Table Of Contents:
Top 10 Reasons Why MacBook Screen Goes Black and Unresponsive
1. Restart Or Shut Down Your MacBook
8. System Management Controller Settings
Are you having trouble working on your MacBook lately? Is the problem related to your MacBook screen? If your MacBook screen goes black but still running, you’re not the only one witnessing this problem. However, you don’t need to worry at all.
In this article, we’ll tell you how you can fix this problem with your MacBook. Let’s begin by understanding why this problem arises in the first place.
Top 10 Reasons Why MacBook Pro/Air Screen Goes Black After a Few Minutes:
There are multiple reasons why your MacBook screen goes black randomly. First of all, let me tell you that it’s not a big deal. So, you need to relax. Secondly, there are ways to solve this problem. Therefore, read this article in its entirety.
All these reasons are software or hardware related issues. Sometimes it’s the battery of your MacBook that creates this problem. Sometimes it’s a particular software that turns off the screen of your MacBook.
So, there’s no specific reason why the MacBook screen goes black and unresponsive. Let’s take a look at all these issues one by one.
1. Battery:
If the battery of a MacBook runs down, its screen goes black. You should definitely try connecting your MacBook to its charger. You might think that this is an illogical reason, but that’s not true. 7 out of 10 times, it’s the battery issue. So, you should always keep an eye on the battery percentage of your MacBook while working on it.
2. Overheating:
Overheating is another big issue that we often play down. However, it’s one of the big reasons why a MacBook screen goes black. Overheating is a critical issue that can damage your MacBook in a trice. So, you should restart your MacBook from time to time. You can try these fixes to overcome MacBook overheating issue.
3. Software:
Have you ever installed third-party software on your MacBook? Well, this can be an issue. Typically, what happens is that third-party programs come with a series of bugs and glitches. These bugs and glitches can end up turning off the screen of your MacBook.
4. Update:
Sometimes an update on your MacBook can turn its screen off. There are chances that you might have started experiencing this problem after you’ve installed an update. Some compatibility issues might turn your MacBook’s screen off.
5. Display:
If your MacBook screen goes black after a few minutes, it might be a display issue. You need to check whether your MacBook boots up fine or not. If you can’t hear the bootup sound and see the screen on your MacBook, the issue is with the display.
6. Hardware:
A malfunction within the hardware of your MacBook might cause its display to turn off. Sometimes hardware failures related to the RAM of the MacBook are the reasons behind its screen going black.
7. Login Items:
There are certain applications that start working the moment you log in on your MacBook. These login items might be putting too much pressure on the operating system. Therefore, you can try turning them off.
8. Disk Permissions:
Disk permissions secure our files on MacBook. However, incorrect disk permissions can be a reason for its screen going black. Inaccurate authorizations can make your MacBook function slow and turn its screen off every now and then.
9. Lag:
When we try to wake our MacBook screen from sleep, it takes a couple of seconds. However, if your MacBook is taking more than a couple of seconds to wake from sleep, this might be the issue.
10. Display Settings:
Sometimes a slight change in the display settings of your MacBook can also be a reason for turning its screen off.
14 Ways To Fix MacBook Screen Goes Black But Still Running
Now that you know the reasons behind your MacBook screen going black and unresponsive, it’s time to fix the issue. There are 14 ways to fix this issue. So, without further ado, let’s learn about these 14 ways to fix this problem with your MacBook screen.
1. Restart Or Shut Down Your MacBook
The first and foremost way of fixing the problem is by turning off or restarting your MacBook. Turning off or restarting the MacBook every now and then can come in handy. Just like us, humans, machines need rest too.
Therefore, you can try turning off or restarting your device. In order to do so, you need to click on the Apple logo at the top left corner of the screen. After that, you need to hit restart or shutdown to resolve the problem.
2. Check The Brightness
There are chances that you or your cat might have lowered the brightness on your MacBook. Therefore, you should take a quick look at the brightness level of your screen. Sometimes our furry friends can create some problems. However, that shouldn’t dissuade us from loving them.
3. Safe Mode
Booting in safe mode is the best way to solve the MacBook screen goes black but still running issue. In the safe mode, your MacBook runs only the essential processes and drivers.
It completely ignores other processes or apps. You need to boot your MacBook in safe mode to resolve the problem. In order to do so, follow the below-given steps:
- Turn on your MacBook by hitting the power button.
- As soon as you’ve hit the power button, press and hold the shift key until you can see the login screen.
- After your MacBook completes booting in safe mode, restart it and check whether the issue is resolved.
4. Force Shutdown
If a technical glitch has caused this problem to your MacBook, you should try the force shutdown. A forced shutdown can overpower most of the technical glitches related to your MacBook. Therefore, you can try this method if the screen of your MacBook has gone black. Follow the below-given steps:
- Press and hold the power button till it turns off.
- Start the MacBook again and see if the problem has been solved.
5. NVRAM/PRAM
Most of the display-related issues on MacBooks can be resolved by resetting the PRAM and NVRAM. It is one of those typical troubleshooting procedures that can solve many problems. In order to resolve the display-related problem by resetting the PRAM and NVRAM, follow these steps:
- Close all applications and shutdown your MacBook.
- Press the power button to turn the MacBook on.
- Right after pressing the power button, hit and hold down the Option + Command + P + R keys.
- Release the keys after you’ve heard the starting sound twice.
- This should restart your MacBook and resolve the problem related to its display.
6. Unplug Accessories
If your MacBook screen goes black after a few minutes, it can be because of the accessories connected to your MacBook. Therefore, you should try unplugging all the accessories. You should unplug all the accessories other than the charging cable and adapter.
7. The Special Key Sequence
This doesn’t come from Apple. However, many people have found this method of resolving display-related issues with their MacBooks helpful. In order to perform this method, press the power button. Right after you’ve pressed the power button, hold the “S” key of your MacBook to perform a power shutdown.
Once the MacBook turns off, wait for at least 15 seconds and then turn it on. We have no idea who came up with this method, but it works like nothing else does.
8. System Management Controller Settings
Resetting the SMC or System Management Controller settings can help you if your MacBook screen goes black but still running. The System Management Controller is a subsystem of your MacBook that controls everything from its temperature and keyboard to display and fans.
Therefore, there are chances that resetting the System Management Controller settings can resolve the display-related problem on your MacBook. To reset the SMC settings, follow the below-given steps:
- Turn off your MacBook and unplug it.
- After waiting for 15 seconds, plug in the charger but don’t turn the MacBook on.
- Hold the power button with the Shift + Option + Control keys.
- Release all the keys together after your MacBook starts booting up.
- This should reset the System Management Controller settings on your MacBook and solve the display-related problem.
9. Repair Disk Permissions
An unresponsive MacBook screen might mean that you have a problem with your disk permissions. Therefore, you need to repair your disk permissions. Wrong disk authorizations can often lead to various system issues.
So, it’s better to repair disk permissions before they create an even bigger problem than a black screen. Follow the steps to repair disk permissions:
- Click on the search bar located on the top right side of your screen.
- Search for “Disk Utility” and click on it.
- Click on the “First Aid” option.
- It will ask you whether you want to “Run First Aid On” your selected drive.
- Click “Run” to continue.
10. Delete Third-Party Apps
Because third-party applications can cause such problems to occur on MacBook, you should refrain from installing third-party applications.
You should check various applications on your MacBook and delete unwanted ones. If you’ve installed third-party applications on your MacBook, you should uninstall them right away.
11. Apple Community
On the Apple Community, you can find answers to a lot of queries. People keep on posting crucial information or solutions on the Apple Community.
So, if your MacBook screen goes black after a few minutes, try searching for the answer to this problem on the Apple Community. Somebody like you might have gone through this problem, and he/she might have posted its solution on the Apple Community. So, you should give it a try.
12. Apple Diagnostics
Formerly known as Apple Hardware Test, Apple Diagnostics is your go-to option if you’re experiencing hardware-related issues on your MacBook. It can fix the MacBook’s black screen of death issue very easily.
Diagnostics determines which hardware component of your MacBook is having a problem or at risk. Moreover, because this thing comes from Apple, you can pretty much trust it. To run Apple Diagnostics, follow these steps:
- Shut down your MacBook.
- Press the power button. Right after pressing the power button, press and hold the “D” key.
- You should press and hold the “D” key until you enter Apple Diagnostics.
- Follow the instructions as shown on the screen to continue.
13. Reinstall macOS
Reinstall the MacOS on your device if you’re still facing the display-related issue. Sometimes when you’re left with no other option, you should try reinstalling the MacOS on your device.
However, you should know that reinstalling the MacOS erases all your data. Therefore, you need to back up before reinstalling the MacOS. Follow the steps to reinstall the MacOS:
- Shut down your MacBook.
- Press the power button to turn it on. Immediately after pressing the power button, press and hold the Command + R keys until you see the Apple logo.
- This will open the Utilities window. From the Utilities window, select “Reinstall MacOS” and follow the on-screen steps.
14. Apple Support
If you’re unable to resolve the “MacBook screen goes black but still running” issue even after reinstalling the MacOS, you need to contact Apple Support. Apple Support can provide you with the relevant information and assistance regarding resolving this problem. Therefore, it’s best that you take help from Apple Support.
Conclusion
There are so many reasons why your MacBook screen goes black after a few minutes. From software and hardware issues to overheating and disk permission, anything can cause your MacBook’s screen to go black.
This display-related issue in MacBooks is not something that you should belittle at any cost. However, it’s not also too complex to be considered critical. Still, you need to make sure that you have a proper solution for this problem.
Many people have witnessed this problem with their MacBooks and aren’t sure what to do with it. However, now that you know the 14 ways to fix this problem, you can share these with your friends or family who have this problem with their MacBooks. For more informational content and technical assistance, keep on visiting our website.
Priyanka is a tech enthusiast who likes to write about different kinds of topics in the tech industry. She has expertise in writing problem-solving guides related to Mac computers. You can find her on LinkedIn.