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)

470 Comments

  1. I looked up this topic as my Mac black screened. Before my inquiry, I handed the problem by connecting the charger. The screen came on immediately. Also, I had just disconnected the charger right before the screen blacked. It was already 94% charge.

  3. THANK YOU so much. After trying numerous “solutions” on the Apple website, this was the ONLY one that gave me results.

  4. Student here with a MacBook Pro my school gave me to complete my studies with all of the necessary programs pre-installed, of course I’m paying for it. The problem is that after a year and a month (just past the warranty), I have the black screen issue. When powered on, I can hear the chords that audibly alert to the system coming on, and my Caps light illuminates as well. When I tried the tricks listed above to get to SafeMode. One thing I’m finding interesting is the people who’ve recently updated their Mountain Lion OS, myself included.

    Today, the screen would lock up, refusing to move, reboot, or turn off. I closed it in a last ditch effort to restart. This is what I get. Black with noise and a light. Purchasing a new computer for school is not an option for me.

  5. Hi

    Thanks, had the same issue with Mac booting up and Caps key showing on/off but black screen and did the “Command, Option, P, and R” keys to reset the PRAM and NVRAM and this worked fine for me and Mac is now up and running again.

    Thanks

  7. Colin~
    Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
    You are Awesome!!

  8. same problem as many have.have tried to reboot is while pressing shift,r or p, still wont work. it will turn on but screen stays black.could anybody help me on that? (this is an older module.

  9. please help if you can- it didn’t work! when I turn on my MacBook pro, the button in the front that you push to open it turns on, and I can hear the disk drive turn on, but the screen still remains black. I have tried many things to try to fix it, but nothing seems to be working. im going to try what you said again, just to make sure.

  10. This did not work, help! My comp. makes the noise of checking the CD drive, then nothing, no screen, no other noises or bings.

  13. Hi, Juliet have exactly same problem pre xmas, took into Apple repairs, strangely it worked when I handed it over ????? Called me back to collect a week later stated couldn’t find anything wrong with it. Now two weeks later its at it again powers on, no chime sound, but there is whirring, fans running, screen stays black. Whats going on ?? anyone have any ideas.

  14. Hi, i have a macbook pro late 2009, 2 updates late. I tried everything but its not working, i can hear the fans working and sounds it makes and the caps lock is working. I’ve tried everything on the net and i have all of my pictures through out the years and videos and i havent backed them up yet! Please help me!

    • Hi Illy,

      at worst, your logic board may be messed up, but the data on your drive (videos and pix) is not lost. I would take it into Apple and ask them to repair, and ask them to make sure they back up the drive.

      -Colin

  15. It doesn’t work 🙁 My mac is quite old so I’m worried it’s dying..

    It started out just going black now and then, then sooner and sooner. Now it’s completely black and I don’t see anything when I switch it on.

  16. My macbook has a bllack s reen i know it works cuz i hear it read tje disk and white lite ay the bottom i have done all methds but nothing the screen appears all of asudden it says somthing about if i want to continue but im not able to read it cuz it will be there for 2 sec snd then blavl screen what can i do

  17. I found your site just as I put in the question on black screen. Thank you so much. I was in a panic for I am broke and really needed my computer. You saved the day. 🙂

  18. Me again. I just noticed lots of people are having trouble with this problem today. Also my comment shows posted at 6:58pm when really here in Montana, USA its 3:58 pm. Weird.

    • Hi Yukontg,
      we’re in NYC, and we’re marking time with East Coast time.

      Not sure why so many people are having this problem today. bad day, I guess.

      Glad I could help..

      Colin

  20. I had problem with having a black screen and I followed your advice which worked great. Now 2 days later I now have a black screen and the sleep light does not stay on. My computer starts when I press the power button and it makes the noise and than the sleep light up front flickers and goes out.
    I reset the PRAM by holding down/command/option and the power button this brings up the sleep light and it stays on steady. Than I turn off and back on my computer and the sleep light stays on but still black screen, so I turn on and off again and than hold down power button and shift button to clear black screen and this causes the sleep light to go off. I also reset my SMC. I don’t know what to do no. Can you help? Please?

  21. Oh man I was freaking out and was doing my work things and the screen went black on me as well. Thanks god for iPhone I was able to google in my phone and came accross this site . And follow the command p,r and power button and it came back !!
    Thank you so much for all the advice on here !! You save me and my heart … Thank you thank you !! So glad I came across this website !!!

    Follow me on twitter @buzzy_nfamous2u

    And Instagram @buzzy_nfamous2u

  22. Help! I have a similar problem: my mac shows a black screen and the coloured circle, then it shows the page where I am supposed to put my password but won’t let me type it and then the screen goes back to black. I’ve tried pressing the power button to restart it but it doesn’t work! Any suggestions?
    I would really appreciate your help,

    Best,

    C

  23. I recently updated my Mac to Snow Leopard so I could upgrade to Mavericks. Now I have tried both the suggestions above and still no luck I can hear the sounds and the fans going etc but still black screen and no cap locks light. I am about to start my brand new course and that’s why I upgraded now I’m scared my Mac had gone!! Any other suggestions would be so greatly appreciated! Please please please I will send you all my stored good karma

    • My computer did the black screen and no cap light. I tried several different things that were suggested on this site but no luck. I took it to a computer guy for Mac’s and he said my mother board was shot and not worth the expense to fix. If your computer was having a hard time waking up when you left it on sleep and than opened the lid or if the sleep light in front stays solid on(not flashing) you more than likely have the same problem as I did. For your sake I hope I am wrong, but I only had to pay $35 to have the guy look at mine so maybe you can too. Good Luck

  25. My MacBook Pro (2012) did this today. The PRAM reset got me back up and running. I belive what happened in my case was that i have been running with an external monitor all week, didn’t turn off the computer at night, or close the cover for that matter, just let it go to sleep. so it decided that maybe only the external was needed. anyway the PRAM reset worked and all back to normal (when I did the PRAM it went to the INSTALL MacOS program, but I just did a shutdown and started it up again). Thanks all above who posted their ideas.

    • I keep getting comments sent to my email on a computer problem some people are having. The problem is not one I am having and that I posted a while back. I am wondering if anyone knows why. Shouldn’t I be getting responses to my problem?

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