Check a Mac that does not appear to turn on
Verify power, force a clean power-button cycle, remove accessories, and separate no power from a blank screen or failed startup.
Direct answer
The shortest reliable path.
Confirm the Mac uses an undamaged power cable or adapter connected securely to a working outlet. Hold the Mac power button for about 10 seconds, then press and release it normally. Disconnect printers, drives, hubs, and mobile devices and repeat. If the Mac shows a symbol or a blank screen, it is turning on and belongs on Apple’s startup or blank-screen path rather than the no-power path.
System view
Check the whole path.
- 01Working electrical outlet
- 02Compatible power cable or adapter
- 03Mac power button
- 04Accessory-free startup
- 05Display or startup response
Scope before steps.
Mac laptops and desktops that do not appear to respond when their power button or Touch ID power button is pressed.
Liquid damage, battery or power-supply replacement, firmware restore, data recovery, a known broken display, or internal hardware repair.
Procedure
Do this in order.
- 01
Verify the complete power path
Secure the undamaged cable at the Mac, adapter, and a working outlet. Try another compatible cable or adapter if available.
- 02
Include the display on desktop Macs
For a Mac without a built-in display, verify the external display has power, is connected to the Mac, and is turned on.
- 03
Force one clean power cycle
Press and hold the Mac power button for about 10 seconds, release it, then press and release it normally.
- 04
Remove every nonessential accessory
Disconnect printers, drives, USB hubs, and mobile devices, then repeat the 10-second power-button sequence.
- 05
Route the visible symptom correctly
If the screen shows a flashing question mark, prohibited symbol, or other image, use Apple’s incomplete-startup path. If the Mac runs but the screen remains blank, use the blank-screen path.
Diagnostic matrix
Read the result, not the guess.
| What you see | Check next | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Another compatible adapter works | Stop using the original adapter or cable and arrange its replacement. | The failure was in the external power path. |
| The Mac starts with accessories removed | Reconnect one accessory and cable at a time. | One removed branch is preventing normal startup. |
| A startup symbol appears | Follow Apple’s Mac turns on but does not start up path. | Power is present; the failure is in startup. |
| The Mac seems active but the screen is blank | Move to Apple’s blank-screen procedure. | The no-power procedure no longer matches the symptom. |
Stop conditions
Know when not to keep changing things.
- Stop the no-power path and use Apple’s incomplete-startup guide if the screen shows a symbol or other image.
- Stop the no-power path and use Apple’s blank-screen guide if the Mac appears to run with no image.
- Arrange Apple service when the supported power, button, and accessory-free checks produce no response.