How to fix a MacBook Pro that won’t turn on – 14 Ways

A MacBook Pro is a powerful and impressive machine that’s designed to handle any task. That said, just like any other machine, your MacBook isn’t immune to problems. Sometimes, your MacBook Pro might not respond to the power button or your M1 Mac won’t start up no matter how hard you try. We completely understand how it feels to deal with a MacBook Pro that won’t turn ON. Trust us, we all have been there at some point. In fact, we’ve paid multiple visits to the Apple Store to get ours fixed. We learned a lot of stuff and that’s why we’re here to help you fix the MacBook Pro not turning ON problems. In this article, we’ll tell you what to do if your Mac isn’t turning ON. 

We’ve mentioned 14 tried & tested ways to fix a Mac that won’t turn ON after battery drain. No matter if your MacBook Pro isn’t responding to a power button or your MacBook Pro M1 is not turning on after an update, this guide will help you fix everything. Moreover, if your MacBook Pro shows a black screen or gets stuck at the Apple logo during the startup, we’ve also addressed such issues. 

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This guide will work for Intel-based, M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M2 MacBook Pro models. 

Why is my MacBook Pro not powering up?

There can be several reasons why your MacBook Pro is not powering up or your MacBook Pro M1 shows a black screen at the startup. Running an outdated version of macOS, pairing faulty or cheap charging accessories, or using a damaged power outlet are among the most common reasons why your MacBook Pro won’t turn ON when plugged in. Additionally, a corrupted disk, incompatible accessories, or a heavily corrupted system might trigger MacBook Pro M1 not turning ON problems. Moving on, hardware issues are one of the major and easily overlooked reasons why your MacBook Pro won’t turn ON & shows a black screen during the startup. Lastly, a misbehaving app or software that loads at the startup might prevent your MacBook Pro M2 from turning ON properly. 

Whatever the reason, the below steps will help you fix a MacBook Pro that won’t turn ON at all or an M1 Mac that refuses to wake up from Sleep mode.

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Without any further ado, let’s jump to the list of solutions. 

Disclaimer: Proceed at your own risk, TechieTechTech will not be responsible if anything goes wrong with your device.

14 Ways to fix MacBook Pro not turning ON problems

1. Make sure your MacBook Pro isn’t dead

When your M1 MacBook Pro won’t turn ON or your M2 MacBook Pro won’t boot up, the first thing that you need to check is whether your Mac has power or not. This may sound obvious, but it’s one of the most common & overlooked reasons why your MacBook Pro won’t turn at all. There can be instances when your Mac’s battery is completely depleted or you haven’t used your MacBook for quite a long time. To be on the safer side, we recommend you plug in your MacBook Pro to a power outlet using the official power cable and adapter

If your 2020 MacBook Pro is not turning on when plugged in, move to the next step.

Also Read: Top picks for the best Accessories for M2 MacBook Pro

2. Check your power adapter and charging cable

See, there’s a difference between a MacBook Pro that won’t start up and a MacBook Pro that won’t turn ON. These two might sound the same, but there’s a whole lot of difference. Before you jump to any method, you should know which issue you’re dealing with. To verify, press the power button on your Mac. If you don’t hear a startup sound, no fan noise, the display color doesn’t change, or nothing gets displayed on the screen, then your M1 MacBook Pro isn’t turning On at all. When you’re stuck with a MacBook Pro that won’t turn ON or charge when plugged in, you need to follow a different approach.

Follow the below steps to fix a MacBook Pro that won’t turn On at all:

1. Check the power adapter and charging cable

  • First, make sure that you’re using either the original or a certified charger (adapter + removal plug + cable) only. We strongly recommend staying away from cheap, poorly-designed, or faulty charging accessories as they can be the reason why your MacBook Pro won’t turn ON when plugged in. 
  • Next, it’s important to ensure that your charging accessories are in a good condition. For this, inspect the charging cable for any visible signs of damage like breakage, bends, or exposed wires. In case the cable seems to be faulty or looks worn out, try using another cable. If you don’t have a compatible option lying in your drawer, you can borrow the charger from a friend who owns a Mac and check if it solves the issue. If it turns out to be an effective fix for MacBook not charging or turning ON problems, you must immediately replace the previous accessories. 
  • Then, check if the removable plug or adapter looks burnt out or discolored in any way. It can be possible that the power adapter has been damaged in a recent power surge, and you need a new one now. Also, if you’re using a years-old adapter or bought a non-certified one from a local shop, you must replace faulty accessories with the original or certified ones. In case the power adapter gets warm, click here to know what to do next.

