Your MacBook will not start after a flat battery: it ran completely empty and now nothing happens, even on the charger. That happens more often than you think, especially when a MacBook has been in a drawer for weeks. Usually nothing is broken and the battery simply needs time. Sometimes the battery is too deeply discharged or the charger is the problem. This article explains how to get your MacBook on again and when it needs a repair.
Blue Apple repairs MacBooks in Amsterdam and replaces batteries. Start with the steps below.
Step 1: charge long enough
Connect the original charger and leave the MacBook for at least half an hour without doing anything. A completely flat battery first charges very slowly before the Mac has enough power to start. Only then press the power button. If you first see just a battery symbol, wait a little longer.
Step 2: check the charger
- Use the original charger or one with enough wattage. A phone charger is often too weak to start a flat MacBook. See which charger fits my MacBook.
- Try another socket and another cable.
- With USB-C: try another port on the MacBook.
- With MagSafe: look at the light. Orange means charging, green full. No light: see the MagSafe light.
Step 3: force start
With the charger connected, hold the power button for ten seconds, release and press it briefly. On an Intel MacBook an SMC reset may help; see resetting the SMC. On a Mac with an Apple chip: charger off, wait half a minute, charger on, wait and then turn it on.
Step 4: the screen stays black
Do you hear something or does the keyboard backlight come on, but the screen stays black? Press the brightness key a few times. Also read MacBook will not wake from sleep.
Why a flat battery can be a problem
A lithium battery that stays completely empty for a long time can discharge so deeply that the protection inside the battery shuts it off. Then it no longer accepts charge, or only very slowly. An old, worn battery also sometimes struggles to get going after being completely empty. So store a MacBook you will not use for a while half full, not empty.
It starts, but shuts off again
Does the MacBook turn on on the charger, but shut off as soon as you unplug it, or say "Service Recommended"? Then the battery is worn. Check the battery health in System Settings, Battery. See checking battery health and cycles.
When does it need a repair?
- After a few hours of charging with a working charger, still no sign of life.
- The charger works on another MacBook, but not on this one.
- The battery swells: the trackpad gets stiff or the bottom bulges. Stop charging then.
- The charging port is loose, dirty or damaged.
What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam
We measure whether the MacBook gets power, test the battery, charger and charging port, and replace the battery if that is the problem. You hear beforehand what it costs. More on our pages about MacBook battery replacement and MacBook will not turn on.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I charge before it turns on?
Give it at least half an hour. With a very old battery it can take longer.
Is my battery broken after being completely empty?
Usually not. Only if it stayed empty for long or was already worn can it be damaged.
Can I use the MacBook without a battery?
Not well. A MacBook with a broken battery often runs slower or shuts off, even on the charger.
