Why Won’t My Dell Laptop Turn On?

Did you recently experience a black laptop screen that won’t turn on no matter what you try? It may lead you to think, why won’t my Dell laptop turn on. If you are here to learn why and solutions to this problem, be my guest.

There are two main problems that the users of Dell may face. First, the Dell laptop may not turn on, and second, the laptop may not boot up. Most users cannot differentiate between these two problems and consider them the same. But these are not the same!

The laptop doesn’t turn on, so it does not respond when you press its power button. While the laptop may not boot, it means that your laptop turns on and you see text on its screen, and it doesn’t start successfully. Although these are not the same problems, the result is the same, and your laptop is not working.

I have listed the reasons and solutions to help you encounter the situation. So let’s start!

Causes of a Dell Laptop Not Turning On

The following reasons behind the question of why won’t my dell laptop turn on:

• Battery or power supply issues
• Damaged internal hardware
• A virus or malware
• Corrupted system BIOS
• Corrupted Windows files

When you plug in your Dell laptop, it may not turn. The problem is in the power supply or the battery. While if the laptop turns on and shows some text instead of the home page, the problem is in the software or internal hardware. Both situations are frustrating and need your attention.

Fixes When a Dell Laptop Won’t Turn On

Here are some solutions that will help you to fix the problems.

Boot the Dell Laptop

If your Dell laptop is not turning on even you plug it in, then any attached device may short-circuit the motherboard. Because of this short circuit, the processor cannot detect the power signal from the power supply. If so, you can resolve this issue by booting the Dell laptop.

Here is the process to boot the Dell laptop:

• Unplug all connected devices such as USB, printers, mouse, keyboard, network cables, etc from your laptop.
• Unplug your laptop from the power source.
• Now press turn on your laptop by pressing the turn on the button and see if it will turn on. If not, then proceed with the process.
• Now connect your laptop to any external display and see if it works. If your laptop turns on with an external display, the problem is with your laptop’s display.
• Repair or replace the display according to the issue.
• If the problem persists, you may need to check your Dell laptop by attaching external devices like speakers, cables, or network cables to resolve the issue.
• You can check it by plugging the Ethernet Cable into your Dell laptop.
• Press Fn + Power button and see if your laptop turns on.

Check the Charger

Another reason your Dell laptop won’t turn on is the malfunctioning charger. It is possible that your charger cannot supply power to the laptop properly. Eventually, the battery ran out of power.

If so, you may need to use another charger and see if it resolves the issue. But you must check the power outlet or power source before checking the charger and your laptop. A faulty power outlet can also restrict your laptop from turning due to insufficient power to charge the charger.

You can check the malfunctioning of your charger by following the steps:

• Connect another charger to your laptop and wait for a few minutes.
• Now press the power button of your Dell laptop and turn it on. If the display is on, the problem is with your charger. Change it!
• If you don’t get a charger, you should check by replacing the power cord and see if this resolves the issue.
• You can check the power supply through your charger with a Multimeter if the other cable doesn’t work. Take power readings and compare them with the recommended values of OEM. If the problem is with the charger, replace it or check its hardware.

Check the Battery 

Sometimes the faulty battery can be the reason why won’t my dell laptop turn on. The solution is straightforward. If so, operate your laptop without a battery via a direct power source.

Unplug your laptop’s charger and remove the battery. You can remove the battery by unscrewing the screws if it is not detachable. For this, you may need to remove the back cover of your laptop to approach the battery and disconnect the cable connection from the motherboard.

After this, plug the charger into your laptop and connect it to the power source. Now press the power button and see if your Dell laptop has turned on.

If your laptop powers on, it’s time to replace the battery. However, sometimes overnight charging can resolve the issue; if not, your Dell laptop needs a new battery.

Discharge the Static Current on the Motherboard

If you try to power on your Dell laptop without a battery and it doesn’t work, it could be the motherboard’s static current. Due to the static current on the motherboard, the processor timer chip, which is responsible for providing power to the laptop and processor, cannot detect the power signals from the supply.

If so, you can discharge this static current on the motherboard and force your Dell laptop to start. For this, plug in the charger of your Dell laptop and then press and hold the power button of your laptop for about 60 minutes.

After a few minutes, release its power button and check if your Dell laptop gain power and turns on. If the issue is still there, press and hold the power button for a few seconds, up to 25 or 40, to check if it resolves the problem.

If it is not working, unplug the charger and remove the battery of your Dell laptop. Again, press and hold the power button for up to 60 seconds, then replug the charger without connecting the battery to your laptop.

After 60 seconds, release the power button, and a booting screen may show on your laptop. In this case, click on continue and start booting your laptop. However, if the problem persists, repeat the process and press the power button for a few seconds to resolve the issue.