2. Check the connections

Loose connections are one of the most common reasons why your MacBook Pro isn’t powering up even when it’s plugged in. Therefore, you must double-check the connections. Disconnect the charger from the power outlet & the charging port, and then plug it firmly into your M1 MacBook.

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3. Check your MacBook’s charging port

Lastly, inspect if the MacBook’s charging port i.e. USB-C/Thunderbolt port is broken or damaged. If it turns out to be faulty, we recommend you go for Apple’s support and get that port fixed. Remember, cheaper alternatives or DIYs can put your machine at severe risk. So, make sure to stay away from them.  

Also Read: How to fix MacBook Pro not charging issues

3. Check the power outlet

If your M2 MacBook Pro won’t turn ON or charge even if you’re using the right charging accessories, you must check if you’ve connected the adapter to a working power outlet. Sometimes, a damaged or broken power source could be the underlying cause of the MacBook Pro not turning On or charging problems. Also, fluctuations in the power supply might result in no charging and that’s why your MacBook Pro isn’t switching ON. To verify, plug in a good device like the iPhone that you’re using or a table lamp. If the other device powers on properly, the outlet is just working fine, and you need to move to the next step. On the flip side, if the power source turns out to be the culprit, switch to a different outlet. Also, don’t forget to call a trained electrician to fix that faulty power outlet. 

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Our recommendation: Unless you’re a trained professional, don’t try to fix the power source by yourself as it can result in a short circuit, fire, or other fatal damages. 

Also Read: Apple Chargers vs Anker Chargers: Which one is the best for you?

4. Power cycle your MacBook Pro

If your M2 MacBook Pro seems to be completely dead or your MacBook Pro M1 won’t turn On at all, you can perform a power cycle (restart). It will force the Mac to reboot to reinitialize its configuration parameters or recover from an unresponsive state. Power cycling is particularly useful in situations when your MacBook or any other electronic machine freezes, crashes, hangs frequently or stops responding randomly. Therefore, if nothing happens to your MacBook Pro when you press the power button or your MacBook Pro M1 won’t turn ON despite having a stable power connection, you can do a power cycle. 

To do this, hold the Power button for about 10 seconds. On Macs with Touch ID, press and hold the Touch ID for 10 seconds. Then, you need to unplug the power cable for 10 seconds and then plug it back to start your MacBook Pro usual. 

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If power cycling doesn’t help, move to the next steps to fix a MacBook Pro that won’t turn ON. 

Also Read: How to fix TouchID not working on MacBook

5. Unplug external accessories

There can be some issues with the one or more accessories that you’ve connected to your Mac and it could hamper the startup sequence which eventually leads to MacBook Pro not turning On problems. To wipe off any complications, you must disconnect all the external peripherals like external monitors, USB-C adapters, external SSDs, hard drives, docking stations, and other Mac accessories. Once you’ve unplugged all the accessories, make sure to repeat step 4 to fix MacBook Pro not turning ON problem. 

Also Read: How to fix MacBook Pro Touch Bar not working problems 

6. Check the connected display

Have you connected an external display to your MacBook Pro? If yes, make sure to read this carefully. If not, you can skip this and move to the next step to fix MacBook Pro not switching On problems. 

