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
Thank you the shift key worked for me. Before this I was holding down control, command, and power button down for 3 seconds and it would work, but then that stopped being effective
Thank you! The holding down the shift key worked for me as well!
First I started with shift (button) + power, just to see if the computer would start in safe mode. That worked!!!!
That worked to my excitement just to see the screen not black anymore and it booted up.
After powering it down I held down option + shift + p + r and then my computer chimed on.
If this doesn’t work for you then I would say go to your local computer store/repair shop before going to
The Apple Store
Good luck
No trick is working on my Macbook Pro 🙁 What I do…?
Screen is not turning ON..!! 🙁 while sometimes process gets on but without any screen… !
Neither the shift power or the option command PR worked for me the screen comes on bright white with the apple on screen atarting then when it’s done it goes back to black
Connecting an external screen with the mac powered on,force shutdown and then normal boot solved it for me!
It worked! Thanks a lot
Hey Melissa, did you get any results or find out anything, this is exactly what has happened to my macbbok pro, same age etc…
Hey, I’ve OBVIOUSLY tried the brightness keys before ANYTHING else. I’ve tried the shift option when starting…NOTHING AND I’ve tried the command option PR to no avail (it did restart my computer. I’ve removed the back and unhooked the unhookables and RE Hooked them (this worked for me before) but that didn’t work. I did not try the PMU because it has nothing to do with the screen (from what I read). I’ve had this computer (MacBook Pro) since ~October 2011. PLEASE help…I’m at my wits end and almost ready to purchase a…dreaded PC!!!!!
My screen seems to come up randomly, in flashes with NO rhyme or reason, no regular time intervals. HELP 🙂
i have a macbook pro 2011. my screen is black after fixing the wobbles screen on it. i cheeked that all the wires are back in right places , yes they are , i do have sound and it dos power up. when i have an external screen plugged in it work fine but the laptop screen is still black. somebody help me ……..
Thanks MG, the only thing that worked!
Thank you so so much! I had a book due to publish at friday and a million documnets of animal wellfare organization that has to be delivered to govenment and then the computer just crashed. Now its working perfectly!!! I and the misstreated animals thank you!!! Lifesaver!
Wow shift key really worked for me thank you
This just saved my poor grad student life! Can’t be more thankful, I thought I lost everything
I had the same issue this am turned off the computer then was walked through hit: option, command p and r key must be done almost simultaneously as you are turning the lap top back on before you hear the dong. must use five fingers to do it but worked! Then I was told that I was leaving the computer in sleep mode and somehow the hard drive was getting stuck in sleep mode. Went into set up screen and turned that option off. If in doubt call Apple support. I did need to stay on hold for 27 minutes before Craig picked up, but worth it.
Thank you so much, I had an old MacBook that was powered off for a long time. After recharging the screen stayed black. I followed your suggestion and it worked first time.
This just worked for me too. Glad I tried it before tanking the battery out!
This solution worked
Man whoever wrote this article , you rock! Thanks for the help.
OMG it worked!!!!!!!!!!!!!What a huge relief!!!! Endless thanks from a college student!!!! I tried the safe mode first it didn’t work but PRAM totally rocked. You made my day. THANK YOU AGAIN!!!!
Thanks, IT WORKED!
I’m a novice at this, but I just got mine to work. I restarted several times, tried shift+power a couple of times, and did command+option+p+r as well. It finally worked the most recent time when I held in shift+power. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s the order in which you do things? Maybe it’s really picky with how long you hold in the buttons? In any case, if it’s not working for you, the best solution might just be to keep trying. It seems completely random that mine worked after all of these failed attempts. Good luck!
Tks man. It’s all perfect now.
My Screen dint turn on one day. But the external monitor worked fine. I tried PRAM reset, restarting in safe mode. Both did not work. Then i tried SMC reset a couple of time (with a interval of 5 minutes), then the issue got resolved. I got the same problem again for two three times in a span of 20 days and i used the same solution. Now it works fine for about one month now.
SMC Reset:
Mac portables with non-user-removable batteries (MacBook Air and some late 2009 MacBook Pro models):
Shut down your Mac.
Connect the MagSafe power adapter to your Mac and to a power outlet.
On the built-in keyboard (this will not work from an external keyboard), simultaneously press and hold the left shift, control, and option keys while you press the power button. Release all keys at the same time. You will see a colour change of red to green from the power plug.
Wait for five minutes.
Press the power button to start your Mac.
I have solved this problem in the past.
1.Unplug your mac and turn it off.
2.Press and simultaneously hold down the cmd, option, p and r keys.
3.Have someone else push the start button while you continue to hold down the four keys.
4. keep the keys depressed until you hear the 3rd “start-up” chime, then release.
5. your mac will chime a fourth time, and then the screen should illuminate.
I hope this works as well for you as it does for me.
Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) worked for my, im on a mid 2013 Macbook Pro with Windows 7 installed via BootCamp. Thanks !