10 Best Fixes Macbook Pro Booting Black Screen

Last week, I found myself standing toe-to-toe with a daunting adversary – the notorious black screen on a Macbook Pro. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. That moment of heart-stopping terror when your sleek piece of Apple design refuses to boot up, and all you’re met with is a seemingly endless abyss of black. Fear not, friends.

Table of Contents

I was able to turn the tide and get back to the world of the lit-up screen, and I’m here to share my tried and true methods with you all.

1. Start with the Basics – the Power Check

Your Macbook may just be out of power. Check if the power cable is properly connected and the charging light is on. It’s always a good idea to try a different power cable and outlet if possible, just to rule out any issues there.

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2. Reset that SMC

If power isn’t the issue, it’s time to try a System Management Controller (SMC) reset. This can fix issues with power, battery, fans, and other features. Here’s the step-by-step guide:

Shut down your Macbook.
Press and hold Shift + Control + Option on the left side of the keyboard.
While holding those keys, press and hold the power button as well.
Keep all these keys and the power button pressed for about 10 seconds.
Release all the keys and the power button.
Wait a few seconds, then press the power button to turn on your Macbook.

3. PRAM/NVRAM – It’s Reset Time!

Next up, we have the Parameter RAM (PRAM) and Non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) reset. These are small areas of memory that your Mac uses to store certain settings and access them quickly. Resetting them can solve issues including the black screen problem:

Turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold Option + Command + P + R.
Keep holding until you hear the startup chime twice, then release the keys.
If successful, your Mac will appear to restart.

4. Safe Mode Boot

Safe Mode starts your Mac in a basic state with only essential software. It can help you isolate what’s causing the issue:

Restart your Mac, then immediately press and hold the Shift key.
Release the Shift key when you see the Apple logo.
If your Mac successfully starts up in Safe Mode, try restarting normally. If the black screen reappears, then the issue might be caused by a software conflict.

5. Disk Utility to the Rescue

Disk Utility can find and repair issues with your disk. To access Disk Utility, you need to boot your Mac in Recovery Mode:

Restart your Mac and immediately press and hold Command + R until the Apple logo appears.
In the window that opens, choose ‘Disk Utility’ then ‘Continue’.
Select your startup disk (usually named “Macintosh HD”) and click ‘First Aid’.
Click ‘Run’, and if Disk Utility finds issues it can’t repair, it will suggest you backup and reformat your disk.

6. Reinstall MacOS

If the black screen persists, try reinstalling MacOS. This should keep your files and apps intact but back up your data just in case:

Boot your Mac in Recovery Mode (Command + R at startup).
In the window that opens, choose ‘Reinstall MacOS’ then ‘Continue’.
Follow the instructions to complete the reinstall process.

7. Create a New User Account

Occasionally, user account issues might lead to a black screen. If your Mac boots up fine in Safe Mode, try creating a new user account to see if that fixes the issue:

Boot in Safe Mode (Shift at startup).
Open System Preferences > Users & Groups.
Click the lock and enter your password to make changes.
Click the ‘+’ to create a new user.
Try logging into this new user account after a normal restart.

8. Hardware Troubleshooting

By now, it’s possible a hardware issue is causing the black screen. Connecting your Macbook to an external monitor can help verify this:

Connect your Mac to an external monitor using the appropriate cable and adapter.
If the external display works fine, it’s likely a GPU or display issue with your Macbook.

9. Visit an Apple Store or Authorized Service Provider

If the black screen prevails, it’s time for professional help. Apple technicians can diagnose and fix issues that might be beyond our reach:

Book an appointment at your local Apple Store or Authorized Service Provider.
Remember to bring any relevant warranties or insurance documents with you.

Visit an Apple Store or Authorized Service Provider

10. Prevention is Better Than Cure

Ultimately, prevention is the best approach to keep the black screen at bay:

Keep your MacOS and apps updated to the latest versions.
Regularly back up your data with Time Machine or a cloud service.
Perform regular checks on your hardware’s health, perhaps using a tool like Intel’s Power Gadget.

Remember, these steps worked for me, but results can vary. Feel free to mix and match these methods, and most importantly, don’t lose hope. With a bit of patience and persistence, you can reclaim your Mac from the dreaded black screen!