How To Fix Mac Startup Problems On Your Own

how-to-fix-mac-startup-problems

Your Mac is your daily driver. It’s your personal assistant, your means of making quick edits, and your way of staying connected to your family and friends. But, what do you do when it doesn’t turn on? You now have 100’s of questions running through your head. Is it the battery? The hard drive? The power button? The problem might be simple – even as simple as not plugging it in to charge.


Most common Mac startup problems

Enlisted are 5 of the most common reasons that a Mac or MacBook might not turn on.

1. Low Battery

2. Display Issues

3. Damaged Hard Drive

4. Corrupted Firmware

5. Corrupted system files

 

How Do You Fix Them On Your Own

1. Check Your Mac Turns On:

There are a variety of different reasons that your Mac might not be able to turn on, with the most common being a critically low battery. Though your Mac won’t be able to turn on, you can always check to see if it’s getting enough power to turn on. The best way to do this is to simply plug your Mac into a wall outlet and allow it to charge. If you see your Mac charging, it means it has enough power to turn on. If it’s not, well, then you might have a bigger problem.

2. Try Performing a Power Cycle:

On a MacBook, you’ll want to keep a safe grip on the power switch and a count of ten to cause the power to turn off and then back on in order to safely reset the machine. You can then breathe a sigh of relief and hope for the best. By resetting your machine this way, you may be able to rescue your MacBook. However, if you have AppleCare, then it might be best to just contact an Apple Store or Apple Support.

3. Check Your Display:

Your Mac might not turn on because your display isn’t working. This can occur for a variety of reasons, including a dead battery or a damaged cable, but the simplest is the cable being loose or not connected correctly.

4. Boot Mac in Safe Boot:

If your Mac hasn’t turned on, or even if it has, but it won’t boot up properly, you should boot it in safe mode. Safe mode is a way to enter a mode where you can run diagnostics and make sure all the basic components are working properly. This will save you from having to restore your entire Mac, which can be a long and frustrating process. To boot your Mac in safe mode, you should hold down the Shift key and the S key as you boot.

5. Is Your Hard Drive Damaged?

A damaged hard drive is another common reason that your Mac won’t turn on. As this happens, it can sometimes cause your Mac to completely cease functioning. If this is the case, you’ll probably need to have the hard drive replaced, as it could be damaging your entire system.

imac-disassembled

6. Reset the PRAM / NVRAM:

If your Mac won’t boot, then there is a possibility that you’ve reset the PRAM / NVRAM. This is a memory chip on your Mac that allows for basic functioning and testing. To reset the PRAM / NVRAM, you’ll need to turn your Mac off, remove the battery, and that’s why we recommend contacting an expert, for it requires technical skills and some time. You can read more information on that here.

Conclusion:

While it’s disappointing to see your MacBook or Mac not turn on, you shouldn’t have to be stressed out about the issue. Contacting an expert is a surefire way to get your Mac running again, fast. Mac repairs are quite affordable and definitely worth doing considering the price involved for a new one! Get in touch with us today!

Author:
I am a computer engineer holding a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, complemented by a Master's in Business Administration from University of Strathclyde, Scotland. I currently work as a Senior IT Consultant in Melbourne, Australia. With over 15 years of...