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My MacBook Air (2013) won't turn on

This morning I was using it, and it was working fine. I came home this evening, plugged my MacBook into the MagSafe power adapter and went to power it on - and nothing happened. It is responding to the power adapter (ie lights up green initially and the orange) but I cannot get it to respond. At one stage I did hear a brief chime as if it was rebooting, but it cut off again.


I have tried everything I can find online - holding down the power button, holding down power, option and command, etc but nothing is working. I have only owned this laptop for a couple of months and I cannot think of anything that would have damaged it. As I say, it as working this morning.


I am desperate for help as I am currently abroad and not near an Apple Store and my laptop is essential for the work I am doing so any help would be greatly appreciated.

MacBook Air

Posted on Aug 9, 2013 12:17 PM

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117 replies

Jan 12, 2014 3:42 AM in response to David_croatia

I am in Vietnam and the same thing has happened with me. My new-ish macbook air will not turn on. The battery died, when I plugged it in, light was orange and wouldn't turn on, now it's green and the computer still will not turn on, I tried everything in this forum and took it to three authorized apple dealers, one said it was something in the hard ware and they would need to keep it for days. I need help, I have documents on the computer that I have been working on for weeks that aren't backed up (as I have been traveling the last month). I also need the computer to work. Any suggestions.

Jan 13, 2014 10:29 AM in response to Mjolnir4Life

My MBA is less than a month old. Was working on it this morning and it went black - I had moved from one location to another. The first thing I do whenever I get a new "gadget" is read up on all that could happen and possible rectification. I remembered your post and so I picked it up, turned it a few times with lid sllightly open, closed the lid, opened the lid, hit the power button and viola - on it went!


Thank you so much. I am so grateful for really an easy fix.


On another note, too many of us are having this issue - what in the world could it be?

Jan 25, 2014 9:20 PM in response to SweetLady

I was busy doing something for uni this morning closed my computer to attend breakfast and came back later to find the **** thing would not show any response to opening or showing the main page and thought it was not charged. Charged green showed and tried again to no avail and then when that didn't work panic occurred. Turned on another laptop I own and viola found this forum of helpful information and this one from SweetLady saved me and got my MacAir working again.


thank you it worked by slamming the lid shut and opened ajar and turn on button.


Happy Australia Day

May 3, 2014 6:44 AM in response to Camdenlily

Hello everyone.


I have got the same problem in my MBA 2013 (7 months old). I've tried all the methods here, but it is not working at all.

I have the possibility to take it to an Apple store for a repair, but I want to try it a bit more by myself during the weekend to restore some files, if possible.

Thanks everyone for the hints, but it hasn't worked for me.


Is there anyone else who did not succeed trying anything? Any other hints?


Thanks!

Jun 5, 2014 1:35 PM in response to hugotgs

hi hugotgs - i was having this exact same issue. thing wouldnt turn on. i shook the **** out of it and nothing. i took the bottom off and tried turning it on. when i did so, i saw the fan kind of twitching. so i stuck my finger in and gave the fan a bit of a flick. when i did that, it started spinning normally, and the macbook air just powered right up! im guessing i need to replace the fan but man this was driving me nuts!

hope that helps

Jun 14, 2014 6:22 AM in response to michaelfromllanfairpwll

A mix of causes here, fallen bit in firmware, loose cable ot bad connection, and one even with a SMS that does not exist (" THEN SHAKE IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT!

Then press the start button.

Done.

This will set of the SMS (sudden motion sensor), and in doing so, this solved my problem.

Now everything works like a charm! ") 😁

Probably a loose connector, like John Galt said several times.

Jul 23, 2014 2:15 PM in response to Camdenlily

I had the same problem as some of the other people on here. This may have been related to a system update that, I think, automatically installed and required a restart. When I tried to restart, the MacBook Air wouldn't turn on at all--no chime, no fan, nothing. The Magsafe connector showed green, and I was fairly sure my laptop had a full charge. I waited a day, tried the SMC reset, nothing worked. Then I came here, read this thread, and decided to try "the shake." At first, nothing happened. I tried to power it up and nothing. I tried the SMC reset--still nothing. I closed the lid and started to work on some paperwork. After about 5 minutes, out of nowhere, the start-up chime sounded--with the lid still closed. I quickly opened the MacBook--nothing. I tried pressing the power key--nothing. I tried the SMC reset again, then pressing the power key--nothing. I went back to my paperwork, but this time, left the lid of the computer open. After another few minutes of just sitting there, the start-up chime sounded again, and this time the computer started up--apparently normally! I haven't tried to restart it again--I'm afraid to!--but so far, so good.


When I get back home, we're going into the Genius Bar. Shaking my computer to start it is not something I want to have to do everyday.

Jul 27, 2014 8:53 PM in response to Camdenlily

This might not work for everyone, but, having the same problem, my solution instead of holding down the power button, etc., was to mash the keyboard with the palm of my hand while clicking around on the track pad...I basically carelessly pressed most of the keys, and Bam, reboot. I expect this won't be the last time I have to deal with this issue...

My MacBook Air (2013) won't turn on

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