Your MacBook May not be turning on because of hardware issues that experts at an Apple Store may be able to fix. These issues include a faulty power button, a dead battery, or a faulty power cord. It could also be an Operating System issue, keeping it from booting.
My name is Ty Robinson. I work in the IT field and help daily with various technological issues, including with users and their devices.
Throughout this article, I will go over why your MacBook Air refuses to turn on. These issues could be linked to many things, from a dead battery, hardware issues, or even an issue with the macOS itself preventing it from booting as usual.
Let’s Get Into it!
Contents
Key Takeaways
- Your MacBook could simply not be charged.
- It could be a hardware issue.
- Your macOS could be corrupted, and you may need to restore it.
Your MacBook Air Won’t Turn On: Top Reasons and Fixes
Here are some of the main reasons your MacBook Air could refuse to turn on as it should.
Reason #1: MacBook Air Isn’t Charged
If your MacBook Air refuses to boot up when your press the power button, the first thing you should check is if the battery is dead.
How to Fix
Plug it into the charger and allow it 10 minutes to charge, then attempt to power it on again.
If your MacBook Air won’t power on after letting it charge, it is time to check to see if the power adapter itself or even the outlet is the culprit. A faulty power adapter could be why your dead device will not power on.
Try another power adapter on your device to see if it begins to charge. The issue could also be with the outlet in the wall itself. Try the adapter on another outlet and check if it is charging. If you need help, you know the problem lies with your adapter/outlet.
Reason #2: Malfunctioning Battery or Dead Battery
Your battery may have simply malfunctioned and needs to be diagnosed at an Apple Store. Or it has simply run out of battery cycles and is now dead, making it impossible to power it on.
How to Fix
Check your device for any signs of life when you press the power button, and listen closely to hear any fans whir to life briefly if you have an Intel-based MacBook Air model. You can also press the caps lock key when powering it up to see if it lights up.
If your battery has simply died of old age or is malfunctioning, you can take steps to get it diagnosed and replaced. Batteries only have so many power cycles before they start to wear down and eventually stop working.
To get your MacBook Air battery serviced, you can schedule a repair at an Apple store or a certified 3rd party repair shop. The cost of a battery replacement comes to about $129 at an Apple Store but can vary when it comes to 3rd party repair locations.
Reason #3: Corrupted Files
Though rare, it is entirely possible that your operating has been corrupted and is refusing to boot. There could also be files on the drive that keep it from booting.
How to Fix
If there is an issue with your boot drive, file, or operating system, corruption on the SSD in your MacBook Air could prevent it from booting like normal.
To get to Recovery mode to run Disk Utility can vary depending on the chipset in your MacBook. If you have an intel-based chipset, after you press the power button, hold down the critical combo CMD+R.
If you have an M1 or M2 chipset, hold down the power button until it boots into recovery. Click on your MacBook Airs solid state drive once in Disk Utility, then click the first aid or run button.
This will scan and repair any issues, and repair them. After this is run, reboot your device and wait to see if your MacBook Air boots up as it should; if it still does not, the issue could lie elsewhere.
Reason #4: Corrupt Operating System
Like the issue above, instead of a file/files being corrupt, it is your macOS as a whole.
How to Fix
If you can get your device to boot into recovery like in the fix above, and running Disk repair does not remedy the issue, a last-ditch effort is simply reinstalling the entire operating system, in essence, factory resetting the device.
It is highly recommended to back up any crucial files you may have, as doing this fix will result in losing all SSD data.
Following the steps to get into Recovery Mode above, CMD+R or Holding the power button down. Once there, navigate back to Disk Utility, and select “Erase.” After the drive has been completely erased, select “Reinstall OS” and complete its installation.
Reason #5: Faulty Power Cord
If you left your MacBook Air to charge overnight, it refuses to turn on. You may have a faulty power cord.
How to Fix
First, verify that it is your power cord that is the issue. Plug it directly into a wall outlet. If that does not work, plug it into another wall outlet. If you have any more available, try out other another power adapter. If another works, then you know it was yours that was the issue.
Reason #6: Hardware Damage/ Liquid Damage
If your device took a bad fall or a spill, it is possible that hardware or liquid damage could be the reason that your MacBook device has become unresponsive.
How to Fix
This is where the Apple repair technicians will come in. Once there is critical hardware damage that has made it impossible to get into your MacBook, it is time to make an appointment with an Apple Technician or a 3rd party repair shop.
Final Thoughts
Your MacBook Air not turning on could be due to several factors, from simply not being charged or a faulty charger to even hardware or Operating System errors. Hopefully, with the fixes I have shown, you will be back up and running in no time.