You open your MacBook, press a key, but the screen stays black. Or the Mac seems to wake, but the screen stays dark. A MacBook that will not wake from sleep is alarming, but often it is simply in a deeper sleep or the battery is flat. This article explains how to wake it up, how to set sleep and when it is a hardware problem.
Blue Apple repairs MacBooks in Amsterdam, including ones that no longer turn on. Start with the steps below.
Step 1: is the battery flat?
Connect the original charger and wait at least ten minutes. With a completely flat battery it can take a while before the Mac responds. With MagSafe, check whether the light is on. See MagSafe light orange, green or flashing.
Step 2: brightness and external display
- Press the brightness-up key a few times. Sometimes the screen is on but the brightness is at zero.
- Disconnect an external display, dock or hub. Sometimes the Mac gets stuck on the external display.
Step 3: force restart
Hold the power button (Touch ID) for about ten seconds until the Mac turns off completely. Wait a few seconds and press the button briefly to turn it on. If that does not work, read shutting down, restarting and sleep.
Step 4: setting sleep
If it happens more often, look at the settings:
- Go to System Settings, Battery, Options (on an Intel Mac sometimes Energy Saver). Check the option to prevent automatic sleep when the display is off, and "Wake for network access".
- In System Settings, Lock Screen you set after how many minutes the display turns off.
- On an Intel Mac deep sleep (standby) can take long to wake from. A little patience sometimes helps.
Turning sleep off
You cannot fully turn it off: when you close the MacBook, it always sleeps, unless a charger, an external display and a keyboard are connected. If you want the Mac to stay awake longer while open, set the display to "Never" under Lock Screen, and turn on the option to prevent automatic sleep while on the charger.
Step 5: software
- Install the latest macOS update.
- Check whether an app interferes with sleep; Activity Monitor, Energy tab, shows which apps keep the Mac awake.
- On an Intel Mac an SMC reset may help. See resetting the SMC.
When is it the hardware?
- The Mac does not turn on even after a force restart and charging.
- You hear the fan or see the keyboard backlight, but the screen stays black. That may be the screen or the display cable.
- The Mac only wakes when you open the lid very far or only slightly. That may point to the sensor in the lid or the display cable.
- It started after water damage or a drop.
Also read MacBook keeps freezing.
What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam
We measure whether the Mac gets power, test the screen, display cable and battery, and look at the logic board. You hear beforehand what is needed and what it costs. More on our page about MacBook will not turn on.
Frequently asked questions
Is it bad to always put my MacBook to sleep?
No, that is normal. Restarting a few times a week is good for updates and memory, though.
Why does my Mac wake without me doing anything?
Because of notifications, network activity or a connected device. That is usually not a problem.
I only see a black screen with a mouse pointer. What now?
Wait a minute; otherwise force restart. If it keeps happening, try starting up in safe mode to see whether a login item is the cause.