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There can be instances when there’s some problem with the external display and not your MacBook Pro itself. You must check if your Mac is making any sound during the start-up. It can be possible that your MacBook Pro M2 doesn’t boot because it can’t access the external display. In such a case, the external display is likely to be an issue. If the external display isn’t working properly, we recommend doing the following:

  1. Check the power cables for the MacBook Pro and the external display. 
  2. If you’ve got a USB-C monitor, unplug the video cable and plug it back in.
  3. Make sure all cables are firmly plugged in.
  4. Unplug all display extenders and switches, or any other device between the MacBook and monitor.
  5. If you’ve daisy-chained monitors, unplug them, and use one monitor at a time.
  6. Switch to a different display or a different adapter.
  7. You can also adjust the screen resolution. For this, head to Apple Menu > System Preferences > Displays. In Display Settings, choose external display in the sidebar. Then, press and hold the Option key while you click Scaled to see additional resolutions. Select a resolution and click Done. 

Also Read: Best Ultrawide Monitors for Intel, M1, & M2 MacBook Pro

7. Boot your Mac in Safe mode

If your M1 MacBook Pro isn’t turning ON after battery drain or your MacBook Pro M2 seems to be completely dead, you can try to boot your Mac in Safe mode. When you switch to Safe mode, it performs certain diagnostics at the startup to check the performance and functionality of your Mac. It will also help you determine if the MacBook Pro not turning ON problem is caused by apps/software that loads as your Mac starts up. Safe mode will prevent certain software/apps from loading at the startup. It includes login items, fonts not installed by macOS, and system extensions not required by macOS. Additionally, the safe mode performs a quick check on the startup disk and deletes some system caches which can be created later on when needed.

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Here’s how to boot your Apple Silicon MacBook in Safe mode:

  1. Shut down your MacBook Pro.
  2. Turn ON your Mac. Then, press & hold the power button until you see the startup options window.
  3. Select your startup disk, press & hold the Shift key, and choose “Continue in Safe Mode”.
  4. Log in to your Mac. You might be asked to log in again. 

To boot your Intel-powered MacBook Pro in Safe mode, start your Mac while holding the Shift key. The Safe mode might take a while to start. 

If you’re able to turn ON your MacBook Pro in Safe mode, there are chances that some recently installed app or software is throwing issues on your Mac. To avoid any complications, it’s a nice idea to uninstall the apps that you don’t need. Also, make sure to update macOS and all the apps to their latest version.

Also Read: Best Charging Stations for Apple products 

8. Reset SMC (Only for Intel-based Macs)

SMC or System Management Controller is a chip on your MacBook that’s responsible for managing power on your machine. It controls behaviors related to the power, battery, cooling fan, sensors, and other features of your MacBook. Fortunately, resetting SMC can help you fix issues related to power, battery, or thermal management on your MacBook Pro. That said, resetting SMC is recommended to fix power-related problems on an Intel-based MacBook only. If you’ve got an M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, or M2 MacBook Pro, there’s no need to reset SMC. In such a case, you need to plug your Mac into power, then either restart it or shut it down and turn it ON again. No other step is required for a MacBook Pro with Apple Silicon. 

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Note: The steps to Reset SMC on a MacBook depend on the model you’re using.

Reset SMC on MacBooks that have T2 Chip (MacBook Pro & MacBook Air released after 2018):

  1. Shut down your MacBook Pro.
  2. Once your machine is completely turned OFF, press and hold the Power button for 10 seconds and then release it.
  3. Wait for a few seconds before you turn ON your MacBook.

If you can’t turn ON your MacBook Pro, follow the steps mentioned below to reset the SMC:

  1. Shut down your MacBook.
  2. Then, from the built-in keyboard, press and hold the Control + Option (Alt) +Shift keys. Your device might turn on.
  3. You need to hold the three keys for 7 seconds. Then, press and hold the Power button simultaneously. If your MacBook is ON, it will now turn off.
  4. Keep holding all four keys for another 7 seconds and then release them.
  5. Wait for a few seconds.
  6. Press the Power button to turn ON your machine.

If you want to reset SMC on an older model, click here. 

Once you’ve reset the SMC, check if it has helped you fix MacBook Pro not turning On problem.

