Mac screen goes black? Here’s your troubleshooting guide

Various issues, such as battery problems, system glitches, overheating, and hardware failures, can cause a black screen on your MacBook. If your MacBook’s screen went black but is still running, you can try some DIY solutions before taking it to an authorized service provider. 

Below, I’ve outlined a few solutions that might help. Feel free to use the quick solutions in the table, or scroll down for more details on each one.

Try this	Steps
Check power	Connect the charger to your Mac and wait 30 minutes.
Increase brightness	Press F2 to increase brightness.
Force restart	Hold the power button for 10 seconds. Then, restart your Mac.
Reset NVRAM/PRAM (Intel Macs only)	Power down. Hold Option + Command + P + R for 20 seconds during startup.
Reset SMC (Intel Macs only)	Unplug Mac, hold Shift + Option + Control + Power button for 10 seconds, then release.
Unplug all accessories	Disconnect all external devices and restart your Mac.
Boot into Safe Mode	Power down, restart, and immediately hold Shift. Release when the login screen appears.
Repair disk permissions	Use CleanMyMac (Performance tab).
Reinstall macOS	Boot into recovery mode (hold Command + R during startup). Select "Reinstall macOS."

Need a quick troubleshooting tool? Try the Fix My Mac assistant, which offers quick and helpful solutions for any Mac problem you might have.

Check the power of your MacBook

Before diving deeper, check if your MacBook Pro is plugged in and charged. If you're unsure, connect it to power and wait 30 minutes. MacBooks show an empty battery icon when drained, while Macs and iMacs won’t turn on without power.

Check the screen brightness level

Another simple MacBook Pro black screen fix is to turn the screen brightness back up, as it may have been accidentally lowered. If you’re sure your Mac is powered on and charged, use the Function keys to try to adjust screen brightness. In this case, you’ll need to press F2 to increase it. Once the screen brightness logo shows up on the screen, the problem is solved.

Using DisplayBuddy for screen brightness control

If your built-in controls aren’t giving you enough flexibility, or if you're using an external monitor, a third-party app can make adjusting brightness much easier. 

One such app is DisplayBuddy. It makes it easier to control the brightness on external monitors, and it works with more than one screen at a time. If you use multiple displays, this can be really helpful. It also lets you create custom presets for different tasks, so it’s more flexible and personal than the built-in Mac settings.

Force restart your Mac

A full restart resets the operating system, clearing any temporary files that might be causing the problem on startup. So if your MacBook Pro screen goes black randomly, follow these steps to perform a hard restart on a Mac that’s turned on:

1. Hold down the power button for about 10 seconds.
2. Wait another 10 seconds after your Mac powers down.
3. Press the power button to boot it back up.

But how to restart a MacBook when the screen is black? It’s pretty much the same as a regular restart: 

1. Plug your MacBook into a charger and wait at least 15 minutes (just to make sure it's not completely drained).
2. Hold down the power button for about 10 seconds.
3. Wait another 10 seconds.
4. Press the power button again to turn on your Mac.

If your Mac doesn’t have any major screen or hardware damage, this solution might be helpful.

Try to use the keypress sequence

This MacBook Pro black screen fix isn’t in the official Apple guides, but many users say a certain key sequence can bring a black screen back to life. Here’s how to try it:

1. Press the power button once; this will bring up an invisible dialogue box on the black screen.
2. Press S, which is the shortcut for Sleep on Mac.
3. Press and hold the power button for four seconds to perform a hard shutdown.
4. Wait for about 15 seconds and press the power button to restart your Mac.

Reset the NVRAM/PRAM

NVRAM (nonvolatile random-access memory) and PRAM (Parameter RAM) are both small memory partitions that store Mac settings like volume control and display resolution so they can be quickly accessed. If one or both of these memory partitions get “stuck,” the MacBook screen goes black but is still running. At this point, a reset will help.

Keep in mind that the newer Apple Silicon Macs don’t have the hardware for resetting NVRAM, so this method won’t work on those machines.

Here’s how to reset NVRAM/PRAM if your MacBook screen went black:

1. Power down your Mac.
2. Press the power button to start the bootup process.
3. Hold down Option + Command + P + R immediately, and keep holding for at least 20 seconds.
4. Check your system settings after the reset. You may need to update the date and time, display, and disk options, as resetting NVRAM/PRAM can change them.

For more details, check out the full guide on how to reset PRAM/NVRAM and SMC on Mac.

Reset SMC settings

The Systems Management Controller, or SMC, is a Mac feature for managing things like temperature, keyboard, display, fans, and other processes. Similar to resetting NVRAM and PRAM, resetting the SMC can help fix problems such as your Mac not starting, not showing video, or the screen going black.

Here’s how to reset SMC settings on a Mac:

1. Power down your Mac and unplug it from the power source for at least 15 seconds before connecting it back to power.
2. Press and hold down Shift + Option + Control + the power button while your Mac is powered down.
3. Release the keys once your Mac starts booting up.

Note: If you have an Apple Silicon Mac, resetting SMC won't work, so you’ll need to try another method to fix the MacBook black screen problem.

Repair disk permissions

Disk permissions control who can access and modify files on your Mac. When these permissions get corrupted, apps might change read-only files, causing lag, freezes, crashes, or even a black screen.

