Do you find it frustrating when you are on a tight deadline, and your computer won’t turn on? Having an electronic device that won’t turn on is extremely frustrating. But what’s more frustrating is not knowing the cause of it. There are many reasons why your Chromebook may not turn on. In this detailed how-to guide, we will discuss all the reasons why your Chromebook may not turn on and how to fix a Chromebook that won’t turn on.

Chromebook Not Turning On

Chromebooks are sophisticated devices that offer you great value at low prices. However, you may sometimes face issues with your Chromebook, just like you would with any other computer. But troubleshooting a Chromebook is more challenging than a typical computer, as there are limited options available to make changes to its OS.

So if you ever sit down to work on your Chromebook, but it won’t turn on, you may see a black screen, or your Chromebook may turn off immediately after turning on. Or you may not be able to log into your account and boot into the Chrome OS. There are many scenarios where your Chromebook won’t turn on, including:

• Your screen appears black despite your device being powered on.
• Your device turns off immediately after turning on.
• You are booted into Chrome OS, but you are unable to log in to your account.
• Your Chromebook keeps crashing even after you log into it.
• When you press the power button on your Chromebook, nothing happens.

Reasons Why Your Chromebook Is Not Turning On

Chromebooks are manufactured by various electronic companies. However, all of them face similar software and hardware problems. There are many reasons why your Chromebook won’t turn on. These include:

• There is a problem with your battery charger.
• There is a problem with the internal hardware.
• There is a problem with your Chrome OS.
• There is external hardware interference.

How to Fix a Chromebook that Won’t Turn On

If your Chromebook is not turning on due to any reason and you are afraid that you would have to buy a new laptop altogether, you should try out these troubleshooting steps to find out whether your Chromebook is beyond saving.

1. Check Your Chromebook’s Charger

If your Chromebook is not turning on, there may be an issue with its charger. Oftentimes when your laptop does not turn on, it is because you have run out of battery. And if you charge it with a faulty charger, it may not work, and you may think that the issue is with your Chromebook. In reality, the issue could be with your charger.

To ensure that your charger is working fine, follow these steps:

• When you plug in the charger to your Chromebook, check if the charging light of your Chromebook is on.
• Leave your Chromebook with its charger plugged in for a couple of hours and then turn it on.
• Use a different charger.

If your Chromebook starts working after you have tried a different charger, it means that the problem lies with your charger. But if your Chromebook is still not turning on, continue identifying the issues.

2. Disconnect All the External Devices

Usually when a computer does not turn on, the problem lies with the external devices plugged into the computer. For instance, a USB plugged into your Chromebook may interfere with the starting up process. Remove all the external devices connected to your Chromebook, and then try turning it on again.

3. Check the Brightness Settings of Your Chromebook

If you have dimmed the brightness settings of your Chromebook to an extremely low point, your screen will appear black. This may result in you thinking that your Chromebook is not turned on. Make sure your brightness settings are set right. Check the power LED status indicators to be sure. If your Chromebook’s lid is open, the blue light should be lit. If your Chromebook is charging, it should be an amber color and blinking. But if you don’t see any lights lit when your Chromebook’s charger is plugged in, you may have battery issues.

4. Replace Your Internal Battery

If your Chromebook’s charger is fine, but it still does not turn on, there may be an issue with its internal battery. So you may need to replace its battery. Every battery loses its juice after being used over time. Depending on how long you have been using your Chromebook, you may have drained your battery. But only do this if you are aware of all the technicalities involved in replacing the battery. If you don’t know how to replace its battery, take your Chromebook to a technician.

If you are doing it on your own, just unscrew the back cover of your Chromebook and replace the battery. Do know, however, that if you open your Chromebook, it may void the manufacturer warranty of it. So only opt for this option when you are sure that the issue lies with the Chromebook’s battery. Check a video tutorial on YouTube on how to disassemble your Chromebook by looking for its specific model.

5. Hard Reset the Chromebook

If the issue persists, a good ol’ hard reset may do the trick for your Chromebook. First, try restarting your Chromebook by holding down the power button of your computer. If it still does not turn on, you may need to hard reset it. A hard reset clears your Chromebook’s caches and memory that may be putting extra strain on your computer. This fix is also ideal if you turn on your Chromebook and its display remains black. To hard reset your Chromebook, hold down the Refresh button and Power button simultaneously.

6. Delete All the Unnecessary Apps

If your Chromebook turns on but crashes after a few seconds, you may have to delete all the unnecessary apps in it. The problem could be with the recently downloaded apps. Delete or uninstall any unnecessary or recently downloaded apps from the right-click menu to check if the problem is with the apps.

7. Update Your Chrome OS

By default, all Chromebooks automatically update to the latest software available. However, if, for some reason, your Chromebook does not update to the latest software, there may be some bugs or issues with the OS causing your computer to crash. Update your Chrome OS to the latest software by going to Settings > About Chrome OS. A new software update may fix all the underlying issues with the software.

8. Log in as Another User

Sometimes when your Chromebook does not turn on, there may be a syncing issue between your Google Account and your Chromebook that may keep you from logging into your computer. To fix this issue, log in as a guest user or create an all-new user account to use for your Chromebook.

9. Factory Reset Your Chromebook

If all the other fixes fail, try factory resetting your Chromebook. Resetting your Chromebook to its default settings may get the juice flowing in your Chromebook.

To factory reset a Chromebook:

• Open the click on the bottom right corner of your display and click on “Sign Out.”
• Hold on the Control + Alt + Shift + r buttons.
• Click on “Restart.” A pop-up will open on your screen.
• Click on “Powerwash” on the pop-up and then on “Continue.”
• Follow the on-screen steps and then sign in to your Google Account. This account will be the new owner account for your Chromebook when you sign in after factory resetting it.

If all else fails, you will have to take your Chromebook to a technician.

10. Take Your Chromebook to the Manufacturer

All Chromebooks come with a limited warranty from the Google Store, which means that the required repairs will be done by Google for free. So if all else fails, your last resort is to take your Chromebook to the manufacturer and get it serviced. Chromebooks typically come with a one or two-year warranty, depending on their brand. If it has only been one or two years since you bought your Chromebook, use the warranty and get your Chromebook fixed for free. If you don’t live near a Google store, you may need to pay hefty shipping fees. So make sure paying the shipping fee is worth it.  

Moreover, if you don’t have a warranty, you will have to pay a hefty repair fee to get your Chromebook repaired. In this case, your only option would be to get a new Chromebook or laptop. In any case, get your Chromebooks inspected by a technician if none of these solutions fix the problem. If the required repair is minimal, you can get your Chromebook repaired for a small fee.

Conclusion

Try out these ten solutions if you are wondering how to fix a Chromebook that won’t turn on. These solutions might just fix any problem your Chromebook may have. If you don’t have a warranty, you may want to take your Chromebook to a qualified local technician and have them take a look.

If you want to learn more about Chromebooks, Chrome OS, troubleshooting guides, Chromebook reviews, and more, check this space.