Also Read: Best USB-C Adapters for 14” & 16” MacBook Pro

9. Reset PRAM & NVRAM (Only for Intel-based Macs)

Another reliable solution to fix the 2019 MacBook Pro not turning ON problem is to reset PRAM/NVRAM. If you’re unfamiliar with these terms, PRAM (Parameter Random Access Memory) and NVRAM (Non-volatile RAM) are small areas in the memory that store and quickly access data like startup disk selection, display resolution, volume settings, and more. The stored data persists even when your Mac is shut off. Sometimes, minor issues & glitches might prevent your MacBook Pro from starting up. In such cases, you can try resetting these memory modules. It’s worth mentioning that resetting such info won’t hamper the functioning or performance of your MacBook Pro. That said, there’s no need to do it very often.

You must know that unlike SMC, M1 MacBook Pro comes with NVRAM but it works differently. The Apple Silicon Macs automatically reset the NVRAM on startup (if needed). There’s no easy way, moreover, there’s no need to manually reset NVRAM on the M1 or M2 MacBook Pro models. 

Note: The steps for resetting NVRAM and PRAM are the same.

How to reset PRAM/NVRAM on a MacBook Pro?

Here are the steps to reset PRAM/NVRAM on your Intel-powered MacBook Pro:

  1. Turn OFF your Mac
  2. While rebooting your device, press and hold Command + Option + P + R. before you see the grey screen.
  3. Once you see the Apple logo or hear the reboot sound, release the keys. Allo you machine to turn ON by itself.

It’s worth mentioning that once you do this, your MacBook will normally restart on its own. Sometimes, your MacBook might show a progress bar on startup. In some rare situations, the progress bar might get stuck in the middle and your Mac shuts down. If this happens to be your case, you might have to repeat the above steps or force restart your Mac. For this, you need to

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press and hold the Command button while pressing the power button

If this doesn’t work or your MacBook Pro still won’t turn ON, move to the next step. 

Also Read: Best Docking Stations for M1, M1 Pro, & M1 Max MacBook Pro

10. Run Apple Diagnostics

In some cases, hardware issues might be the underlying cause of the M1 MacBook Pro won’t turn On but charging or M2 MacBook Pro showing a black screen during the startup problems. If you’ve somehow managed to turn ON your MacBook, you must check for hardware issues so you aren’t stuck in the same loop again. To do this, you can use Apple Diagnostics (formerly known as Apple Hardware Test) to determine which hardware component is at the fault. Additionally, it will also suggest solutions and help you contact Apple Support for further assistance. Therefore, if your MacBook Pro won’t turn ON and shows a black screen or frequently throws an error during the startup, we recommend running Apple Diagnostics to rule out any hardware issues. 

Before you run Apple Diagnostics, you must prepare your Mac. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Shut down your MacBook Pro.
  2. Unplug the charger, adapters, and all the external accessories.
  3. Move your MacBook to a flat, stable, and hard surface with good ventilation. 

How to run Apple Diagnostics on MacBook Pro?

On your M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, or M2 MacBook Pro:

  1. Press and hold the Power button as your MacBook starts up
  2. Release the key when you see startup options. Select the gear icon labeled Options.
  3. Press Command(⌘)-D on your keyboard.

On Intel-powered MacBook Pro:

  1. Press the power button, then immediately press and hold the D key as your Mac starts up. 
  2. When you see a progress bar or you’re prompted to choose a language, release the key.

Once you’ve done this, follow the below steps (same for Intel and Apple Silicon Macs)

  1. Apple Diagnostics will display a Progress bar while it’s checking your MacBook Pro. It might take 2-3 minutes. 
  2. Once the testing is complete, Apple Diagnostics will display the results. If any issues are found, you’ll see the suggested solutions and reference codes. Before moving any further, make sure to note down these reference codes.
  3. Then, you can do the following:
  • Press Command-R to repeat the test.
  • Click Restart or Press R to restart your device.
  • Click Shut down or Press S to shut down.
  • Press Command-G or click Get Started to get more information on service and support options.

If you go for the last option, you’ll be asked to choose your country or region. In case you want to send your serial number and reference codes to Apple, click

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”Agree to send”, followed by onscreen service and support instructions. After that, you can either restart or shut down your machine. 

Alternatively, you can head to the service center with the reference codes you noted in step 2.