Fixing permissions manually is technical, so it's easier to use a tool like CleanMyMac. This app takes care of system cleanup, removes malware, boosts speed, and makes small repairs to help your Mac run better with less effort.

Here’s how to reset disk permissions on a Mac using CleanMyMac:

1. Install and open CleanMyMac. 
2. Click Performance on the left panel > Run.
3. Click View All Tasks > Maintenance Tasks > Repair Disk Permissions > Run.

That’s all it takes! CleanMyMac will reset your disk permissions in seconds.

Boot into safe mode

Starting up your Mac in safe mode can help identify whether the issues you're experiencing are caused by software that loads as your Mac starts up. Safe Mode allows you to power on your Mac while preventing non-essential apps and login items from booting up.

Here’s how to boot into safe mode if your MacBook screen went black:

1. Power your Mac down completely and wait for about 15 seconds.
2. Press the power button to turn it back on and immediately hold down the Shift key as your Mac boots up.
3. Release the Shift key when you see the login window.
4. Log in with your username and password.

Reinstall macOS

If your MacBook Pro won’t turn on, reinstalling macOS can help by removing corrupt files or bugs. This requires booting into recovery mode and choosing a macOS version to reinstall.

Reinstalling resets your Mac to factory settings, so back up your data first. I recommend Get Backup Pro. It’s fast, reliable, and lets you back up entire systems or individual files. Unlike Time Machine, it’s simpler and offers options like cloning, incremental, and compressed backups to save storage.

What to do if the above solutions don’t work

If these fixes don’t help and your MacBook Pro won't turn on, the issue could be with the cable connecting the motherboard to the display. A telltale sign for this issue is if the screen works when the lid is open at 50-60 degrees, but goes black when fully opened. This was a common problem with the 2017-2020 MacBook Pros.

"When you run into this problem, Apple usually offers to replace the screen, which in my case would have cost $900. I was convinced it was a manufacturing defect, so I was persistent when I spoke with the support team and eventually got a free repair", Andrew, Setapp Engineer.

As an alternative, you can connect your Mac to an external display. It’s not the most convenient option, but it can work as a temporary fix, especially for a home office setup.

How to identify hardware issues behind a black screen

A black screen can sometimes result from hardware issues like a faulty display cable. Signs include flickering or intermittent screen problems.

Start by checking the power, display settings, and external connections. If those are fine, run Apple Diagnostics by restarting your Mac and holding the D key to test hardware and spot errors.

If the problems persist, contact Apple Support for professional help.

Final thoughts on fixing a black screen on your Mac

A black screen on your Mac can be pretty scary, but now you’ve got several ways to bring it back to life. The easiest fixes include restarting your device, resetting NVRAM and SMC, and repairing disk permissions. In some cases, you'll have to reinstall macOS. 

To make all of this easier, there are a few tools you can use. CleanMyMac handles disk repairs and system cleanup. DisplayBuddy lets you control external monitors with ease. Get Backup Pro keeps your files safe with reliable backups, and Novabench quickly checks your Mac’s performance for any deeper issues.

All of these apps are available on Setapp, a suite of 260+ apps for Mac and iOS. There's a free seven-day trial, so use it to test-try these apps before you commit to a paid subscription. 

FAQs

Why did my MacBook screen go black?

Your MacBook screen may have gone black due to battery and brightness issues, software glitches, interference from external devices, or hardware problems. Try troubleshooting by doing a hard reset, resetting the SMC or NVRAM/PRAM, repairing disk permissions, booting into safe mode, or unplugging all accessories. If the issue is hardware-related (e.g., a damaged connection between the motherboard and the screen), you may need to visit a repair shop.

Why is my MacBook screen black, but the keyboard lights up?

If your MacBook screen is black but the keyboard lights up, it indicates that the system is powering up. The issue may be related to a problem with the GPU, a corrupted internal disk drive, a damaged display, or a loose LVDS cable.

How do I force restart my Mac when the screen is black?

To force restart your Mac when the screen is black (for newer Apple Silicon models), press and hold Shift + Control + Option + Power for about 10 seconds. Then, power on your Mac and check if the dark display issue is resolved.

Can you fix the black screen of death on Mac?

Yes, you can often fix the black screen of death on your Mac by performing various troubleshooting steps. These may include restarting your Mac, resetting the SMC or NVRAM, or updating macOS to the latest version.

Why does my Mac screen keep going dark?

Your Mac screen might keep going dark because of sleep settings, low brightness, or power issues like a weak battery or a loose charger. Checking your display and energy settings usually helps you figure out what’s causing it.

Why does my MacBook keep glitching black?

Your MacBook might keep glitching black because it’s getting too warm and starting to overheat. To fix it, try restarting your device, checking the brightness, and unplugging any external devices.

How do you fix a stuck Mac screen that is black?

To fix a stuck Mac screen that's black, begin with a force restart: hold the power button for 10 seconds until it turns off, then restart. If that fails, reset the NVRAM or PRAM by holding Command + Option + P + R while booting. Another option is to boot into macOS Recovery to repair the startup disk or reinstall macOS.

Why does my Mac display keep turning off?

If you’re not using battery saver mode, the issue could be caused by software settings, like your Mac going to sleep too quickly. It might also be overheating, especially if the fan isn’t working properly or the device is running too hot. In some cases, loose cables or hardware problems can also cause the display to shut off unexpectedly.