The humble Macbook has a reputation for being more user-friendly than the Windows alternative. It’s not just because of the cute, friendly OS but also because OS X is much simpler to navigate. That’s because you can’t access almost every nook and cranny with a few clicks as you can in Windows 10. But even Macbooks have their kafkaesque moments where things don’t seem to make sense. Take, for instance, how you cannot turn it on without the power button. And yet, here we are, with no other option but to find a workaround that lets us turn on a Macbook without the power button.
If your Macbook doesn’t start up when you press the power button and nothing happens when you hold down the volume up or down buttons, that means your Macbook is experiencing some hardware issues. This article will show how to turn on a Macbook if the power button doesn’t work.
How To Turn On Macbook Pro Without Power Button
Check The Charging Cable
The first thing you should check is the charging cable. Make sure that the cable is correctly plugged in. If the charging light is not on, the cable might be faulty. If that’s the case, you will have to buy a new one. Sometimes, the charging cable can get broken, especially if you habitually pull it out too forcefully. So, check the cable for any damage, especially at the ends. If the charging cable is intact and plugged in correctly, then there is a chance that the charging port inside your Macbook might be faulty. If that’s the case, then you will have to get it repaired or replaced.
Hold Down The Option Key
While pressing the power button, hold down the option key. This will put your Macbook in safe mode, meaning that your Macbook will not proceed with the usual start-up procedure. In safe mode, you choose ‘Restart or Shut Down.
Use Siri To Turn On A Macbook
This might sound like a scene from a science fiction movie, but this is a real workaround to turn on a Macbook without the power button. All you have to do is hold down the ‘Command’ and ‘Option’ keys and then press ‘Escape’ for about five seconds. Finally, you should press the ‘Down’ key twice and the ‘Up’ key twice. Now, all left is to say, ‘turn on my Mac,’ and your Mac will start up. As fascinating as this workaround might sound, there are a few rules that you have to follow. First, this only works if you use an ‘English’ setting on your Mac. Next, you must say the exact phrase while following the correct pattern of pressing the keys. Lastly, you can only use this trick once every 30 days.
Use VoiceOver To Turn On A Macbook
If pressing a few keys and speaking a few words is not something you are comfortable with, then you can also use VoiceOver to turn on your Macbook. All you have to do is press the ‘Command’ and ‘Option’ keys, press the ‘Escape’ key for about five seconds and then press the ‘Down’ key two times and the ‘Up’ critical two times. To turn on your Macbook, all you have to do is to swipe three times from left to right with one finger. You can also use two fingers, but with a slower motion. Once you complete these steps, your Macbook will start up. You can also use VoiceOver to perform other functions such as opening an app, closing the app, getting info about the app, or accessing shortcuts.
Reset SMC And NVRAM
If none of those mentioned above methods works, then it is possible that the issue lies in your Mac’s hardware. In such a case, you might have to reset the NVRAM and SMC of your Macbook. First, shut down your Macbook and unplug the power cord to reset NVRAM. Next, open the ‘Fn’ key. Now, press the ‘option,’ ‘command,’ and ‘p’ keys, and then press the ‘return’ key. You will see an ‘NVRAM’ message on the screen. Hold the ‘command’ key for three seconds and then release it. To reset the NVRAM, press the ‘return’ key. Next, plug in the power cord and restart your Macbook. For resetting SMC, shut down your Macbook and unplug the power cord. Now, press and hold the ‘command’ key, ‘option’ key, and the ‘control’ key for about 15 seconds. Release the keys, press the ‘command’ key for five seconds, and then release it. Now, plug in the power cord and restart your Macbook.
Check Your Battery
If none of the above mentioned methods work, then there is a slight chance that your battery might be faulty. In such a case, you have to replace the battery. But before doing that, you have to ensure that the fault is in the battery and not in the charging port. To do that, you must remove the battery from your Macbook and plug in the charging cable. If the charging light is on and doesn’t turn off even after a few minutes, it is a clear sign that the charging port is faulty. If that’s the case, then you will have to get it repaired or replaced. Once you are sure that the fault lies in the battery, all you have to do is to replace it. You can buy a new battery online or from a nearby repair shop.
Restart Your Macbook
Shut down your Macbook and unplug the power cord. Press and hold the ‘command, ‘option, and ‘power, and release it.
Hold Down The Option Key While Turning On Your Macbook
This is yet another method that you can use to turn on your Macbook without the power button. All you have to do is press and hold down the ‘Option’ key while pressing the power button. Your Macbook will start up usually, and you will see the standard start-up screen.
Use The Recovery Disk To Turn On Your Macbook
If none of the abovementioned methods work, your Mac’s software may be corrupted. In such a case, you must use the ‘Recovery Disk.’ Shut down your Macbook and unplug the power cord. Press and hold the ‘command,’ ‘option,’ and ‘ESC’ keys for about 15 seconds. Release the keys, press the ‘command’ key for five seconds, and then release it. Now, press ‘command,’ ‘space,’ and ‘return’ keys simultaneously. You will see an option to ‘Restore’ or ‘Reinstall.’ Choose the ‘Restore’ option and follow the instructions on the screen.
Conclusion
If none of these methods works, you must take your Macbook to an authorized service center and get your Macbook repaired or replaced. These are temporary fixes meant for only a few reboots. If you keep using these workarounds, they might get corrupted, and your Mac might stop working.