Boot the Laptop by Removing the Back Cover screws

Sometimes the screw of the back cover starts to short-circuit your Dell laptop’s motherboard and doesn’t let it power on. You can resolve the issue by unscrewing the back cover if this is the reason. For this, you may need to do the following:

• Unplug the charger and remove the battery of your laptop.
• Then lose the screws with a screwdriver of your laptop’s back cover. But don’t remove the back cover and keep it in contact with your laptop.
• After this, press and hold the power button of your Dell laptop for about 25 to 45 seconds and plug in the charger back and on the power supply.
• Press the power button and check if your Dell laptop turns on.
• If the problem is there and your laptop doesn’t get power, set the battery back and try turning it on. Sometimes the laptop shows a booting screen.
• However, if your Dell laptop turns on after losing the screws, it is good to take it to a professional so that the expert can check the short circuit issue and resolve it to avoid further damage.

Clean the Internals of the Dell Laptop

With time dust and debris collect on the internal part of the laptop. The dust or debris may cause short-circuiting the laptop and won’t turn it on. Due to the short circuit, the timer chip of the motherboard cannot detect the power source and may not get the power signals from the power source. In this scenario, you may need to clean the internal parts of your Dell laptop to resolve the issue.

For this:

• Remove the back cover of your Dell laptop and blow the compressed air on the components but don’t do this too close. You can use compressed air or any air blower for this purpose.
• You can use a dry cloth and remove the dust from the laptop’s internal parts, such as HDD, DVD, RAM, etc.
• After removing the dust and debris, you may need to remove the corrosion if it is on the laptop components. For this, you can use rubbing alcohol. But be careful while doing this, and don’t damage the power circuit of your laptop.
• Finally, connect the back cover and tighten the screws in their place. Before closing, make sure that the alcohol dries out completely.
• Now press the power button of your Dell laptop and check if it resolves the issue, and your laptop turns on.

Laptop’s CMOS/BIOS Battery

Another reason is the boot failure because of the CMOS or BIOS battery. It is possible that the CMOS or BIOS battery is not working properly and cannot save non-volatile information. If it is a problem, you may need to replace or reset the CMOS or BIOS battery, which may help turn on your laptop.

For this, you may need to do the following:

• Unplug the charger and remove the battery of your Dell laptop.
• After this, remove your Dell laptop’s back cover and determine the CMOS battery.
• Once you locate the CMOS battery, then detach it from its compartment.
• Now press and hold the power button of your laptop for a minute.
• Plug in your laptop’s charger without resetting the CMOS battery. Check if it resolves the problem and your Dell laptop turns on.
• If it doesn’t solve the issue, you may need to set the CMOS or BIOS battery in its place. But make sure that you set the battery properly.
• After this, plug the charger back into your laptop and press the power button to turn it on.
• If the issue persists, disconnect the charger again, unhook the BIOS battery, and keep your laptop aside for up to an hour.
• After an hour, assemble its parts and power on your laptop to check if it resolves the problem.
• If the above steps don’t work and your Dell laptop won’t turn on, you may need to replace the BIOS or CMOS battery to resolve the issue.

Reseat the Internal Components

Your Dell laptop cannot turn on because of the internal components. If the internal components like RAM, graphic card, hard drive, etc., are not in their place, they may restrict the power supply, and as a result, your laptop will not turn on.

It is also possible that these internal components are malfunctioning. If so, you may need to reset or replace them to solve the problem.

To check the issue, follow the below steps:

• Unplug the charger and remove the battery of your laptop.
• Remove the back cover to approach the internal components.
• Then seat these internal peripherals and connect the back cover of your laptop.
• After this, plug in the charger and press the power button to turn on your laptop.
• Remove the back cover and detach the RAM sticks from your laptop if it won’t work.
• Put the RAM sticks in their place and then reassemble your Dell laptop.
• Now press the power button and turn it on to check if it resolves the issue.
• If the problem is still there, repeat the process for each RAM stick and find a faulty one.
• If it doesn’t resolve the issue, you may need to find any damage to your laptop’s internal components.
• If you notice any damage, take your laptop to a professional, and replace the component to resolve the problem.

Final Verdict: Why Dell Laptop Can’t Turn On

I hope you now know why won’t your Dell laptop turn on. All of the above solutions will help you to resolve the issue no matter which model of Dell laptop you have. Don’t become panic about the malfunctioning as they are quite normal, and with time it may happen to everyone.

There is only a need to get the root cause and take steps accordingly. So check the issue closely and try to find the solution; otherwise, you can consult any professional. Best of luck!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I force my Dell laptop to turn on?

Press and hold the power button of your Dell laptop for about 15 to 20 seconds. It will help you to drain the residual power. Check the power connections, battery, and power cable of your laptop. If your laptop is powered on but cannot boot into Windows, then you may need to find the root cause and follow troubleshooting accordingly.

How do I wake up my Dell laptop?

Press any key from the keyboard or move the mouse to wake your Dell laptop from sleep or standby mode. However, if it does not work, you may need to press the power button to wake up your Dell laptop.

Can I turn on my Dell laptop without a power button?

Yes, you can turn on your Dell laptop without a power button. For this, you may need to use an external keyboard for Windows. Another way to turn on your Dell laptop without a power button is by enabling the wake-on-LAN for Windows.