» Mac Tips»[7 Solutions] How to Fix a Mac That Won't Start Up
Imagine this: "you wake up early, eager to start your day with a fresh burst of productivity. You shuffle over to your workspace, ready to dive into your tasks, but when you press the power button on your Mac, nothing happens. The screen remains black, and the reassuring hum of the startup chime is absent. Panic sets in as you realize that your Mac is not starting up!!!"
Whether it’s an important project, a critical deadline, or just your daily routine, the sudden halt can be frustrating and unsettling. Before you give in to frustration or consider a visit to the repair shop, take a deep breath. There are several troubleshooting steps you can follow to address this issue and get your Mac back up and running. In this post, we’ll walk you through effective solutions to help you resolve the problem and restore your productivity.
Don't get bored, thought it sounds stupid, but please make sure that all power cables and adapters are securely connected and not damaged. If you're using a MacBook, try using a different power adapter or cables. (We recommend avoiding third-party power cables not made by Apple, as they are more likely to be defective and potentially unsafe). For Desktops, ensure all power and data cables are properly connected, including your iMac host computer and monitor. Sometimes, if your monitor is not properly connected, it may cause you to mistakenly think the computer won't start. So please check those cables above first. Then if your Mac still cannot start up, check the following steps.
If you don't notice any signs of activity on your Mac computer, you can try a power cycle, which involves cutting off the power to your Mac and then forcing it to restart. You know, Restarting can solve 99% of problems, while reinstalling the system can solve 100% of them.
MacBook: Hold down the power for 10 seconds. You'll usually hear a slight noise as the power is forcibly cut. After waiting 10 seconds, press the power again to restart the computer.
Desktop: Unplug the power cord, wait for at least 10 seconds, then plug it back in and attempt to restart.
Almost every operate system got a safe mode to recovery our device form the virus or malware, Apple is no exception. Booting into Safe Mode can help diagnose issues during the startup process. The method varies depending on your Mac's processor:
Intel Mac:
Step 1 Hold down the
Step 2 Release the
Apple Silicon Mac (M1/M2):
Step 1 Press and hold the power button until the startup options appear,
Step 2 Press and hold the
Back in the days of pre-Intel Macs, we used to refer to resetting the PRAM. On Intel Macs, this process is called resetting the NVRAM. On M1 or M2 Macs, the NVRAM is automatically reset as needed. All in all, resetting the PRAM/NVRAM can resolve certain startup issues:
Intel Mac:You'd better do this with your Toes, Hold down the
Apple Silicon Mac (M1/M2): On M-series Macs, the NVRAM is checked during startup, and the system will reset it if necessary. There's no key combination to hold during startup for this. To have the system check the NVRAM on an M-series Mac, shut it down completely, wait a few seconds, and then turn it back on.
The SMC controls power management, fans, and other hardware functions. The reset process varies by Mac model. And the Apple T2 security chip is Apple's custom second-generation Mac chip. It provides a range of features, including encrypted storage, secure boot capabilities, and enhanced image signal processing. If you don't know whether your MacBook or iMac is equipped with a T2 chip, you can start by finding your Mac's model and then use the table below to confirm whether your computer is equipped with a T2 chip. Then follow the steps below to fix your startup problem:
Macs with T2 Chip:
Step 1 Shut down your Mac.
Step 2 Hold the power button for 10 seconds and release,
Step 3 Wait a few seconds, then press the power button again to start.
MacBooks with T2 Chip:
Step 1 Shut down your Mac.
Step 2 Hold Shift(right)-Control-Option and the power button for 10 seconds,
Step 3 Release all keys and then press the power button to start.
MacBooks without T2 Chip:
Step 1 Shut down your Mac.
Step 2 Hold Shift(left)-Control-Option and the power button for 10 seconds,
Step 3 Release all keys and then press the power button to start.
Desktop Macs without T2 Chip:
Step 1 Shut down your Mac, then unplug the power cord,
Step 2 Wait 15 seconds, then plug the power cord back in,
Step 3 Wait 5 seconds, then press the power button to turn on your Mac.
If your Mac still won't start, try entering Recovery Mode:
Intel Mac:
Step 1 Hold down the
Step 2 Then press the power button.
Apple Silicon Mac:
Step 1 Press and hold the power button until startup options appear,
Step 2 Then select "Options."
In Recovery Mode, you can attempt to repair the disk or reinstall macOS. You can also check more information about Mac's Recovery Mode from the following link.
If none of the above steps work, there may be a hardware issue. It is recommended to contact Apple Support or visit an authorized service provider for further inspection and repair.
These 7 methods above can help you resolve most issues with a Mac that won't start up. Unless absolutely necessary, it's not recommended to reset the SMC. Although it won't affect your data, it may impact some of your settings, such as power options. If the problem persists, it's best to seek professional assistance to ensure your device receives the proper care. Professionals do professional work, Apple's after-sales service is still very reassuring. Hope this post can share some useful tips to you, thank you for your reading!
Apple's macOS troubleshoot: https://support.apple.com/en-us/102575