Also Read: How to fix an overheating MacBook Pro

11. Run Disk Utility in Recovery Mode

Sometimes, you might get stuck in situations when your 2020 MacBook Pro is booting up but macOS isn’t loading. Now, this could be due to a corrupted Mac’s drive. This issue can be fixed by running Disk Utility in Recovery mode. When you do this, it will check and repair errors in the file system and partition structure on the Mac disk. In short, to fix a MacBook Pro M2 that won’t boot up, you can run Disk Utility in Recovery mode. It’s worth mentioning that the whole process is divided into two steps- first, you need to enter Recovery mode, then you have to run Disk Utility. It would help you repair a corrupted Mac drive which could be responsible for why your MacBook Pro isn’t booting up.

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Let’s see how to run Disk Utility in Recovery mode to fix MacBook Pro not turning ON or macOS not booting problems. 

Here’s how to enter Recovery mode:

On your Apple Silicon Macs, press and hold the Power button until the Mac starts up & shows the startup options. Then, select Options > Continue to enter Recovery mode.

On the Intel-based MacBook Pro, make sure your machine is turned OFF. If the display freezes, becomes unresponsive or gets stuck on a grey, blue or white screen, hold down the Power button for a few seconds until it shuts off. Then, hold the Command and R keys to power up the MacBook. While your Mac is booting up, you need to continue to press the keys (Cmd + R) until you see the Apple logo.

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Here’s how to run Disk Utility in Recovery Mode:

  1. Once your Mac is in Recovery mode, you’ll get access to Utilities. 
  2. Click on the Disk Utility option.
  3. Locate and select your Mac’s drive.
  4. Click First Aid. If there are issues with your disk, Disk Utility will find them and repair them automatically. Besides, you could also see a message saying if you want to repair the errors, in such a case, hit the Repair Disk option. 
  5. Please note that Disk Utility performs a file system check (“fsck”) operation so you don’t need to do that manually.  

To know how to repair a Mac disk with Utility Disk, head to the Apple support page

12. Revive your Mac

If your MacBook Pro won’t turn ON even after the First Aid, there is a high chance that your Mac has got some serious firmware problems or startup disk issues. In some rare cases like a power failure during a macOS update or upgrade that has eventually led to an unresponsive Mac. When this happens, you’ll have to revive or restore your MacBook using the Apple Configurator app. Basically, this app configures an iPhone, iPad, and other Apple devices connected to your MacBook. Apple Configurator lets you update software, configure profiles, install apps, export device information, and do much more. You can use this app to revive or restore your MacBook Pro that isn’t turning ON. Confused between revive and restore? Here’s what they mean and do to your MacBook.

Revive or revival updates the firmware and recoveryOS to its latest version. It doesn’t touch or make any changes in the startup volume, user data volume, or any other volumes. The data may be retained, if recoverable. On the flip side, the restore option does the same job and also erases & installs the latest version of macOS on the internal storage. When you opt for this process, any data or internal volumes are unrecoverable.

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Disclaimer: Apple always recommends going for the Restore method only if reviving the firmware goes unsuccessful or you can’t start the Mac from startup volume or recoveryOS. 

It’s worth mentioning that the steps to revive an Apple Silicon Mac and an Intel-based MacBook are different. We’ve mentioned the approach for Apple Silicon Macs. If you want to restore or revive an Intel MacBook Pro, click here for all the details. 

Here are some prerequisites to revive or restore your Apple Silicon MacBook.

  1. A stable internet connection
  2. Another Mac running macOS 12.4 or later and the latest version of the Apple Configurator app. 
  3. A USB-C to USB-C or USB-C to USB-A cable (that supports both power and data) to connect the two Macs. Thunderbolt 3 cables aren’t supported. 

How to Revive or Restore an Apple Silicon MacBook Pro? (for M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, & M2 Macs only)

The process to revive an M1 MacBook consists of four main steps. We’ve explained each one of them below.

  1. Connect the two Macs
  2. Launch the Apple Configurator app on the working Mac. Make sure this machine is plugged into the power source.
  3. Shut down the second Mac.
  4. Connect the two Macs using the USB-C to USB-C or USB-A to USB-A cable. 

