MacBook on but the screen is black? What to check
5 November 2026 · Mac guides
You open your MacBook, the keyboard lights up or you hear the fan, but the screen stays black. It's one of the most worrying faults to see, but it doesn't always mean an expensive repair. Here is how to work out what's going on, the safe checks you can do yourself, and when it's time to bring it in.
First, is the Mac actually on?
A black screen can mean two very different things: the Mac is running but not showing a picture, or it isn't really starting at all. Look and listen for signs of life:
- The keyboard backlight or the Caps Lock light comes on when you press Caps Lock.
- You can hear the fan, or feel warmth near the hinge after a few minutes.
- On older Macs, you hear the startup chime.
- Pressing the volume keys makes a sound.
If none of these happen, the problem is more likely to be power or charging than the screen. Leave it on the charger for 30 minutes with a known-good charger and cable, then try again.
Safe checks to try at home
1. Turn the brightness up
It sounds obvious, but brightness can be turned right down by accident, or by a sticky key. Press the brightness-up key several times, or hold it down.
2. Force a restart
Hold the power button (Touch ID button on newer models) for about 10 seconds until the Mac switches off, wait a few seconds, then press it again to start. This clears a Mac that has frozen while asleep, which is a common cause of a black screen after opening the lid.
3. Reset the SMC or NVRAM on Intel MacBooks
On Intel models, resetting the System Management Controller and the NVRAM can clear power and display settings that have got stuck. Apple's support site has the exact key combination for each model. On Apple silicon MacBooks there is no separate reset: a full shutdown and restart does the same job.
4. Try an external display
Connect the MacBook to a TV or monitor with a suitable cable or adapter. This is the most useful test you can do:
- A picture appears on the external display: the Mac itself is working. The fault is in the built-in screen, its backlight or the display cable.
- Still nothing: the Mac may not be starting properly, which points to a logic board, power or software problem.
5. Use a torch
Shine a bright torch at an angle onto the black screen. On many MacBooks, if you can make out a very faint image, the screen itself is working but its backlight isn't, which is usually a fault in the backlight circuit or the display cable rather than the panel.
Common causes
Display cable faults
The thin cables that run through the hinge open and close every time you use the laptop. On some MacBook Pro models from around 2016 onwards they can wear out, often starting with uneven light at the bottom of the screen before the backlight fails completely. Replacing the cable or, where it is part of the display assembly, the screen, fixes it.
Liquid damage
A spill can damage the display or backlight circuits on the logic board, sometimes days or weeks later as corrosion spreads. If there's any chance liquid got in, stop trying to power it on and read our liquid damage repair page.
A damaged screen
A pressure mark, a crack or a drop can break the panel without obvious outside damage. Black patches, coloured lines or a screen that is black only in parts usually mean the panel needs replacing. See Mac screen repair.
Logic board faults
If an external display shows nothing either, or the Mac shows signs of life but never fully starts, the fault may be on the logic board: a failed power component, a graphics fault or corrosion. These can often be repaired at chip level without replacing the whole board. See logic board repair.
Protect your files
If the Mac works with an external display, use that chance to back up straight away with Time Machine or by copying important files to an external drive. On recent MacBooks the storage is soldered to the logic board and encrypted, so a working Mac is the easiest way to get your data off. If it won't start at all and you have no backup, mention that when you book it in.
What not to do
- Don't keep switching it on and off if it has had liquid in it.
- Don't press on the screen or flex the lid to "jog" a loose connection.
- Don't erase or reinstall macOS to fix a black screen unless you have a backup. It rarely helps with hardware faults.
Black screen MacBook repair in London
We test each part separately, so you know whether the screen, the cable or the logic board is at fault before any work is done. We repair MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models of all ages; see MacBook Pro repair and MacBook Air repair.
Get a quote
Call 020 7394 2525 or send us an enquiry. Bring your MacBook to 80 Willow Walk, London SE1 5SY, or use our bike collection in London or courier collection UK-wide. We are open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday.