What to Do When Your Chromebook Won’t Turn On

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Technology sometimes seems to exist to help us and torment us at the same time. Especially when your Chromebook won’t turn on and the charging light just blinks repeatedly. If this scenario makes you break out in a cold sweat, read on.

This article looks at the reasons your Chromebook is not responding and what you can do to resolve the issue. Follow our step-by-step troubleshooting guide to fix your Chromebook.

Why Is My Chromebook Not Turning On?

There are several reasons your Chromebook might be on the blink despite efforts to resurrect it. Some common problems are:

Problems With the Battery Charger

The first thing to look at when your Chromebook fails to start is to make sure that it is actually charging from the AC. The LED charging light near the charging port should be on.

Issues With Internal Hardware

Hardware problems can include insufficient memory, CPU malfunction or even glitches with the display, sound card, screen recording from the Chromebook touchscreen, or in-house cameras.

Corrupt Chrome Operating System

If your Chromebook won’t power on due to unknown or unresolved system errors, it can be very frustrating. The OS may be missing or damaged, causing slow performance and forcing your Chromebook to crash. Additionally, there could be update errors on the latest version of the OS downloaded.

Opt to use a reputable antivirus designed for Chromebook to guard against possible viruses or malware on your device.

External Hardware Interference

Your Chromebook’s problem may be caused by faulty USB port cables, external drives, or other hardware connected to your Chromebook.

Overheating

An overheated unit may have crashed to self-preserve. Be sure not to leave your Chromebook in direct sunlight or near open heat sources.

Chromebook Won’t Turn On, What Should I Do?

Once certain that your Chromebook is not responding, there are a few steps to follow:

1. Check the Battery Charger

If the LED charging light is on, but your Chromebook is still dead, try with a different battery charger. Leave the Chromebook to charge for about 3.5 hours before checking again.

Alternatively, charge your Chromebook on a car battery charger or via the USB-C port. Activate this setting by selecting the USB-C device tab in your Power/Power Source menu.

NOTE: Check the condition of your internal Chromebook battery as it’s another possible cause of your Chromebook not turning on. Make sure that the power outlet is functional and the cords are plugged in properly before attempting any intervention.

2. Restart It

Once battery charger issues have been eliminated as a possible cause for your troubles, doing a hard restart is your next step.

  • Turn off the Chromebook
  • Hold down the Refresh key and tap the power button simultaneously to attempt a restart
  • When the Chromebook power comes on, release the Refresh tab

If you experience other system errors or get Operating Systems Not Found notifications when your Chromebook won’t start, these can be dealt with in a similar way.

DID YOU KNOW: Some Chromebook models require a specific reset protocol. Contact the manufacturer to be sure of the procedure.

3. Disconnect All the Connected USB Devices

To rule out interference from connected devices causing start-up issues, simply unplug everything from the USB ports. This includes removable USB drives and devices connected via HDMI cables. Then try to restart the laptop once again.

4. Log in With a Different User Account to Chrome OS

At times, your Chromebook won’t turn on or charge because it is at odds with your Google Account sync settings. If this is the case, log out from your user account. Then, either create a new account or log in as a guest user.

  • Under Settings, select the Security and Privacy option
  • Select Manage Other People
  • Enable Guest Browsing

5. Remove Apps from Google Chrome

The next thing to try is to remove all apps and extensions you have recently updated from Google Chrome if you suspect these to be the probable cause of your Chromebook not starting. To do so:

  • Close all apps and any open browser tabs
  • Hard refresh specific pages if they freeze or cause the computer to slow down
  • Do this by pressing Ctrl + Shift + R
  • If you can determine that recent updates or installed extensions are the reason for your problem, uninstalling them may be the solution

6. Update Chrome OS

Running your Chromebook on the latest version of its OS is very important. So, if for the umpteenth time, your Chromebook will not power on and you know the OS to be outdated, update Chrome OS.

You can set the updates to automatically keep abreast of glitch fixes and new features. Restart your Chromebook once the updates have been completed.

7. Reset the Device to Its Default Settings

If after trying the above you are still faced with a Chromebook black screen, doing a powerwash is the next option:

  • Turn off the Chromebook
  • Press and hold Shift + Ctrl + Alt + R
  • Restart
  • Select Powerwash and Continue
  • Check Update Firmware
  • Wait for prompts to recover your Chromebook
DID YOU KNOW: Local files and settings can be irretrievably lost when you execute a powerwash. Back up your Downloads folder as well as the settings and passwords associated with your Google Accounts to be restored at a later time. Use an external hard drive or your personal Google Drive to do this.

8. Replace the Internal Battery

Replacing a Chromebook battery because your Chromebook will not turn on, is a job for the experts who not only know how to do all the necessary tasks on a Chromebook but also understand why you are having these issues.

If you are knowledgeable in this matter, you can continue to replace the faulty battery yourself. If not, contact an experienced consultant to do so. This option also ensures that your Chromebook warranty stays intact.

9. Contact the Manufacturer

If you are still having problems with your Chromebook after attempting all the suggested how-to-fix solutions, contacting the manufacturer is the last option. This should be no problem, provided that the warranty on your Chromebook which doesn’t turn on is active. Simply contact your customer service representative for more information.

10. Service Your Chromebook

Prevention is better than cure. Although Chromebooks do not need regular servicing per se, a quick clean and tune-up can be very beneficial. Here’s how to clean your laptop:

  • Uninstall unused and unnecessary apps and extensions on your computer
  • Update extension permissions
  • Update Linux/Android add-ons
  • Optimize shortcuts to save you time
  • Maintain cloud storage

Key Takeaways

Power problems on your Chromebook can be the reason it’s crashed over and over again.
To restart, hold down the Refresh key and tap the power button.
Disconnect all external USB devices that could be causing interference.
Create a new account or log in as a guest.
Remove apps and extensions and update your Chrome OS.

Conclusion

If you’re asking yourself, why won’t my Chromebook turn on, don’t despair? Check the battery chargers, power buttons, and cords for obvious malfunction. If unsuccessful, assess the state of your OS and consider possible hardware interference. Next, remove Google Chrome extensions and update Chrome OS.

As a last resort, clear out the cache and reset to default settings with a powerwash.

If the black screen persists, contact the manufacturer for repair solutions.

FAQ

How Do You Fix a Chromebook That Won’t Turn On?

To check an unresponsive Chromebook, first make sure that it is charging and the battery chargers are OK. Do a hard restart, disconnecting all the devices from the USB ports. Optionally, sign in as a different user, remove Google Chrome apps and extensions and update the OS. Lastly, powerwash your Chromebook or contact the manufacturer.

Why Won’t My Chromebook Turn On Even Though It’s Charged?

There are many reasons your Chromebook may refuse to turn on. A power issue is only one possibility. Check that you do not have any malfunctioning hardware or interference from USB devices connected to your Chromebook.

Outdated or corrupt operating systems or an overheated device can also be the reason your Chromebook won’t turn on.

How Do You Force Start a Chromebook?

To force start your Chromebook, follow these simple steps:

  1. Press and hold the Refresh button on your Chromebook.
  2. Simultaneously tap the power button.
  3. When the Chromebook responds, release the Refresh button.

Chromebook tablets require that you hold Volume Up and the Power button together for about ten seconds to restart.

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