MacBook Air Black Screen after macOS Catalina Update

Just updated my older macbook air to macOS Catalina and upon restart my screen is black. It wont respond to anything. The only thing that happens when I hit the power button is the fax starts to run. I have tried to reset the NVRAM and the SMC. I've tried to boot into single user mode and into recovery mode. I even opened her up and disconnected the battery and display cable and reattached both. Nothing but the fan. How does an OS update do this? I am open to any suggestions.

I have replaced both the battery and the keyboard myself but everything was flawless for 6+ months until the macOS Catalina update...

Posted on Oct 7, 2019 12:03 PM

Top-ranking reply

rajafromchampaign

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Nov 28, 2019 1:11 AM

I just had this exact problem and I fixed it by following these steps:

Disconnect power supply and open bottom of Macbook Air
Locate the battery connector and unplug it, leaving it unplugged
Put the cover back on and flip the Macbook over, connect it to your power supply like normal, then press the power button
Wait for startup, sign in, make sure everything seems fine, then shut off Macbook
Remove power supply and reconnect battery connector
Screw the cover back on and your Macbook should effectively be reverted to its state before installing Catalina

I'm not sure why Catalina messes everything up, and the same issue occurred after trying to download Catalina again, so I would just refrain from installing Catalina until a solution for the issue is found.

For anyone who is clueless about technology as I was before I researched, a picture of the battery connector can be found by looking up "Grab the clear plastic pull tab attached to the battery connector and pull it toward the front edge of the Air to disconnect the battery from the logic board." on a search engine and going to step 3 on the first result page. Note that this image matched my Macbook Air (2015) and that it could be different from other Macbook models.

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68 replies

Oct 10, 2019 11:14 AM in response to rancey.sparks

If you're having the black screen issue when you lock your screen/when trying to wake it up, you can do this workaround I figured out: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250719662?answerId=251378320022#251378320022

Oct 24, 2019 11:31 AM in response to October24Now

For me, it seemed to be some old extensions that were causing the issues. I've seen some commenters say that by removing any 32-bit applications, it seemed to do the trick.

It seems that Apple's intention to do away with 32-bit applications may have been the root cause for many of these issues.

Motafota

Level 1

4 points

Nov 5, 2019 8:04 AM in response to rancey.sparks

I brought it over to an Apple store for them to play around with, telling them it was the Catalina update that bricked it and it was fine before. Now it's a 2013 Macbook Air and not my primary computer so i didn't really have high hopes of Apple tech team and knew their favorite response for anything over the sun is "it's the logic board". So i just got off the phone and of course he tells me it's the logic board. $625CAD to fix for a 7 year old laptop... ya right.

Nov 13, 2019 3:56 AM in response to rancey.sparks

Had the same problem with my MacMini 2018 and my 24 inch Apple Cinema Display 2008. Disconnecting and connecting the display helped, but I had to to do it every time. This one solved it for me: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250719662?answerId=251378320022#251378320022. But after plugging in an external dvd-player via USB 2 to the MacMini, the problem returned. Unplugged the dvd-player, restarted, and the problem was gone again. I don't know what this means and it certainly won't help people with an MBA, but maybe it contributes to finding a solution.

Oct 8, 2019 5:36 PM in response to rancey.sparks

Can you revert to Mojave? Assuming that iteration worked fine for you.

nj.kyle

Level 1

8 points

Oct 7, 2019 6:09 PM in response to rancey.sparks

I am also getting the black screen of death on my MacBook Air after upgrading to Catalina earlier today. I have to power down / up to use the MacBook. If I press the return key a few times after getting the black screen, I hear a chime (bong) but I get no other response to the keyboard or the trackpad until I restart.

njgabrio

Level 1

4 points

Oct 7, 2019 6:24 PM in response to nj.kyle

I am getting the same thing with my MacBook Pro. I have to restart everytime when opening it, but it seems I can unlock with Touch ID cause the touch bar changes as if I unlocked the computer. I still have to restart however.

nj.kyle

Level 1

8 points

Oct 7, 2019 6:47 PM in response to nj.kyle

BTW, my MacBook Air is a 13-inch mid-2012 model, with 8GB ram and 512GB SSD. Until this is fixed, I have to power down orderly each time I stop using it. Activity Monitor shows no constraints. If I put the MacBook Air to sleep, I can wake it up after a few seconds, but after a minute: black screen of death.

Oct 7, 2019 6:48 PM in response to njgabrio

I’ve tired for hours. I can’t get anything to respond. I’ve reached out to apple support on twitter but I’m guessing I’m not going to get anything out of them. Will likely blame my aftermarket battery and keyboard that have worked perfectly for six months. Hopefully I’m wrong but I’m guessing I’m out of luck.

Oct 8, 2019 2:17 PM in response to rancey.sparks

Same here. 2018 MacBook Pro. Just updated to Catalina this morning. Computer goes to sleep, but when I attempt to wake it up, the monitor does not boot up at all. The computer seems to wake up just fine. The monitor just doesn't seem to turn on. I've been having to restart every time it does this.

cenk65

Level 1

4 points

Oct 8, 2019 2:57 PM in response to rancey.sparks

I just tried updating my MacBook Pro early 2015 to catina but I’m stuck on a black screen of death all the time! I can’t do anything! My Mac is responding so unbelievable slow to any shortcuts (such as for entering the recovery mode). It even starts up (background light of the screen) 20-30 seconds later after I pressed the On-Button! I can’t even move the mouse in the internet recovery menu or type something on the keyboard. It’s just laggy and frozen all the time!

I never have had such problems like this.

What has Catalina done to my MacBook???

Oct 8, 2019 5:22 PM in response to -Chatterboxx-

Most recent response from apple support on twitter is that my device is “obsolete.” Sounds like they are telling me to pound sand. So Catalina is marketed as compatible with my MacBook Air but when it breaks my device I suddenly have an obsolete piece of hardware.

classic

nj.kyle

Level 1

8 points

Oct 8, 2019 5:36 PM in response to rancey.sparks

Sound like the Apple genius was just brushing you off. Maybe (s)he was overworked with other problems.

This not an acceptable response.

If I have to revert to Mojave, with Time Machine, will my 32-bit applications be restored?

nj.kyle

Level 1

8 points

Oct 8, 2019 6:51 PM in response to -Chatterboxx-

I went to the App Store and am downloading Mojave (turned off auto install). I am creating a boot disc for the Mojave installer. I have backed up my data.

if there is no Apple response, I will reinstall Mojave tomorrow.

Also, note that I didn’t think twice, but when I used Time Machine under Catalina, it seems to have created a new first backup, and my old backups have disappeared... maybe I messed up somehow, but I should have backed up my TM backup.

I am disappointed with Apple.

merasay

Level 1

15 points

Oct 10, 2019 11:10 AM in response to nj.kyle

I had the same problem on an iMac. It’s only 4 years old. Black screen. Tech support didn’t help nor did Genius Bar. They brushed me off offered no help. They broke my iMac and there is nothing I can do. I won’t be buying Apple again. To get 4 years out of a brand new iMac is now worth the money to be honest.

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MacBook Air Black Screen after macOS Catalina Update