If your Mac won’t turn on, you might be able to fix it yourself by trying these solutions from our in-house tech wizards. 

 

Jump to

Check your charger

Reset the SMC

Reset NVRAM

Check what the screen is displaying

Troubleshoot with Safe mode

Reinstall current macOS

 

Check your charger

Start here to determine which power adapter and cable come with your Mac, then refer to the instructions below. 

First, unplug your power adapter from the outlet. Wait a few seconds and then plug it in one more time. If that doesn’t work:

Step 1. Check power

• Verify that your power adapter is plugged into a working outlet.
• Disconnect the power adapter from the outlet and try plugging in a different device, like a clock or a lamp – if it works, try the adapter again.
• If your computer still doesn’t charge, shut it down and close the screen for at least 30 seconds, then open it again to try the adapter once more.

Step 2. Check for line noise issues

• Unplug your power adapter, wait around 30 seconds, then connect it again.
• If your Mac starts to charge, there might be an issue with line noise.
• Line noise issues can affect outlets that share the same electrical circuit with things like refrigerators – try connecting your adapter to an outlet on another circuit.
• If the adapter still doesn’t charge when plugged into another working outlet, no worries – just get in touch with us. Contact Back Market Customer Care

Step 3. Check the AC plug or the cable

Your power adapter always comes with a detachable plug (the part with the metal prongs that go into the outlet). Try using another Apple AC plug as the one you’re working with may be faulty.

Step 4. Check the cable

The charging issue may stem from the USB-C cable. 

• If you find that your USB-C-enabled Mac is able to charge with one USB-C cable and not another, or if you need to wiggle the cable or Adapter Extension Cable back and forth in order for it to charge, stop using the cable right away and get touch with us. Contact Back Market Customer Care

If you see any sparks:

You may notice that small sparks appear when the charger’s metal prongs connect with the outlet. Most of the time this is normal. However, contact Back Market Customer Care right away if:

• You see a spark coming from somewhere other than the metal prongs.
• The charger shows signs of damage or discolouration.

 

Reset the SMC

The System Management Controller (SMC) controls the power on your Mac. Resetting it can solve some uncommon issues related to power or temperature management.

Step 1. Determine if your Mac has Apple silicon

See if you have a Mac with Apple silicon

If you do:

• Check that your computer is connected to a reliable power source.
• Restart your Mac, or shut it down and turn it back on.

Step 2. If it doesn’t, determine if your Mac has a T2 chip

See if you have a Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip

If you do:

Laptop computer with the T2 chip

• Shut down your computer if you can.
• Press the power button for 10 seconds, then release.
  • Remember, all Macs have this button, even if you have TouchID – you can also use it to restart your computer.
• Wait for a few seconds, then press the power button again to turn your computer back on.

If the issue doesn’t resolve: 

• Shut down your computer.
• Press and hold Control (⌃)-Option (Alt) ⌥-Shift ⇧ – your Mac may turn on during the process.
• Continue to press and hold all the keys for around 7 seconds, then press and hold your Mac’s power button without releasing the other keys – if your laptop is on, it will turn off during this step.
• Keep pressing the keys for another 7 seconds, then release them.
• Wait for a little while, then press the power button again to turn your Mac back on.

Desktop computer with the T2 chip

• Shut down your computer and unplug the power cord.
• Wait for 15 seconds, then plug the power cord back in. 
• Wait for another 5 seconds, then press the power button to turn your Mac back on.

How to reset your Mac if it doesn’t have Apple silicon or a T2 chip

Laptop computer

• Power down your Mac.
• Press and hold Shift ⇧-Control (⌃)-Option (Alt) ⌥ at the same time.
• Press and hold the power button at the same time as the keys above.
• Hold the four keys for around 10 seconds.
• Release all of the keys, and then press the power button to turn your computer back on.

Desktop computer

• Shut down your computer and unplug the power cord.
• Wait for 15 seconds, then plug it back in.
• Wait for 5 more seconds and then press the power button to turn your Mac back on.

 

Reset NVRAM

The non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), sometimes called the parallel random-access machine (PRAM), is a small portion of memory that your computer uses to save and have lightning-speed access to certain settings such as sound, start-up disk selection and even the time zone. Most of the time you can control these settings in your System Preferences, but if you can’t, resetting your NVRAM may help! 

If your Mac has Apple silicon

If your Mac computer has Apple silicon, you don’t need to worry about resetting your NVRAM as these devices don’t include a manual reset option.

If your Mac is Intel-based 

If your Mac doesn’t have Apple silicon, then your computer has an Intel processor and features an NVRAM reset option. Follow the instructions below to reset it.

• Shut down your Mac.
• Turn on your computer and immediately press and hold Option-Command (⌘)-P-R.
• You can release the keys after about 20 seconds – you may start to hear the restart sound a few times or see the Apple logo pop up on the screen.
• When your Mac does restart, make sure to readjust your system settings as they could have been reset in the process.
• If these steps didn’t work, see these guidelines to continue troubleshooting.

 

Look at the screen

Make sure to refer to any messages that may pop up on your screen.

Circle crossed out

• Press and hold the power button for up to 10 seconds to turn off your Mac.
• Use Disk Utility to repair your start-up disk.
• If Disk Utility doesn’t find any errors or manage to repair any it’s found, reinstall macOS.

Question mark

A folder with a flashing question mark means that your start-up disk is no longer available or does not contain a working Mac operating system.

• Shut down your Mac by holding down the power button for up to 10 seconds.
  • Remember: all Macs have this button, even if you have TouchID – you can also use it to restart your computer.
• Use Disk Utility to repair your start-up disk – follow the instructions for Macs with an Intel processor.
• If Disk Utility doesn’t find any errors or manage to repair any it’s found, reinstall macOS.
   

Options with a gear icon

The Boot Options window displays an icon for each available boot disk: a gear icon labelled “Options”, “Power Off” and “Restart”. If your Mac has an Apple chip, the Boot Options window appears when you turn on your Mac and press and hold the “Power” button for at least 10 seconds. 

Here’s what you can do from the boot options:

• Select a start-up disk, such as Macintosh HD, then click “Continue” to boot from this disc.
• Select Options, then click “Continue” to open the macOS Recovery feature.
  • Here you can reinstall macOS, repair your disk or erase it using Disk Utility, and more.
• Click “Shut Down” or “Restart”.

Hidden features also available in Start-up Options:

• Select a start-up disk, such as Macintosh HD, hold down the “Shift” key, and click “Continue in Safe Mode”.
• Press Command (⌘)-D to open Apple Diagnostics.

Blank screen

A blank screen (black, grey or blue) should appear one or more times during start-up. If your Mac gets stuck on a blank screen, follow the steps below.

Try starting your Mac from the macOS Recovery feature

If your Mac appears to be on, but nothing appears on the screen, determine if you’re using a Mac with an Apple chip, then refer to the following instructions:

Apple logo

• Shut down your Mac by holding down its power button for up to 10 seconds.
  • Remember: all Macs have this button, even if you have TouchID – you can also use it to restart your computer.
• Turn your Mac back on. 
  • If the problem persists, press and hold the power button until your Mac shuts down. 
  • Next, unplug all accessories from your Mac, including printers, disk drives, USB hubs and other non-essential external devices. 
  • The problem may stem from one or more of these devices or their cables.
• Turn your Mac back on. 
  • If the problem persists, press and hold the power button again until your Mac shuts down. 
  • Follow these instructions to boot from the macOS Recovery feature to launch Disk Utility:
    • If Disk Utility didn’t find any errors, reinstall macOS.
    • If Disk Utility found errors and repaired them, restart your Mac. 
    • If the problem recurs after restarting, reinstall macOS.

Globe with a warning symbol

A globe with an exclamation mark means that your Mac tried to boot from macOS Recovery to the Internet but was unsuccessful. 

• Make sure your Mac can connect to the Internet.
  • If you are not prompted to choose a Wi-Fi network during start-up, choose a network from the Wi-Fi menu, if available.
• Press Command (⌘)-R on start-up to try using the built-in recovery system instead of Internet recovery.
• Connect to the Internet using Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi, or vice versa.
• Connect to the Internet from another Wi-Fi or Ethernet network.
  • Your network configuration may not allow the Internet access needed by the macOS Recovery feature.
• Try again later – the problem may be temporary.
• Boot from another disk or volume, if you have one, or use a bootable installer to reinstall macOS.

Padlock icon

The padlock icon appears when you try to start from another disk or volume, such as an external hard drive or the macOS Recovery feature. Enter the firmware password to continue.

 

System Lock PIN Code

Your Mac asks for a PIN when it’s been locked remotely using Find My. Enter the four- or six-digit passcode to continue.

 

Login window 

Enter your user account password to log in to your Mac. If FileVault is enabled, it will also unlock your disk. You may see a default wallpaper image in the background. This may change back to your chosen wallpaper image when you select your account.

 

 

Troubleshoot with Safe mode

Safe Mode prevents certain software from loading as your Mac starts up, such as login items, unnecessary extensions and others. It can help you identify if any issues you may be experiencing are caused by that software.

Mac with Apple silicon

• Shut down your computer.
• Turn it back on and press and hold the power button until the start-up options screen appears.
• Choose the start-up disk, then press and hold the “Shift” key and click “Continue in Safe Mode”.
• Your computer will automatically restart. If prompted, log back in.

Intel processor-based Mac

• Turn on or restart your computer, then press and hold the “Shift” key until the login window pops up.
• Release the key and log in.
• You may be prompted to log in again – you should see the words “Safe Boot” appear in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.

If the problem continues even when in Safe Mode

If the issue continues or your Mac restarts several times and then powers down again when in Safe Mode, you should reinstall macOS.

 

Reinstall macOS

macOS Recovery is a great way to reinstall your Mac operating system.

How to start up from macOS Recovery

First, check that your computer is connected to the Internet. Determine whether your Mac has Apple silicon or an Intel processor, and then follow the instructions below. 

 

Reinstall macOS

Keep in mind that reinstalling macOS doesn’t delete your data. To install it, click Reinstall macOS on the Utilities tab in macOS Recovery, then select “Continue”.

• If you’re asked to unlock your disk, simply enter the password you normally use to log in to your computer.
• If your disk isn’t recognised, or you see a message that says it can’t install on your Mac, you’ll need to erase your disk before continuing – be sure to back up your disk before you do so.
• Make sure to install macOS on Macintosh HD if prompted.
• Leave your Mac on and open to finish the installation – be aware that it may restart a few times and the screen may turn on and off during the process.