Why is my MacBook screen black?

⚡ Fast fix

• Hold the power button. Sometimes it just needs a good reset.
• Unplug everything. Chargers, hubs, USBs—clean slate.
• Try an SMC reset. Works like a control-alt-delete for your Mac’s hardware.
• Still dark? Swing by your nearest uBreakiFix® by Asurion store for a free diagnostic.

You turn on your Mac® computer to start your workday, but it doesn’t respond. You hit a few keys, hoping to see your laptop load, but nothing happens. You wonder, “Why is my MacBook® screen black? Is something broken?” 

Don’t worry, at uBreakiFix® at Asurion, we can help solve all of your tech care issues. From speeding up a slow Mac to repairing your hard drive—we've got you covered. Here’s how to fix a Mac computer’s black screen. 

Restart your MacBook

Performing a hard restart can resolve temporary system glitches that might be causing the black screen.

1. Press and hold the Power button for about 10 seconds, then release it. 
2. After the computer powers down completely, press the Power button again to turn on your MacBook.

Check the power

Make sure that your MacBook is charged or connected to a power source. Plug your MacBook charger into your computer and wait a few minutes before turning it on.

Turn up the brightness

Sometimes, the issue might be simple. Press the brightness keys on your keyboard to increase the screen’s brightness.

Unplug your accessories

Connected external devices can sometimes cause screen issues. Disconnect all of your accessories, such as your wireless mouse and keyboard, then restart your MacBook.

Try resetting the PRAM/NVRAM

If you have an Intel-based Mac®, resetting the PRAM/NVRAM (memory that stores settings like volume and display resolution) can fix boot and hardware glitches.

This reset does NOT apply to Macs with Apple silicon:

• MacBook Pro: (2021/M1 and all newer M2, M3, M4 models)
• MacBook Air: (2020/M1 and all newer M2, M3 models)
• iMac: (2021/M1 and all newer M3 models)
• Mac mini: (2020/M1 and all newer M2, M4 models)
• Mac Studio & Mac Pro: (All models)

How to reset the PRAM/NVRAM (Intel Macs only)

1. Shut down your MacBook.
2. Press the Power button, then immediately press and hold Option + Command + P + R all at once.
3. Keep holding the keys for about 20 seconds. You might hear the startup chime a second time or see the Apple logo appear and disappear.
4. Release the keys. Once your Mac finishes starting up, you may need to go into System Settings to fix your screen resolution or time zone.

Reboot in Safe Mode

Safe Mode turns off programs that aren’t necessary for your computer to run. Turning on your MacBook in this mode can help determine if the issue is related to software and startup items. Here’s how to turn on Safe Mode:

For Apple silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3, M4, and newer):

1. Shut down your Mac completely.
2. Press and hold the Power button (Touch ID) until "Loading startup options" appears on the screen.
3. Select your main hard drive (usually Macintosh HD).
4. Press and hold the Shift key, then click Continue in Safe Mode.
5. Log in. You’ll see "Safe Boot" in the top-right corner of the menu bar.

For Intel-based Macs (Older models):

1. Turn on or restart your Mac and immediately press and hold the Shift key.
2. Release the key when you see the login window.

To exit Safe Mode on MacBook: You don’t need to force a shutdown. Simply restart your Mac normally (Apple menu > Restart) without holding any keys.

Reinstall the macOS operating system

Reinstalling macOS® can fix deeper software issues that might be causing the black screen. This step doesn’t delete your personal data, but it doesn’t hurt to back up your files just in case.

Reinstalling macOS on a Mac with Apple silicon

You can use this list of device models that use Apple silicon or open the Apple menu > About This Mac and see if a chip is listed. If your Mac uses Apple Silicon, you can use these steps to reinstall macOS:

1. Press and hold the Power button. As you continue to hold the button, your computer will turn on and load startup options. Release the Power button when you see “Options” appear. 
2. Click Options > Continue. 
3. Select the user if prompted. Click Next and enter that user's administrator login information, which is the password they use to log in to the Mac.
4. Select Reinstall macOS > Continue. Then, follow the onscreen instructions. When the installation is finished, your Mac should start up with the setup assistant. 

Reinstalling macOS on a Mac with an Intel-based processor

If your Mac uses an Intel-based processor instead, you can use these steps to reinstall macOS: 

1. Press and hold the Power button to turn off your Mac. 
2. Press and release the Power button to turn it back on. After releasing the Power button, press and hold one of the following key combinations:
   1. Command + R: Reinstalls the most recent macOS version installed on your Mac. (Best for most users)
   2. Option+Command + R: Upgrades you to the latest macOS version that is compatible with your Mac.
   3. Shift + Option + Command + R: Reinstalls the macOS that came with your Mac (or the closest version still available).
3. Continue holding those keys until you see an Apple logo or a spinning globe.
4. Select the user if asked. Click Next and enter that user's administrator login information, which is the password they use to log in to the Mac.
5. Select Reinstall macOS > Continue. Then, follow the onscreen instructions. When the installation is done, your Mac should start up with the setup assistant.

If you've tried these steps and still need a little help, we're right around the corner. Schedule a repair at the nearest uBreakiFix® by Asurion store and our certified experts can get your device back up and running as soon as the same day.