Mac Won't Turn On

Having your Mac fail to start is probably one of the worst issues to experience because you cannot immediately identify the issue and try to resolve it. It might be caused by a power supply issue or a random hardware component is failing. In some cases, an operating system issue may also be the cause, or a misconfigured setting might be preventing your Mac from turning on. If your Mac won't turn on, we advise you to follow the instructions below to try and resolve the issue:

Check the Cable Connection

Regardless if you are using a desktop or a laptop, you need to make sure that your Mac is connected to a reliable power source. Users often accidentally unplug the power cord and end up wondering why their Mac won't turn on. Take a look at both ends of the connector, and make sure that they are tightly plugged in.

Start Booting in Safe Mode

If your Mac appears to light up, but cannot load into the operating system, then you should try booting into 'Safe Mode.' This mode is the same on Macs as it is on Windows – it allows the operating system to start with just the essentials, without loading any 3rd-party software or drivers, which may interfere with its stability.

Booting in Safe Mode is surprisingly easy – simply press the power button and then hold down the 'Shift' key until you see the login prompt. If your Mac works like that, then it is likely that a recently installed app or driver might be an issue. While in safe mode, try to remove recently installed apps that may be causing the problem.

Use the Special Power Cycle

There is a relatively unknown method of troubleshooting power issues when starting your Mac. The so-called special power cycle is a great way to troubleshoot a Mac that won't turn on. Start by unplugging the power cord, and then hold down the 'Power' button for 10+ seconds. While holding it, connect the power cord, and continue to hold for 10+ seconds. Let go, and start your Mac.