macbook pro turns on but screen stays black — my solution
The Apple Macbook Pro would turn on, but the screen would not. The screen would stay black. I could tell the computer was on because when I hit the “caps lock” key, the green light on the key would turn on and off.
I fixed this the following way (this is basically resetting the Power Management Unit — PMU):
I disconnected the computer from the power cord, and from all other cables.
I held down the power button for several seconds to turn off the computer.
I let it sit 5 minutes.
I restarted the laptop while holding down the Shift key. This restarted the computer in Safe Mode, with the screen visible again.
After I logged in (in Safe Mode) to make sure everything was ok, I simply restarted the computer the normal way, and the screen behaved normally again.
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If that doesn’t work for you, you could try these steps, documented at apple.com:
Holding down Command, Option, P, and R to reset your PRAM and NVRAM
Resetting PowerBook and iBook Power Management Unit (PMU)
Thank you, it worked for me! I have a MacBook Air; it seems that these also have this problem!
OMG, you are a freaking genius…it totally worked. I just love it when trouble shooting solutions actually work. You rock!
Thank you… what you said worked perfectly. Thank you so much for sharing that.
Same black screen issue. Took my 2008 15″ MBP into the Apple Store this last week with no warranty. They replaced a failed Nvidia card free of charge,(My MBP serial was eligible due to Nvidia lawsuit) which would have otherwise cost $450. They even had the part in stock so it was a same day turnaround. What a relief
It dosn’t work as keyboard does still not work to use the shift key
Help!
There was suddenly a snap like sound and my MacBook Pro screen went black. There was no response hitting any of the keys. I powered off and back on (the small light on the right side in front comes on) but hitting the screen doesn’t do anything.
I guess I’ll need to take it to the Apple store as the above suggestion has unfortunately no effect. Hopefully it is related to the Nvidia card that Jessica mentioned and will be repaired free of charge.
thanx so much, it worked!!!
Thanks for the procedure. My zombified Mac was causing lots of stress.
Colin-
Thank you for your help. It worked as stated and saved me a trip to the Apple store. Thank you!
Do you need to remove the battery while power is off?
Thanks a lot. You saved me a lot of money.
When I shut the lid on my mac pro, then open it back up the key board comes on but not the screen unless i disconnect the power supply for a couple of seconds and reconnect it and then the screen comes back on. works fine on battery.
Thank you so much. You saved me of a sleepless night, and a late school paper. I’m so over the top! your trick worked. Thank you.
Carrie
Thanks SO much!! This happens all the time to our macbook pro but with this trick, we get it up and running in no time! You’re a hell of a life saver
wow this flunked
this did not work!!!
Cheers for the info, PMU reset didn’t work but BINGO…. all back to brightness when I reset the PRAM and NVRAM,
Thanks
rick
I have the same problem in my macbook pro i try many things to fix the problem like reset the NVRAM and PRAM nothing happen…. and i try to remove/disconect the CD/DVDrom its work and my mcbook back to normal but everytime i connect the CD/DVDRom White screen and apple logo appear and it will turns to black. strange but not bad to try its work for me..
It didnt work :( D:
Good tip. However, i get the black screen on a i5 MBP (intel and nvidia combo) – while temperature is moderate below 70° on both cpu and gpu.
It seems to happen though sooner on GPU intense operation, even though – the temp was not high enough to conclude overheating. This even happened with
open enclosure.
It happens sooner on windows 7 (bootcamp) – normal operations, such as updating signatures from mcaffee… or so.. office stuff.
but on snow leopard, it happens too.. not as soon as under windows, but it happenes.
Any advise?
I tried this and thought it wasn’t working, but it did after 5 minutes or so playing with the brightest keys. I restarted it after I got the screen up and let it run for a while. I shut down and turned it back on, and what do you know, it’s still working. Thank you SOOOOOO much. I took it to Apple today and the “Genius” desk attendant literally just flashed a light at it and then told me the repair would take days AND cost me over $250 (not including labor). I’m so happy I found this page. The fix took no time at all and cost me nothing. I can’t stop saying thank you. THANK YOU!
I love you man! Lol
THANK YOU SO MUCH! I followed your directions and was able to get my screen back on. Is this something that is going to continue to happen if it has happened once or should your directions fix the problem?!?
Thanks again!
Kristin Wills
I have a 2006 macbook pro. I tried to do an update after I installed snow leopard and the computer turned off. I tried turning it back on but the screen goes black. The caps lock key wont come on. I hear a lot of boot up noises though, not the boot up chime but i can hear the fans and other things working in the lap top. I was able to put in a cd but the screen stayed black. Any ideas? I’ve tried both suggestions and it still won’t work. I’m a student and can’t really afford an apple visit. If i did manage to get an apple visit do you think it could be the nvidea card, maybe it could be replaced for free? Thank you for your help!
