How to fix a non-starting MacBook

February 24, 2023

Have you exhausted all possibilities and the Mac still won't boot?

Unfortunately, due to that silly Apple policy that prohibits us from touching the internal hardware of the equipment, there isn't much we can "touch" to observe what is occurring at the hardware level.

However, certain older Macs do allow access to specific parts, including RAM and/or storage drives, so as a last option, there is nothing to lose by removing those parts, thoroughly cleaning them, and reinstalling them to see if the Mac still functions. If it still won't start or whether the issue has been fixed is unknown.

On the other hand, we regret to inform you that you will need to take your gadget to the macbook repair shop near me, whether official or authorized, for repair, where we also already expect it to be expensive if the issue is hardware.

If the issue is with the software, it won't be the financial assault that opening and disassembling a Mac as such represents, but it will still be pricey because the hourly rate is set at the cost of printer ink. Because Apple products' resources are significantly more constrained than those on PCs, there aren't many other solutions available.

System file repair

If your Mac does switch on but the operating system does not launch, Mac OS file corruption may be the cause. Thanks to the built-in recovery mode found on all Macs, this can fortunately be resolved quickly. Let's get started. Follow these steps to start Recovery mode:

Make certain the Mac is off. Press the power button while continuing to depress the Command and R buttons.
Wait until you see the bitten apple logo before releasing Command and R as the Mac starts up.
Recovery mode will start when the Mac boots. Within click on Disk Utility.

Click the First Aid button at the top to access the drive where your operating system is stored (often Macintosh HD).

You will see a notification alerting you that this utility will be executed on your drive. If you choose to repair the disc in the event that mistakes are discovered, the application will perform all the work by searching your hard drive for damaged files and making an effort to fix them. Restart the machine after finishing, then see if it boots up normally.

Reinstalling the operating system is the final alternative. As we've seen before, you'll need to boot into Recovery mode, but this time you'll need to choose "Reinstall macOS" rather than "Disk Utility."

To start the Mac if it won't, restart the SMC.

You might need to reset the System Management Controller in various circumstances (SMC). This is typically the last effort before reinstalling the operating system and beginning again. Below, we'll explain how to do it on Apple's most recent laptops and desktops. Apple offers a full guide on doing this based on the kind and version of the Mac.

Using Laptops

Make sure the computer is off and disconnected from power, then wait around 30 seconds before plugging it back in.
Hold the SHIFT, CTRL, and Option buttons down for seven seconds.
Press and hold the power button for an additional 7 seconds without letting go of any of the three keys. Keep pressing these four keys for a further seven seconds, then let go.
To restart your Mac, wait a few while and push the power button once again.

Within desktop computers

Unplug the power line from your Computer and shut it down. After waiting 20–30 seconds, re-establish power.
After waiting for five seconds, push the power button as usual. On desktop Macs, this only resets the SMC.

Finish a power cycle

What you can try to do if your Mac won't even turn on has already been demonstrated. The next thing you should attempt is a full power cycle if the computer turns on but won't boot. After turning the computer off entirely, this stage entails forcing a restart.

Press and hold the power key for 10 seconds on a MacBook. When the power is turned off, the equipment will be forced to turn off and you will hear a beep. If you hit the power button one more time, the computer should restart normally.

You should unplug your desktop Mac, such as an iMac or Mac Mini, and leave it unplugged for at least 20 to 30 seconds to allow the power supply and motherboard's capacitors to drain. Following that, reconnect the plug and try turning it on once more.