2: Prepare your M1 MacBook Pro 

  1. On your non-working Mac (not the one on which you’re using the Configurator app), press the power button. Also, press & hold the following keys simultaneously for about 10 seconds:
  • The right Shift key
  • The left Control key
  • The left Option key
  1. After 10 seconds, release the three keys but keep holding the power button. By this point, you’ll see your M1 MacBook Pro in Apple Configurator 2 on the first Mac. Your M1 MacBook Pro still won’t show anything on the screen.

3: Revive the firmware and install the latest version of recoveryOS 

  1. From the Apple Configurator 2 window on the first Mac, select the DFU icon of the Mac that you want to revive.
  2. Once you’ve done this, proceed with the below steps:
  • Choose Actions > Advanced > Revive Device, and click Revive.
  • Control-click the selected DFU icon, select Advanced > Revive Device, and click Revive
  1. Wait for the process to complete. The Apple logo will appear and disappear on the second Mac during this step.
  2. When the process is successfully completed, your Mac will reboot. (If the process is unsuccessful, move to STEP 4 to Restore your Mac that we’ve mentioned below)
  3. Quit the Configurator app and unplug any cables or adapters. 

4: Restore the firmware 

Disclaimer: This process will erase all data from the primary disk and install the latest version of macOS & recoveryOS on your Mac.

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  1. From the Apple Configurator 2 window, select the DFU icon of the Mac that you want to restore.
  2. Then, do one of the following:
  • Go to Actions > Restore Device, and click Restore.
  • Control-click the selected DFU icon, select Actions > Restore, and click Restore.
  1. Wait until the process is done. An Apple logo will appear and disappear on the second MacBook during the process.
  2. Once the process is completed, your Mac will reboot
  3. Upon successful completion, you’ll see the macOS Setup Assistant on the second Mac. In case you don’t see it, repeat the restore process.
  4. Quit Apple Configurator 2 app on the first Mac and unplug any cables or adapters.

That’s all. You’ve successfully revived or restored your MacBook Pro. 

Also Read: Best Apps for your M1 MacBook Pro

13. Re-install macOS

If you’ve tried everything and are still stuck with a 2019 MacBook Pro that won’t turn ON or an M1 Mac that won’t boot, your system is heavily corrupted. In such a case, reinstalling macOS could fix a MacBook Pro that won’t turn ON at all. 

You can use macOS Recovery to reinstall the Mac operating system on your machine. Before you continue, check and ensure that your Mac is connected to the internet. 

Note: Re-installing macOS does not remove any data from your MacBook.

Here’s how to reinstall macOS in Recovery Mode on any MacBook Pro:

  1. On your M1 or M2 MacBook Pro, turn the Mac On and press & hold the Power button until you see the startup options. Then, choose Options > Continue to enter Recovery Mode.
  2. On Intel-powered MacBook Pro, turn your Mac On and immediately press & hold Command(⌘)-R until the screen shows an Apple logo or any other image. 
  3. If you’re asked to select a user, select the one for which you know the password. Then, click Next and enter the administrator password.
  4. Then, select Reinstall macOS from the utilities window in macOS Recovery.
  5. Click Continue and go along the onscreen instructions.

Make sure to follow these guidelines while re-installation macOS:

  • If the installer prompts you to unlock your disk, make sure to enter the password that you use to log in to your MacBook Pro.
  • If you’re prompted to choose between installing on Macintosh HD or Macintosh HD – Data, choose Macintosh HD.
  • There can be instances when the installer doesn’t see your disk or it says that it can’t install on your machine, you’ll have to erase your disk first and then move any further. 
  • During the installation process, don’t put your MacBook Pro in Sleep mode or close its lid. 
  • Make sure your MacBook is plugged in and charging. 
  • Don’t panic if your MacBook Pro restarts and shows a progress bar several times or displays an empty/blank screen for minutes. It’s normal to see such things during the installation. 

Also Read: How to Calibrate MacBook Battery?

14. Contact Apple

If your 2020 MacBook Pro won’t turn ON at all or if macOS doesn’t load properly even after you’ve reinstalled it from Recovery mode, you must contact Apple. We’re saying this because there can be some major issues like a hardware fault that cannot be fixed at your end. In such cases, the best thing you can do is to visit the nearest Apple store. Even better, make a Genius Bar appointment to cut down the waiting time. Make sure to don’t fall for cheaper, third-party alternatives as they can further damage your MacBook Pro and leave it beyond repair. 

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Also Read: Best External Hard Drives for MacBook Pro

Other issues related to MacBook Pro not turning ON

1. What to do if your MacBook Pro is turned ON but not starting up?

There can be instances when your MacBook Pro is turned ON but not starting up. Instead, it might show you a blank screen, an Apple logo, or a progress bar. If this happens to be your case, here’s what to do.

Step 1: Start up from macOS Recovery

What to do if a MacBook Pro isn’t turning ON and shows a blank screen?

If your M1 MacBook Pro won’t turn ON and shows a black, grey, or green screen, you need to start it up from macOS Recovery mode. 

For Apple Silicon Macs, press and hold the power button for about 10 seconds. When you see the startup options window, release the button, and select the gear icon labeled

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Options. If you don’t see the startup options, release the power button and try the process again after 10-15 seconds. If you face the same issue, you must contact Apple support. 

On an Intel-powered MacBook Pro, Press & hold the Power button for 10 seconds. Press & release the Power button and immediately press & hold Command (⌘)-R until you see the Apple logo or any other image. 

Once you’ve done this, move to step 2.

What to do if a MacBook Pro starts up at an Apple logo or Progress bar?

If your MacBook Pro is stuck at an Apple Logo or Progress Bar during the startup, here’s what to do:

  1. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds until your Mac turns OFF. 
  2. Then, turn your MacBook ON. If the issue persists, press and hold the power button until your MacBook is turned OFF. Make sure to unplug all the accessories like external monitors, cables, printers, and others. 
  3. Once you’re done with this, start your MacBook. If your MacBook Pro M1 still won’t turn ON, again press & hold the power button until it turns OFF.
  4. Then, move to the next step 2.
  5. If the issue persists, you need to re-install macOS. For this, head to step 13 of the above section. 

Step 2: Use Disk Utility to repair your startup disk

If you’ve successfully started up from macOS Recovery, MacBook will show you a Disk Utility option in the utilities window. Select Disk Utility and follow the steps mentioned in step 11 of the above section.

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In case Disk Utility found no errors, you must reinstall macOS. On the other hand, if Disk Utility has found and repaired errors, you need to restart your Mac. 

If your MacBook Pro still shows a black screen and won’t turn ON, you’ll have to reinstall macOS (refer to step 13 of the above section). 

If you’re struggling with a MacBook Pro that won’t start up and shows a circle with a line, question mark, or options with a gear icon,

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click here to know what to do.

Also Read: 17 Tested Ways to fix MacBook Pro Battery Drain problems 

2. Why is my MacBook Pro showing a black screen and not turning ON?

Here are the possible reasons why your MacBook Pro shows a black screen and not turning ON:

  • If there’s insufficient power, your MacBook Pro M1 might boot into a black screen. 
  • Faulty third-party apps or software that loads at the startup.
  • If the contacts between firmware and hardware are damaged or loose, your MacBook Pro won’t start up normally. 
  • Software or hardware incompatibility can also lead to M2 MacBook Pro black screen problems. It usually happens when you update macOS or firmware on your machine. The updated version might come with some bugs, incompatibility issues, or large disk space requirements. 
  • A motherboard failure might also cause the MacBook Pro not to turn ON problems. 

Also Read: Best MacBook Pro Alternatives in 2023

With this, we’ve come to the end of our guide on how to fix a MacBook Pro that won’t turn ON at all. We hope this troubleshooting guide helped you fix a dead MacBook Pro. 

Which trick worked for you? We’ll love to hear about your experiences in the comments below. 

Don’t miss our troubleshooting guide on how to fix common M2 MacBook Pro problems. 



TechieTechTech Team
TechieTechTech Team