Intel MacBook Pro 14" 2020 4 thunderbolt - won't power on.

[Hicksmat1976]

Hi all,

I've booked with Apple later this week but I wanted to check with you guys first.

Had a weird issue earlier today, I plugged in my aitpods to charge while using my Mac, and noticed them not charging. switched to one of the other thunderbolt ports and they started charging, so I checked the dodgy port again and still not working. so I did a reboot of the Mac. the Mac never came back. I've tried the usual SMC/Pram - anything else I can try? its just not powering on at all.

thanks

Matt.

 

[goldmac2006]

Hi all,

I've booked with Apple later this week but I wanted to check with you guys first.

Had a weird issue earlier today, I plugged in my aitpods to charge while using my Mac, and noticed them not charging. switched to one of the other thunderbolt ports and they started charging, so I checked the dodgy port again and still not working. so I did a reboot of the Mac. the Mac never came back. I've tried the usual SMC/Pram - anything else I can try? its just not powering on at all.

thanks

Matt.

Can you check the usb c port(s) if there’s any debris on it? Try different usb c cables and adapters.

 

[Hicksmat1976]

Can you check the usb c port(s) if there’s any debris on it? Try different usb c cables and adapters.

hi, to be clear, the Mac does not boot at all, no matter which thunderbolt port I connect it to.

my main issue at the moment is not being able to boot the Mac.

 

[goldmac2006]

hi, to be clear, the Mac does not boot at all, no matter which thunderbolt port I connect it to.

my main issue at the moment is not being able to boot the Mac.

Dang! So boot off usb drive or external storage as startup disk didn’t even work either? On all ports you can’t do that right?

 

[Hicksmat1976]

Dang! So boot off usb drive or external storage as startup disk didn’t even work either? On all ports you can’t do that right?

this is not going to work no, anything else?

 

[goldmac2006]

this is not going to work no, anything else?

Oh no, it sounds like the ports aren’t working at all!

It seems like the logic board might be the culprit. The ports may need replacement if they are needed based on diagnostic.

If neither port is working, you’ll need to take it to the Apple Store for a Genius to check it out. Even if you can’t boot it off a USB drive or superdrive, and trying different USB-C cables or adapters won’t help either. If your MacBook Pro can’t start up, that’s a bummer!

Boot macOS off external drive: https://support.apple.com/en-us/101578

 

[Fishrrman]

Hmmmm....

If you...
- remove all attached devices (all usb ports open)
and then
- press the power-on button
and then
- nothing happens at all? Mac won't even power on?
No startup chime, nothing...?

Does it behave the same when the power cable is plugged into the MagSafe port?

If so...
If it won't boot at all...
... then it's time to let Apple have a look at it.

IF they tell you it's the logic board, then you should weigh "the cost of repair" vis-a-vis "the cost of replacement"...

 

[goldmac2006]

Hmmmm....

If you...
- remove all attached devices (all usb ports open)
and then
- press the power-on button
and then
- nothing happens at all? Mac won't even power on?
No startup chime, nothing...?

Does it behave the same when the power cable is plugged into the MagSafe port?

If so...
If it won't boot at all...
... then it's time to let Apple have a look at it.

IF they tell you it's the logic board, then you should weigh "the cost of repair" vis-a-vis "the cost of replacement"...

👆🏻 I agree with you about this statement, OP should also check for a startup chime. No boot = no luck with startup.

FYI he has a Touch Bar 13 inch MacBook Pro 💻. These don’t have MagSafe.

 

[Hicksmat1976]

good news, my Mac is working.
how?
I did go to apple, and they took it apart and re-seated everything, checked all the components were working and healthy. I think it was to do with a MacOS update, and looking on reddit there's a few similar posts with my exact model of Mac.
Apple were going to try a revive, but I believe it didnt need that.

so moral of the story is, always try apple first, you have nothing to lose.

 

[goldmac2006]

good news, my Mac is working.
how?
I did go to apple, and they took it apart and re-seated everything, checked all the components were working and healthy. I think it was to do with a MacOS update, and looking on reddit there's a few similar posts with my exact model of Mac.
Apple were going to try a revive, but I believe it didnt need that.

so moral of the story is, always try apple first, you have nothing to lose.

Awesome, glad you got it sorted out! ✔️

When the Apple Genius checked your MacBook Pro with the diagnostic, did the Mac manage to boot up? What steps did they take before deciding to open it up and take a closer look at the parts and the logic board?

Did they reinstall macOS using macOS recovery, a USB boot, or Apple Configurator?

 

[Hicksmat1976]

Awesome, glad you got it sorted out! ✔️

When the Apple Genius checked your MacBook Pro with the diagnostic, did the Mac manage to boot up? What steps did they take before deciding to open it up and take a closer look at the parts and the logic board?

Did they reinstall macOS using macOS recovery, a USB boot, or Apple Configurator?

no it didnt boot until they took it apart and re-seated the battery etc.
then the did the diagnostics to test all the hardware, which came back fine
he initially thought he would do the revive stuff, but didnt need to in the end

I'm not sure how a MacOS update could have caused the issues, but apparently its known to according to Apple.

no wipe necessary etc, no replacement bits, no charge.

 

[goldmac2006]

no it didnt boot until they took it apart and re-seated the battery etc.
then the did the diagnostics to test all the hardware, which came back fine
he initially thought he would do the revive stuff, but didnt need to in the end

I'm not sure how a MacOS update could have caused the issues, but apparently its known to according to Apple.

no wipe necessary etc, no replacement bits, no charge.

Got it so he replaced the battery or reconnected it to do the diagnostic, which came back negative?

It’s sorta strange how a macOS update would have gotten corrupted and do something awry like that. Luckily the logic board is still functioning well.

 

[Fishrrman]

I actually had something similar happen to my 2021 MacBook Pro 14".

One day just wouldn't boot.
Nothing I could do (at home) would revive it.

I took it to the local Apple Store, and THEY got it revived (although they had to upgrade the OS from Monterey to Sonoma to get it going).

I recall reading later that something could go wrong during a software update if the user had a display setting called "pro motion" turned off. I think I had it off at the time the problems started.

It's been fine since.