macOS Screen Won't Turn On — Black Screen Fix

What Does This Error Mean?

A completely black Mac screen can mean the display hardware has failed, macOS has crashed without showing anything, or your Mac is in a deep sleep state it cannot wake from. Before assuming the worst, there are several things to try — many black screen situations are software or settings problems, not broken hardware.

Affected Models

MacBook Air
MacBook Pro
iMac
Mac Mini
Mac Studio

Common Causes

The Mac is asleep or in a deep sleep state (hibernate) and is not responding to normal wake attempts
The display brightness is turned all the way down to zero
A failed macOS update left the system stuck before the display driver could load
The GPU (graphics chip) has crashed or failed
A loose display cable has disconnected the screen from the rest of the Mac (more common on older MacBooks)

How to Fix It

Try waking the Mac. Press any key on the keyboard, move the mouse, or press the Power button briefly. Wait 10 seconds. Sometimes a Mac in deep sleep takes a moment to wake.

If you hear a fan or see a light on the power button, the Mac is running but the screen is off.
Check the brightness. Press the brightness-up key (F2 on most Macs) several times. The screen might be on but set to zero brightness.

This sounds obvious but it happens — accidentally pressing the wrong key combination can set brightness to minimum.
Force restart. Hold the Power button for 10 seconds until the Mac shuts off. Wait 5 seconds, then press Power to start it again.

A force restart can break out of a frozen state that is keeping the screen off.
Reset SMC (Intel Macs). On MacBooks with Apple T2 chip: hold Control + Option + Shift for 7 seconds, then also hold Power for 7 more seconds. Release all, then press Power to start.

The SMC controls display power and sleep/wake behavior. Resetting it fixes many screen-related problems.
Connect an external display. If you have a monitor with HDMI or Thunderbolt, connect it to your Mac. If the external display works but the built-in screen does not, the internal display hardware has failed.

This test tells you whether macOS is running fine but the screen is broken, versus whether the whole Mac has crashed.

When to Call a Professional

If you hear your Mac running (fan noise, hard drive sounds, keyboard lit up) but the screen is completely black, the display hardware or the cable connecting it may have failed. Visit an Apple Store or authorized repair shop. Display repairs are among the most expensive Mac repairs — check your warranty and AppleCare coverage first.

Frequently Asked Questions

My Mac screen is black but I can hear it running. Is it broken?

Not necessarily — a Mac that is running but showing a black screen often has a software or settings issue, not a broken display. Try the brightness keys first, then force restarting, then resetting the SMC. If an external monitor shows a picture, the internal display cable or LCD panel has failed.

What is the difference between the screen being off and the Mac being off?

A Mac that is completely off makes no sounds — no fan, no hard drive noise. A Mac with a black screen but running will have a lit power indicator (on some models), fan noise, or a lit keyboard. If you can feel warmth from the body of a MacBook, it is likely running.

After a macOS update my screen went black. What happened?

A macOS update that freezes mid-install can leave the Mac stuck before the display driver loads. Try force restarting by holding the power button for 10 seconds. If a normal boot does not work after that, boot into Recovery Mode and try reinstalling macOS.