Welcome to the topic “MacBook Showing a Black Screen Here’s How to fix.”
Apple has been the go-to brand for laptop computers since its inception. But, they have had their share of problems as well.
One of the most frustrating problems for users is when their Mac screen goes black, and they’re unable to do anything. Many apps and things can cause this “Black Screen” issue.
Unfortunately, your Mac won’t assist you in this case, and you will have to do a bit of diagnosis by yourself. But don’t worry if your MacBook showing a black screen; here is how to fix it.
Check the battery and power of your MacBook
Sometimes the ‘MacBook screen black’ issue can occur if your MacBook is plugged in or charged up. This might look obvious, but most of the time, it is the issue. So, it is advised to check this when diagnosing the problem.
MacBook shows a small icon when it is not plugged in, or the battery is not adequately charged. Remember that iMacs and Macs not connected to a power source won’t run or turn on. So, charge your device before applying other fixes.
Check It’s the brightness level.
Again this is obvious, but it is possible that your Mac’s brightness is down. After checking your Mac’s power and charging, check its brightness.
Force reset your Mac.
Sometimes your Mac just needs a restart to work properly. There are many apps and services that can cause these issues. After powering up your device and after checking its brightness level, a hard reset can fix this black screen issue on your Mac. Here’s how to use this method to turn it on:
- First, hold down the power button for at least 6 to 10 seconds.
- When it powers down, wait for up to ten seconds.
- Now reboot your Mac.
If your Mac is already turned off, press down the power button for at least 10 or 15 seconds to force it to boot up.
Reset the NVRAM/PRAM
Nonvolatile random-access memory (NVRAM) and Parameter RAM (PRAM) are small memory partitions that control and contain many Mac settings, such as volume control and display resolution. These functions allow you to access and use those settings smoothly.
At times, either (or sometimes both) of these partitions can halt or ‘stuck.’ In this case, a simple reset can help you. Here how to reset NVRAM/PRAM:
- Power down your machine entirely.
- Now start your Mac to boot up process.
- Now hold the option + command + P + R keys when your Mac is booting.
- Keep holding the keys for up to 20 seconds.
Note: Your machine will restart while you’re pressing down the keys. Mac systems with a startup sound will chime twice during this process.
If you have a new Mac model, you can release these keys after viewing Apple’s logo for the second time during the process.
Try resetting SMC settings.
Systems Management Controller (SMC) is an essential function of Mac that controls its temperature, keyboard, backlights and display, fans, and other tasks. Like rebooting PRAM and NVRAM, rebooting the SMC is a simple fix for the MacBook black screen problem.
Here’s how to reboot your SMC settings:
- First, you need to power down your Mac completely.
Note: If you have a MacBook, iMac, Mac Mini, or Mac Pro, first shut it down, then disconnect it for at least 15 seconds. Then move on to the next step.
- Now ensure that your Mac is connected to a power source.
- Now press and hold shift + option + control + power button keys while your system is powered down.
- Once your machine starts to boot, release these keys.
Repair Disk Permissions
One of the most common causes for your Mac’s screen to go dark is disk permissions. Disk permissions are a vital feature of your PC that allows apps and files to use other Mac’s settings. So, often it can cause a black screen issue on your mac, and resetting permissions can solve the issue for you.
Here you will have to use software to clean your system. The best software or app to clean the system and reset the disk permissions is the CleanMyMac X. The app has a “Maintenance” feature that you can use to reset the Repair Disk Permissions.
Here are the steps to reset disk permissions using CleanMyMac X:
- First, open CleanMyMac X.
- Now, go to the “Maintenance.”
- Then look for the “Repair Disk Permissions” function.
- Next, click on the “Run” button located at the bottom side.
That’s all, now leave the rest to CleanMyMac X, and it will reset disk permissions.
Unplug all devices and accessories
Like some apps, some connected devices and accessories can also cause this issue. Printers, external drives, keyboards, the mouse can cause black screen problems on your Mac.
If resetting PRAM, SMC, and repair disk permissions don’t work for you, disconnect these devices and check again.
Boot Your Mac into Safe Mode
Some apps or services start automatically when your Mac boots, and these background tasks can create various problems, and your MacBook might show a dark or black screen.
Launch agents provide background support for your Mac, but sometimes it can be troublesome. Here is how to fix the black screen issue for your Mac via resetting it into safe mode:
- First, turn off your Mac and leave it in an idle state for a minute.
- Then turn it back on.
- Next, press and hold down the Shift key when your system boots up.
- When you view the login screen, release the key and sign in.
Note: Sometimes, you will be asked to sign in twice. Don’t worry, it is normal. After login, you will see the “Safe Boot” option on your screen’s right side.
Final Thoughts
MacBooks are known for running smoothly, and their performance is top-notch, but when your MacBook shows a black screen, it can be frustrating. Thankfully there are easy fixes to this problem, and we have highlighted them above so that you can solve yours!
Also Read: No sound from your MacBook Pro: How to Fix
