My Mac's screen isn't turning on: Here's how to fix it

My Mac's screen isn't turning on: Here's how to fix it

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How do you fix a black screen on a Mac?

Now that we've established the common causes of your Laptop/computer’s screen not turning on, we’ll go through the recommended fixes that should get your device working again as normal.

Check for power issues

A black screen can often be caused by power problems, which is why the first thing to check is your charging cable. Has your charger accidentally fallen out and your Mac's battery drained? Or is there an issue with the charging cable itself? Over time, charging cables can become damaged and may simply need replacing. When checking for power issues with your Laptop/computer, you also should check your battery cycles because this may cause screen problems. To do this, simply go to the Apple menu from the top left-hand corner of your screen and select ‘About this Mac’ and ‘System Report’. Once you have the system report open, you choose ‘Power’ and look for the ‘Cycle Count’ and condition of your battery. If it says your battery is in ‘Bad’ or ‘Poor’ condition, it may be time to replace it.

Why would a Mac stop working?

Most of the time, an unresponsive Laptop/computer means lack of disk space or memory. In rare cases, it's hardware failure but, really, it's likely too many things running at the same time. Conflicting apps is another possible explanation when a Mac is unresponsive but we'll get down to it in a minute.

If your Mac doesn't turn on

If your Laptop/computer doesn't seem to turn on after you've pressed the power button, follow these steps.

Check power connections

Make sure your power cable is undamaged and plugged securely into your Laptop/computer and a working electrical socket. If your Laptop/computer has no built-in display, make sure your external display is connected to a power source, connected to your Mac and turned on.

Press and hold the power button

Press and hold the power button on your Laptop/computer for about 10 seconds. (Every Laptop/computer has a power button. On laptop computers that have Touch ID, press and hold Touch ID.) Then press and release the power button normally.

Unplug accessories

You could have an issue with one or more accessories or their cables. Unplug all accessories from your Laptop/computer , including printers, drives, USB hubs and mobile devices. Then repeat step 2 above.

If you see something on your screen

If your screen shows a flashing question mark, circle with a line through it or anything else, or if your Laptop/computer shows status indicator lights or other signs of power, your Mac is turned on but isn’t starting up: If your Laptop/computer turns on but doesn't start up all the way

If you see nothing on your screen

If your Mac seems to be turned on but the screen remains blank, the issue could be software related: If your Mac starts up to a blank screen

Reset the SMC (Intel-based Mac only)

If you're using an older, Intel-based Mac, resetting the SMC may help: Reset the SMC

Revive or restore firmware

Rarely, a Mac with Apple silicon or the Apple T2 Security Chip may stop responding and need to be revived or restored by another Laptop/computer . How to revive or restore Laptop/computer firmware
 

If your Mac display doesn’t look right

If the image on your Laptop/computer display doesn’t look right, try one or more of these suggestions.
  • If the display is black or dim: Try adjusting your display’s brightness.
  • If images are too large or too small: Try adjusting your display’s resolution.
  • If the colours don’t look right: Try using the display profile designed for your display. For example, if you’re using a Thunderbolt display, choose Apple menu  > System Settings, then click Displays in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.) Click the pop-up menu next to “Colour profile” on the right, then choose Thunderbolt Display. If that doesn’t work, try calibrating the display.
  • If your display is blurry: Make sure your Mac has detected that display. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Displays.To see the Detect Displays button, press the Option key. Then click the button to detect the display.
  • If the display is flickering: Make sure your Mac and display are connected to one another with good quality cables and adapters. You may also be experiencing interference from a nearby power line, a fluorescent light, a radio, a microwave oven, another computer or another electrical device. Try relocating nearby electrical devices or moving your Mac and display.
  • If you see bright or dark spots on a flat-panel or Mac laptop screen: Your display may have pixel anomalies. If you suspect your Apple display contains a high number of anomalies, contact Apple or an Apple Authorised Service Provider for service. Repairs performed by untrained individuals or using non-genuine Apple parts may affect the safety and functionality of the device.
  • If none of these solutions work: If you have an Apple display and can’t correct the problem, contact Apple or an Apple Authorised Service Provider for service. Repairs performed by untrained individuals or using non-genuine Apple parts may affect the safety and functionality of the device.
 

