Key Takeaways
- Check if your Chromebook charges by testing the charger, outlet, charging LED, or even your phone’s USB-C charger.
- Try cleaning your Chromebook’s charging port, disconnecting peripherals, and increasing the brightness.
- Fix a Chromebook that will power on but can’t boot by hard resetting it, or try completely reinstalling ChromeOS.
If your Chromebook isn’t powering on, you’re probably feeling frustrated and hopeless. Luckily, many of the causes of Chromebooks failing to power on are easily resolved.
1 Try Using a Different Charger and Outlet
If your Chromebook doesn’t seem to get any power at all, it’s worth checking whether it’s actually charging. Your charger or the wall outlet you plugged it into may be the source of your troubles.
Your Chromebook has a small LED light (usually next to the port) that should illuminate when it is charging. If it isn’t illuminated, try using a different outlet. If that doesn’t work, you can check if your charger works by swapping it out or using it with a different laptop.
If your Chromebook has
a power key (on the keyboard) and an actual power button, you should also try pressing the button instead. Sometimes, the power key fails while the button remains completely functional.
2 Check Your Chromebook’s Battery
If your charger works but your Chromebook still won’t power on, your Chromebook’s battery may be the problem. If your Chromebook will only power on when plugged in, it needs a battery replacement.
It’s also possible that your Chromebook just isn’t responding to its charger. Some users report that using their phone’s low-watt USB-C charger seemed to “reset” their battery issues, so if you’ve exhausted other options, it’s worth a try.
If you decide to replace your battery, you should probably leave the job to a professional unless you have experience. Opening your Chromebook to remove and replace the battery will void your warranty.
Some Chromebooks are easier to repair than others, though. If you decide to DIY it, websites like iFixit offer tutorials for almost every Chromebook model. Search for your Chromebook model, and you’ll have all the info you need to make the replacement.
3 Disconnect Peripherals From Your Chromebook
Sometimes, peripherals (external devices, like your mouse or headphones) can cause your Chromebook to fail to power on. This is usually because a device is draining too much power, but it can also be a bug.
If your Chromebook isn’t powering on, try disconnecting all of your external devices and power it on again. If successful, plug your devices back in one-by-one to determine which was the problem. Rather than one specific problem device, your Chromebook’s power issues might also result from having too many devices plugged in at once. If you can use devices separately without problems, consider unplugging your least important peripherals.
4 Clean Your Chromebook’s Charging Port
Dirt and grime in your Chromebook’s charging port can also prevent it from powering on, so deep cleaning the port might be necessary. A can of compressed air can remove most grime from a charging port.
If you notice sticky or large debris that the compressed air won’t get out, you can also gently remove it with a plastic toothpick. Don’t use a wooden toothpick—the risk of the wood splintering and creating a bigger problem is too high.
If there’s an especially sticky mess inside the port, you can use a flattened cotton swab and 70% isopropyl alcohol to remove the grime. Alternatively, electronics cleaners are fantastic for the job if you have any on hand.
5 Troubleshoot Your Chromebook’s Display
If your Chromebook shows signs of life but won’t turn on, it’s possible that something is wrong with your display. Chromebooks turn their screen off entirely when set to the lowest possible brightness, so you can check whether that is the issue by repeatedly pressing the increase brightness key.
If that doesn’t work, you can also try connecting your Chromebook to an external display. Just connect your Chromebook to the external display with a HDMI cable. If that display works, you might need to bring your Chromebook to a professional for screen repair.
6 Reinstall or Repair ChromeOS
If your Chromebook can power on but can’t successfully boot and hard resetting it didn’t help, you might need to reinstall ChromeOS altogether. To do this, take the following steps:
- Simultaneously press and hold Esc + Refresh, then press the Power button.
- Let go of the Esc + Refresh keys when the screen changes.
- When you reach the prompt that says, Please insert a recovery USB stick or SD card, choose this option if available: Recover using internet connection.
- If you don’t have that option, you’ll need to create a recovery USB drive.
- Download Chromebook Recovery Utility, then launch the app and follow the prompts to create a new recovery media.
- Insert your recovery USB into your Chromebook, then wait for it to verify the contents of the drive.
- If the drive is validated, ChromeOS will automatically install. You will need to wait and see whether the process is successful.
7 Attempt to Hard Reset (Powerwash) Your Chromebook
If your Chromebook can “power on” but can’t successfully boot, you should try hard resetting your Chromebook. To do a hard reset without logging in to your Chromebook, you’ll need to take the following steps:
- Press the power button, and wait for your Chromebook to start the boot process.
- Simultaneously press and hold Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R.
- A prompt will appear asking if you’d like to Reset this Chromebook.
- Click Powerwash, and wait for the hard resetting process to complete.
This will remove all device data, so back up your Chromebook first.
If none of these troubleshooting steps work, taking your Chromebook to a professional is the best way to get your Chromebook working again. Professional repair can be costly, but you can rest assured knowing that you’ll have your device back soon.
