Troubleshooting a MacBook Air that won't turn on

  • Last Modified: December 02, 2008
  • Article: TS2043
  • Old Article: 307137

Symptoms

There are some simple troubleshooting steps you should try if your MacBook Air won't turn on. Use these steps if:

  • Your MacBook Air display has no picture after you turn it on.
  • You don't hear any fan or hard disk activity sounds after you turn the computer on, and the sleep light doesn't turn on.
  • The computer doesn't seem to have any power when you try to turn it on.

Products Affected

MacBook Air (Original)

Resolution

  1. Disconnect any devices connected to the computer including printers, hubs, and third-party keyboards or mice, and test the computer again by trying to turn it on.
  2. Unplug the Apple 45W Portable Power Adapter from the electrical outlet and from the MacBook Air. Wait one minute. Plug the adapter back into the wall first, then into the MacBook Air. Make sure the electrical outlet is working by plugging in another known-good device (such as a lamp). When you plug the MagSafe connector into the computer, the power adapter LED should light up green or amber.
  3. Connect a known-good adapter and power cord/plug to the known-good power outlet. With the MagSafe connector properly inserted, the LED should light up; if not, inspect the MagSafe port on the computer for debris, such as metal stuck to the magnet in the port, which might prevent the connector from seating properly. On the adapter side, look at the DC connector for dust or other debris and check whether pins are missing, bent or stuck down. See this article for instructions on cleaning the adapter.
  4. Reset PRAM. (After pressing the power button, hold down these keys simultaneously: Command-Option-P-R, until you hear the startup chime at least one additional time after the initial startup chime.)
  5. Reset the SMC (power manager). See this article for instructions.
    1. If the computer is on, turn it off.
    2. Connect the power adaptor to a working power source.
    3. Press (left) Shift-Control-Option along with the power button once.
      Note:You must use the keys on the left side of the MacBook Air keyboard.
    4. Wait 5 seconds and press the power button to start the MacBook Air.
  6. While attempting to power up the system, check the sleep indicator. If the indicator LED lights up briefly, then the logic board is getting power and completing the boot cycle. Refer to this article for more information about MacBook Air battery diagnostics.
  7. If you are still unable to start up your computer after trying each of these steps, please schedule a service appointment with either an Apple Retail Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider.
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