Restarting your Mac

If you haven't been able to fix your black screen after checking for power issues, it is worth restarting your device. With a Mac, there are several ways to restart manually:
  • Hold down the power button for five seconds to shut down your device, then wait at least 15 seconds before pressing it again to reboot.
  • Use CTRL+EJECT keys to open the dialogue box and press enter to shut down. After 15 seconds, press the power button to reboot.
  • Use CTRL + CMD + EJECT to trigger a restart automatically.

Key sequences

Sometimes all it takes to get your mac screen to work again is using specific key sequences. This won't always work, but many Laptop/computer users have reported that this can sometimes be the trigger to help reboot your machine. The suggested sequence is as follows: Press down the power button and press the S key, which will send your Laptop/computer to sleep. Hold the power button down to force a shutdown and wait 15 seconds before powering it back up again. After doing so, your Mac screen should resume working as normal.

Resetting the NVRAM/PRAM

If, after trying all of the fixes mentioned above, your screen is still not working, it may be time to start digging a little deeper. NVRAM is short for Non-Volatile Ram, and by resetting this, you may lose some of your customised settings, but it should help reboot your screen. You will need to shut down your Mac before pressing the power button. Once you hear the start-up sound, you will hold down Command + Option + P + R until you hear the start-up sound again.

SMC reset

Another method of fixing a black screen is to carry out a system management controller reset. To do so, start by shutting down your Mac and connecting it to a power source. Once it is fully powered down, hold Shift, Control, Option and press the power button simultaneously for 10 seconds. Then release the keys, restart your Mac, reset your system, and the screen should be operational again.

Safe mode

If there are issues with your start-up disk, it can cause your Mac to have a black screen. In this instance, you should try fixing the problem by rebooting your Mac into safe mode, which allows it to run a check on the disk. To do this, you will need to turn off your Laptop/computer and hold down the Shift key while you power it back up.

Once you see the Apple logo appear, you can let go of the key and your Mac will start up into safe mode where it will run diagnostic tests on your disk. After it has completely rebooted, you can restart your device into its normal start-up mode and see if the black screen issues have been fixed.   Most Apple users have to deal with their Mac's screen failing to turn on at some point. Often it needs a simple fix, while occasionally the approach to solving a problem is more complicated. Either way, we understand how important it is to get your device working again. This article explains why your Mac’s screen might turn black before describing the ways you can try to fix it at home.

Why is my Mac on, but the screen is black?

In most instances, Mac users will find that their device switches on but the screen’s display is black. You will probably spot system lights blinking, hear the whirring of a fan and may even notice start-up sounds - all of which can be incredibly frustrating. So, what are the possible causes for a black screen?

Power outage

Your first port of call may seem obvious, but often power issues can be why your Mac’s screen is black. Your device may be out of battery, have a faulty charging cable, or the battery itself could be experiencing issues.

Problems waking

If you have previously put your Mac in sleep mode and want to wake it, you may experience a black screen. Unfortunately, this is a common issue that doesn't necessarily have a cause, and it is unclear if it is a software issue or user error.

Software issues

Sometimes faulty software on your Mac or an app can cause your screen not to turn on. This may be a recently downloaded app, an update to an existing app or an update to your Mac’s software that has caused a screen glitch.

Broken disk permissions or app issues

Broken disk permission issues or apps moving into the auto start-up list can sometimes be why your Mac’s screen turns black or has problems starting as normal.

What if my screen still doesn't work?

If, after trying all the fixes mentioned above, your screen still isn't working, it may be time to get professional help. At imFixed, our expert team members are highly trained and experienced in a range of repairs, including Apple Laptop/computer screens. We will carry out a full diagnostic test on your device to get to the source of the problem. If you are unsure what issue you might be having with your Computer or MacBook screen, or have any other questions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Call us on 01204 520520, or send an email to info@imfixed.co.uk

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