacBook. It works even if your Mac won't boot up macOS.

This software provides a bootable recovery method for your Mac. With its bootable recovery feature, you can quickly rescue all data files even if your Mac fails to start.

Here is how to use Data Recovery Wizard Pro to recover data from a non-bootable Mac in macOS Recovery:

Step 1: Boot into Recovery Mode with the utility software

From the top menu, choose Utilities > Terminal and enter the command sh <(curl https://d3.tools.com/mac/boot.sh). Press Return. Wait for the app to open, which may take a few minutes.

Important: If you see "No such file or directory" or "Host not found," check that you've typed the command correctly. Make sure your Mac is connected to the Internet, and confirm that your version of macOS is 10.15 or later.

Step 2: Select a volume on your Mac's hard drive

Select the volume where the lost data was stored and click “Search for Lost Files.” The tool will quickly locate all recoverable data on the selected volume.

Step 3. Select the lost data you want to recover

The utility categorizes the recoverable data by file type and storage path. You can locate your needed data by clicking "Type" or "Path" on the left. Then, check the box in front of the data you want to recover.

Step 4: Recover and save your data to an external drive

Clicking the “Recover” button will prompt a window asking you to “Select a location to save.” Choose your external drive as the new location to store the recovered data.

Follow these 10 steps to fix a Mac that won't start up

It's recommended that you safely recover your data first using tools like Data Recovery Wizard for Mac, and then try fixing your unbootable Mac with the methods below.

Fix 1: Check the power status

As you know, if the battery has enough charge, your Mac can start up. If not, you need a power adapter to start up your Mac. So, you have to check the power status of your Mac.

If the battery isn't working properly, plug in your charger and see if your Mac is charging. Also make sure that your power adapter is in good condition. If the charging cable is damaged, replace it.

Fix 2: Check for signs that the power supply is turning on

There are several key signs you can look for to confirm that your Mac has at least turned on. You can verify that your Mac is booting up in several ways, such as:

• Press the power button and listen for any sounds from the fans.
• Check if any lights turn on the keyboard. Also, make sure that the power adapter light turns on.
• Press the Caps Lock key and see if the light turns on.

If you see no lights at all, the obvious culprit is that your Mac isn't getting power. Try using a different charger or repairing the power port.

Fix 3: Disconnect peripherals

Try unplugging all peripherals from your Mac, like an external mouse, keyboard, HDMI cable, printer, etc. Sometimes, there can be a short within the device that causes it to draw too much or unstable power from your Mac.

In that case, the System Management Controller (SMC) might prevent your Mac from starting up. So, unplug all peripherals, and then try powering up your Mac again.

Fix 4: Try a power cycle on your Mac

If your Mac won't turn on, you can try forcing it to restart to initiate a power cycle.

Follow these steps to perform a power cycle on your Mac:

Step 1: Hold down your Mac's Power button.

Step 2: Unplug everything.

Step 3: Hold the Power button down for 10 seconds or more.

Step 4: Restart your Mac again.

Fix 5: Check for Display Issues

If you're having trouble with an external display, first make sure that the display is turned on and working properly.

You can also check that your Mac's fans are working properly. If the fans are running as they should, the problem might be with your external display. Make sure that your external display's power cable and connection to your Mac are secure.

Fix 6: Check hardware connections

Make sure that all cables connecting any internal or external hardware devices to your Mac are connected properly. Loose cables can cause your Mac not to turn on.

Meanwhile, check for any fraying or damage to the internal or external cables anywhere along their length. If you see any tears or wear, you'll need to replace the cable.

Fix 7: Start your Mac in Safe Mode

Your Mac issue might be caused by a third-party app or driver. You can try to boot your Mac into Safe Mode to rule out this possibility.

Safe Mode on Intel-based Macs

To start your Intel-based Mac in Safe Mode, do this: Turn on your Mac and press and hold the Shift key. Hold down the Shift key until you see the login window.

Safe Mode on an M1 Mac

On an M1 Mac, press and hold the Power button until you see the Startup Options window. Once it appears, select Startup Disk, then hold down the Shift key as your Mac loads to put it in Safe Mode.

Fix 8: Use macOS Recovery Mode

With macOS Recovery, you can quickly repair your SSD, reinstall macOS, or restore from a Time Machine backup.

You can enter Recovery Mode by turning on your Mac and immediately holding down the Command + R keys.

On an M1 Mac, you can enter Recovery Mode by holding down the Power button, which will bring up the Startup Options, from where you can choose to proceed with the recovery.

Fix 9: Reset the SMC

Resetting the SMC can help resolve issues with low-level functions that aren't working properly on your Mac. You can reset your Mac's SMC by following these steps:

Step 1: Turn off your Mac.

Step 2: Press the power button.

Step Three: Next, hold down the Shift, Control, Option, and Power buttons for seven seconds.

Fix 10: Schedule an appointment at the Apple Genius Bar

If none of these nine steps restart your Mac, it's probably time to book a Genius Bar appointment.

You can visit https://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/ and make an appointment with them. They should be able to assist with your Mac issue.

Conclusions

Mac startup issues have been around since the beginning. While they're not common, they can be frustrating and keep you from getting important work done.

Usually, if a hardware component is failing, your Mac won't turn on. However, you can troubleshoot common issues as described in this article.

When your Mac is having booting issues, it's best to save your data first. The best way to do this is with a tool like Data Recovery Wizard Pro, which can help you perform a bootable recovery on your MacBook.