The first thing to check is whether your MacBook Air is getting power. Make sure the charger is properly plugged into both the wall outlet and your MacBook Air. Inspect the charger and cable for any damage. Try charging your MacBook Air for at least 5 minutes before attempting to turn it on.
If you have access to another MacBook Air charger, try using that one instead to rule out a faulty charger. Only use official Apple power adapters to avoid potential damage.
Perform A Power Cycle
If your MacBook Air still won’t turn on, try doing a power cycle. Press and hold the power button for at least 10 seconds until the MacBook Air shuts down. Wait a few seconds, then press the power button again to restart it.
Power cycling forces your MacBook Air to shut down completely and resets its power management system. This simple fix often resolves startup issues.
Reset SMC On Intel MacBook Airs
The System Management Controller (SMC) controls low-level functions in Intel-based MacBook Airs like charging, sleep/wake, fans, indicator lights, and more. Resetting it can fix startup problems.
For MacBook Airs with non-removable batteries:
– Shut down your MacBook Air
– Press Shift + Control + Option + Power button for 10 seconds
– Release all keys and press the power button again
For models with removable batteries:
– Shut down and remove the battery
– Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds
– Reinsert the battery and power on
Start Up In Safe Mode
Booting in Safe Mode loads only the essential macOS files and can determine if issues with apps or settings are preventing startup.
To start in Safe Mode on Intel MacBook Airs:
– Restart your MacBook Air
– Immediately press and hold the Shift key after hearing startup chime
– Let go of Shift once login screen appears
On M1 and M2 models:
– Press and hold power button on restart until Startup Options appear
– Select your startup disk, press Shift, then click Continue in Safe Mode
If your MacBook Air successfully starts up in Safe Mode, restart normally and check if issues persist. If not, a problem app or setting was likely the cause.
Reset NVRAM On Intel Models
Resetting the non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM) can fix startup issues and other problems.
To reset NVRAM on Intel MacBook Airs:
– Shut down your MacBook Air
– Press Option + Command + P + R keys while powering on
– Keep holding keys until you hear the startup chime a second time
– Release keys after second startup chime
Reinstall macOS
If you still can’t get your MacBook Air to turn on, it may be time to reinstall macOS using Recovery Mode.
To enter Recovery Mode:
– On Intel models, hold Command + R while turning on
– On M1/M2 models, hold power button until Startup Options appear, then click Options > Continue
– Select Reinstall macOS from the Utilities screen
This will install a fresh copy of macOS and can resolve software issues causing startup problems. Make sure your data is backed up first.
Contact Apple Support
If you still can’t get your MacBook Air to power on after trying the steps above, contact Apple Support online or set up a Genius Bar appointment at an Apple Store. Apple can run diagnostics to pinpoint hardware issues that may require repair or replacement.
Consider Third Party Repair
For MacBook Airs no longer under warranty, consider getting a quote from a reputable third party repair shop. Third party shops often charge less than Apple for logic board or component level repairs. Just ensure they use high quality parts to avoid future issues.
MacBook Air Won’t Turn On
– Check power connections and cables to ensure MacBook Air is charging
– Do a power cycle reset by holding down the power button
– Reset SMC on Intel models to fix low-level system issues
– Boot into Safe Mode to isolate software problems
– Reset NVRAM on Intel MacBook Airs
– Reinstall macOS in Recovery Mode to fix software issues
– Contact Apple Support for diagnosis if issue persists
– Consider third party repair shops for out of warranty models
Following this step-by-step troubleshooting guide will help get your unresponsive MacBook Air to successfully turn on again. Be patient and methodical in applying each solution, as the underlying issue is often fixed with one of these techniques.