My laptop doesn’t turn on

You press the power button on your laptop… and nothing happens.

If your laptop won’t power up, a faulty power supply, failed hardware, or a malfunctioning screen could be to blame.

1. Check the power supply

If your laptop won’t turn on even when plugged in, start by checking the power supply. There are quite a few issues you could have with the power supply.

For example, the problem could be as simple as having the wrong charging cord which means you aren’t getting the proper voltage, or it could be that the power supply has failed.

  1. Confirm the outlet is functioning properly by plugging another device into it – if it works, the issue isn’t the outlet.
  2. Let it charge for 5 minutes and try turning it on again.
  3. Try using a different charger from a colleague.

Pro tip: Make sure that the cables are all properly connected. This might seem simple and obvious but most issues with a laptop that won’t turn on stem from a power supply issue. A loose or unplugged power cable means your computer isn’t getting the juice it needs to run.

2. Diagnose screen issues

If your power supply is working, you will need to troubleshoot further.

  1. First, disconnect all of your nonessential external display devices like projectors and monitors to make sure they’re not interfering with the startup processes of your laptop.
  2. If the power button is lit and you can hear fans or noises but there isn’t an image being displayed, turn out the lights to see if there’s an image being displayed very faintly.
  3. If there is a very faint image once the lights are off, the screen’s inverter has failed and you’ll need to replace it.
  4. Alternatively, your brightness button may be broken.

If your laptop starts up but there isn’t an image, the LCD panel could be broken.

3. Remove all devices from your laptop

If you have left a memory card, DVD, or USB drive in your notebook, this could be a reason why your laptop doesn’t power on.

It might be getting “stuck” because the BIOS may be trying to boot from a removable storage device. Remove all USB drives and other devices and try to boot up your computer.

If you’re still facing this issue, contact the IT Administrator.