Chromebook Won’t Turn On? – Try These Fixes

If your Chromebook is not turning on anymore or you’re seeing a black screen even on a full battery, there could still be hope. Before you take it in for a service or worse yet, recycle the whole thing, here are a few confirmed ways of troubleshooting the issue.

The most common reasons why your Chromebook won’t turn on are related to an external device, a brightness setting, a discharged or faulty battery, a software issue, or an overheating component. Most problems can be solved relatively quickly, easily, and inexpensively. However, some may call for more serious action (if you’re dealing with a hardware issue).

Here is a list of solutions to help you fix your Chromebook and get it to show signs of life again. 

1. Turn the brightness up.

One of the first things you need to do is check to see if the brightness of your display is all the way down.

Even though the small blue LED light lets you know your Chromebook is on, the screen will remain black if the lowest brightness setting is active. So before you go any further, turn it all the way up just to be sure.

To do this, press the brightness increase button on the top row until you achieve the maximum brightness.

2. Make sure that your Chromebook is charged

A dead battery is another thing to investigate when your Chromebook doesn’t turn on. Try turning it on again after plugging the device into an AC power source and letting it charge for at least 30 to 60 minutes.

Note: Double-check to see if the charger and outlet are working by plugging in a different device and using a different cable. 

Here is a quick guide that will help you read the battery status of your Chromebook while it’s charging: 

• No lights indicates that the power is off or the battery is completely discharged. 
• A solid blue light indicates that the Chromebook is on.
• If your Chromebook is charging, you should see both the solid blue and orange lights turned on at the same time. Note: This light might vary between Chromebook models. 

3. Perform a Hard Reset

If your Chromebook doesn’t turn on due to a software issue, doing a hard reset procedure should fix the issue in most cases. This method is confirmed to be effective in cases where corrupted cache data prevents the OS from booting. 

Important: Before you start the hard reset procedure, make sure your Chromebook is plugged in or charged.

To initiate a hard reset, hold down the Power button + Refresh button simultaneously for 10 seconds. Release the buttons after 10 seconds, then press and hold the Power button to turn the Chromebook on.

Alternatively, press the power button down and hold it for 30 seconds, then press the power button again to power it on.

4. Check for a Faulty Battery

As with any lithium-ion battery, the battery in your Chromebook will degrade over time to the point where it can’t sustain your system unless it’s plugged in. 

Note: The most common sign that your battery is all but dead is when your Chromebook only works when plugged in and turns off immediately after you remove it from a power source. 

Even if your battery is most likely at fault, you should not attempt to replace it by yourself if you’ve never done it before. Do it at your own risk because opening your Chromebook can void your warranty.

The best thing that you can do is ask a specialist for assistance or send it back to your manufacturer.

5. Place your Chromebook on a hard surface

If your Chromebook screen remains black while the bottom of the device is extremely warm, you might be dealing with an overheating component. Most likely, it’s a motherboard issue.

If this happens, wait for a couple of minutes until the device cools down before starting it again. If the same behaviour repeats, you need to take your Chromebook to a certified technician for repairs. 

Note: If your Chromebook turns off after using it in your lap for long periods, try placing it on a hard surface.

6. Remove all the USB devices that are plugged in

The Chromebook’s boot process may occasionally be hampered by external gear. To make sure that’s not the case, unplug any items plugged into the USB ports.

After ejecting all USB devices and removing any peripherals, restart your Chromebook and see if it boots up.

7. Contact the manufacturer of your device

If your Chromebook still doesn’t turn on after following all the methods above and is still covered by warranty, you might be able to acquire a replacement at no additional cost.

Check the conditions of your issued warranty and send your Chromebook in to be serviced before you do anything that will void it.

If your warranty has expired, check out the official Google Chromebook repair guide for some additional troubleshooting steps. 

Additionally, take your device to a local certified technician and wait for an official diagnosis.