How To Fix Your Chromebook If It Won’t Turn On

More users are reporting that their Chromebooks are not turning on or the screen stays black. For some the problem comes and goes but for others their machine just stays off all the time. If your Chromebook doesn’t turn on there is a few different problems that can be the cause.

This article will go through all the possible causes. I’ve arranged them in order from simplest to fix to most complex so that you can go through them one by one until your Chromebook turns on again.

So just try each fix and stop when your Chromebook turns on! Cheers!

Fix #1: Connect Your Chromebook To Power

Let’s start with a very simple solution that worked for one of my customers at my computer shop. Simply take your Chromebook, plug it into the wall power outlet, and try to turn it on.

If that doesn’t work no worries move onto Fix #2.

Fix #2: Power-Cycle Your Chromebook

  1. Unplug your Chromebook from power.
  2. Remove the battery is that is possible on your model of Chromebook (it isn’t on most Chromebooks)
  3. Press and Hold the power button for one whole minute.

Now try to turn on your Chromebook.

Fix #3: EC Reset Your Chromebook

Fix #4: Let Your Chromebook Charge For A Few Hours

If the Chromebook is very low on charge it may just need to charge. Let it sit plugged in and charging for around four hours. I suggest leaving it plugged in over night.

Try turning it on in the morning.

Fix #5: Disconnect Battery And Power-Cycle (Advanced)

Most Chromebook machines have a built in battery that is sealed inside. However most of the batteries are not that difficult to reach if you have a screwdriver and are careful.

Look up a disassembly video for your chromebook model on youtube and watch it to see where the battery is located.

  1. Unplug your chromebook.
  2. Open your chromebook to get to the battery.
  3. Disconnect the battery cable.
  4. Carefully move the chromebook so that you can reach the power button. Press and Hold the power button for one minute.
  5. Re-connect the battery cable. Make sure the connection is secure.
  6. Close up your chromebook. Plug it in.

Try turning it on now.

132 thoughts on “How To Fix Your Chromebook If It Won’t Turn On

  1. I have a Lenovo Yoga Chromebook. The battery died overnight, so I tried charging it, but it wouldn’t turn on. Although I can not remove the battery, I did hold down the power button for a minute, and it turned back on! Thank you!

  2. I have a silver Samsung Chromebook. The blue light turns on on MY CHARGER when trying to charge && turn on, but NOT on my CHROMEBOOK. The light won’t come on AT ALL!!! It doesn’t do anything! Tried doing a hard reset but that didn’t work, either! Please help!!!

  3. I have an ASUS that froze and the screen was black. I unplugged it from the power cord and held the power button for one full minute as described above. It worked!

  4. My daughter’s HP Chromebook was charged (solid blue light) but the screen was dark. I tried holding the power button for one full minute — did not work; I tried pushing the power button and refresh button at the same time for 10 seconds — did not work; then I unplugged it, took the back off, wiggled out the battery connector, wiggled it back in, screwed the back on again, pressed the power button and it worked!! Thank you so much for posting these suggestions and step by step instructions for the reset.

  5. I have just replaced he screen on my asus c300. when i tried to restart, i get nothing no green light even when charging. The unit was running when I powered it down to replace the screen. I have tried all of the key commands and tried disconnecting the battery and dumping the static charge/ build up still nothing!

    I have re imaged this unit in the past because of a black screen, but that had the green led showing power and charging. Now I have nothing

  6. My chrome book is ThinkPad I tried holding the power button for 1 minute and it didn’t work and I don’t know if my chrome book has a battery :C

  7. I dropped my HP Chromebook. It took a pretty hard hit. It is charging, at least the light is on by the charger port. But it will not turn on. Did I kill it? Is it worth repairing?

  8. I have a acer chrome book,it won’t turn on so I held down power for 1 minute and it worked.Now it as happened again,I held down refresh and power for 10 sec then power 1 minute,the battery light went out but still won’t switch on it’s so annoying can anyone help please marie

  9. my chrome book is n22 and it wont turno on when i charge it the light blinks and it wont turn on I did everything it says but nothing happens

  10. my chrome book is n22 and it wont turno on when i charge it the light blinks and it wont turn on I did everything it says but nothing happens if you kow how to fix it please answer.

  11. Oh my…. It worked! My chromebook wouldn’t turn on or charge for six days. I read this article and all I had to do was hold the power button for a minute then press the power button and it turned on! i’m going to recommend this article to my friends.

  12. #3 worked after i tried #2 because i knew i had a full battery charge when it froze and wouldn’t turn back on. Thanks for the help!!!

  13. I have the Acer Chromebook 15.
    The one-minute power button worked for me. Whew!!!

    And thanks for the 100th time.

  14. After trying everything, my acer cb5-571 wont turn on. It was left off and unplugged for 3 months. Any help is appreciated.

  15. I have an Acer c720 Chromebook that I picked up super cheap. I can usually solve most problems. So far no go on this battery issue. When I first started at least it saw the battery and it was stuck on 1% with the blue light on indicating full charge. I believe I tried all of the reset combinations and nothing worked. So I disconnected the battery and now the unit doesn’t see the battery at all. BTW, When the battery was disconnected I fired it up and the amber charging light would come on. As soon as the battery was back in only the fully charged blue light would display.
    A couple of times when I did the reset button power button for 10 seconds that charging light would briefly turn amber and immediately go to blue.
    Any other ideas?

  16. I just bought a Google Chromebook HP in November of 2019 and now I cannot get the power on at all I’ve tried every solution that was recommended and no help

  17. It is charging, at least the light is on by the charger port. But it will not turn on.

  18. Nothing is working im trying to turn it one and it wont work and i think it is the newest modl or is one of them becuase there isnt google play and i hear it on but its just a black screen.

  19. This site helped me diagnose my granddaughter’s chrome book. Thank you.

  20. I tried the plugin in and holding the button and it worked thanks for the advice

  21. My chromebook wouldn’t turn on, so I held down power button until power light went out, pressed power again and it worked!

  22. I need help I have a Lenovo chrome book and I turned over with it placed it on the ground and it shut off, it was on charge and now the light won’t go on

  23. I have a chromebook 15 I had it plugged in and i also had and external hard drive plugged in which had it’s own power source. The screen went blank it shut off and hasn’t worked since. Please help

  24. I have a Hisense chrome book that will not turn on. It charges and has sat on the charger. When you press the power button the light comes on but when you let go of the power button it goes off. I have tried battery cycling, and hard reset. Please help!

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