OH MY GOSH THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
Omg this actually worked!! Thank you so much
I have a black screen too, but mine is different from the normal tipical black screen everybody has.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
My Macbook White is working again!
It’s alive! It’s alive!
OMG THANK U WORKED!
Hello! I had the same problem for the last week and when holding Shift started not working, I did the following and now my mac is up and alive again.
1) Just wait for the boot to finish normally.
2) Sure, your screen is black but if you look closely you can see your desktop and if that’s not enough for you to follow the remaining steps, just dim your screen fully, of course it already is dim but just press F1 all the way and then just press F2 one time. You’ll see you’ll get short beams of your desktop clearly. This technique will come in handy when trying to find where the mouse is.
3) Ok. Go to Finder, press command+shift+g. Type /private/var/vm and press enter, you’ll see the file sleepfile (or sleepimage). Delete it. And then go to /system/library, delete extensions.mkext. Delete the files in the Trash.
4) Open Terminal. Type “sudo pmset hibernatemode 0″ This prevents the sleepimage file to recreate itself every startup.
5) Shut down. Open :)
That worked for me. I Hope it works for you too.
Thanks so much. It worked for me too. I am doing the happy dance!!!!!!!!!
I’m in the middle of trying out your solution. My question is, at what point is it ok to plug everything back into the computer (assuming that the screen goes unblack ….)? This has never happened to me before. Could it be because I’m in the middle of changing to a new sort of system, with a new monitor, a mac mini and a G-RAID disk, about which I know nothing. I’m not a geek, in case you’re wondering (I bet you could tell ….).
The screen is still black although the little white light on the front edge is lit. I guess I’ll go to apple.com and try your next suggestion. Thanks for helping.
Resetting the PRAM/NVRAM fixed it for me. What a huge relieve. Thx
I’m not too much of a geek, either. So here’s my best guess: I would guess (total guess) that it is safe to plug everything back in after your system has gotten all its software updates done, and you have been able to turn it off and on twice without a problem.
-Colin
The original posts solutions didn’t work for me, but a comment by Christopher explained a way to be able to see the screen go get in and cancel sleep mode through the terminal. This worked for me, and as scary as terminal can be for some, it was actually really easy. If the safe mode boot doesn’t work I really suggest trying what Christopher said.
Thanks for this solution, I could not get anything out of my mac for ages completely black screen and so went on another pc to get help, I then followed Colin’s step [thank goodness for Colin!] for me, When it was in safe mode it was reallllly slow and I was worried it might not open up normally afterwards. It was slower than normal opening up for the first time but now it seems fine and I am so relieved as would have had to pay to get it sorted. Thanks Colin
Thanks so much mate, you totally saved me, work, deadlines theory. You rule!
Screen came on after restarting but now I can’t type my password. Help!
Many thanks – this simple tip just saved me hours of frustration and probably the cost of a service call.
Dear RuddWire,
Thank you for your outstanding, simple & highly effective advice. I have a 5 year old MacBookPro-no problems ’til I purchased a new battery. Then….boom black screen. I google something that led me to you. Quel Miracle!! Fixed, free, & I can finish my weekend work. If you take PayPal donations, need decorating help or a pile of excellent tried & try novels, let me know where I can ship and I’ll be on it ASAP. I’m not sure what you do (Columbia u?–any chance you’ve run across Peter Belheumer?) you’ve mananaged to restored faith in simple instructions, no jargon (well P R threw me til I understood it was exactly that no acronym. eBay needs someone like you. New site design is f****d. Good Man Rudd Wire, keep coming to the rescue by donning your superman suit in the extinct phone booths and 1000s of people will bless you as their heads hit the pillow each eve. Bravo and best wishes in whatever you choose to do in the near future. Elizabeth
THANKS SOO MUCH!!! It worked!!! My moms computer and I would have died!!! :)
Thanks very much for the advice mate, just got my screen back on there now. I couldn’t figure out what to do! You’re an absolute gentleman!
My macbook pro doesnot starting when i logged in.When i press the power button,my computer does not starting,i hear voice that it is started ,but the screen is still black.What should i do?
Worked for me too. Thanks!!
Tack så mycket (thank you all the way from Sweden)!! You are awesome
My 15″ MB Pro turns on with no start up sound. I can hear the computer turn on, but screen remains to be black. I tried the command,option, p,r but nothing. I think I need a technician to check this out. It’s obviously not normal.
Thanks, this help.
A expensive and good machine that blocks, a so simple button that do the work.
Thank you very much! I have the newest macBook Pro Mountain Lion (with no ssd-drive).