1. MacBook Not Powering On
Symptoms: No chime, no keyboard backlight, black screen, fans not spinning.
Steps to Resolve:
Check the Power Source
Ensure the power adapter is properly connected to both the wall outlet and the MacBook.
Try a different wall outlet or a known-good charger and USB-C cable.
Inspect for any damage to the charging cable or USB-C port (e.g., bent pins or debris).
Perform a Power Cycle
Press and hold the Power button (Touch ID button) for 10 seconds, then release.
Wait a few seconds and press the power button again.
This may force the Mac to reset and boot.
Reset the SMC (System Management Controller)
SMC controls low-level hardware functions like power and thermal management.
How to reset (for T2 chip models):
Shut down the Mac.
Press and hold Control + Option (Alt) + Shift (all on the left side) and the Power button at the same time.
Hold all four keys for 10 seconds, then release.
Wait a few seconds and press the power button again to turn it on.
Reset the NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random-Access Memory)
NVRAM stores certain settings like display resolution and startup disk.
Shut down the Mac, then turn it on and immediately hold:
Command (⌘) + Option + P + R
Keep holding for about 20 seconds. You may hear the startup chime twice.
Release and allow the Mac to boot normally.
2. Battery Not Charging
Symptoms: Battery icon shows "Not Charging" or won’t go above a certain percentage.
Steps to Resolve:
Verify the Charger and Port
Use an Apple-certified USB-C power adapter and cable.
Plug into different USB-C ports to rule out port failure.
Clean the ports with a soft brush or air duster to remove lint/dust.
Inspect Battery Health
Go to Apple Menu > About This Mac > System Report > Power.
Check the Cycle Count (under 1000 is normal) and Condition ("Normal" is healthy).
If the condition shows “Service Recommended”, the battery may need replacement.
Reset the SMC
Follow the same SMC steps in section 1 above to reset power delivery functions.
Cool Down the Mac
Charging is paused if the MacBook gets too hot. Allow it to cool and then try again.
3. Overheating or Loud Fans
Symptoms: Fans constantly running at high speed, hot chassis, lag during use.
Steps to Resolve:
Check for Resource-Heavy Processes
Open Activity Monitor (from Spotlight or Applications > Utilities).
Click the CPU tab and sort by “% CPU.”
Quit any processes using excessive CPU (e.g., Chrome helper or rogue apps).
Close Unused Applications and Tabs
Free up system resources by quitting unnecessary apps and browser tabs.
Update macOS and All Apps
Outdated software can cause instability and overheating.
Go to System Settings > General > Software Update.
Reset SMC
Helps recalibrate the fan control system (see section 1).
Ventilation Check
Ensure your Mac is on a hard, flat surface and not covered by blankets or fabric.
Clean air vents (usually located along the rear or sides) with compressed air.
4. Slow Performance or Freezing
Symptoms: Apps load slowly, spinning beachball, system lags or freezes.
Steps to Resolve:
Restart the Mac
Sometimes a clean reboot clears memory issues and rogue processes.
Free Up Disk Space
Go to Apple Menu > About This Mac > Storage.
Delete unused files, empty trash, and offload large files to iCloud or external drives.
Keep at least 10-20% free disk space for optimal performance.
Manage Login Items
Go to System Settings > General > Login Items and remove unnecessary apps from starting automatically.
Run Disk Utility
Open Disk Utility > Select your main drive > Click First Aid to repair disk permissions and file structure.
Safe Mode Boot
Restart and hold Shift until the Apple logo appears.
This disables third-party extensions and runs diagnostics.
Reset NVRAM and SMC
See instructions above to clear any residual settings issues.
5. Display Issues (Black Screen, Flickering, Distortion)
Steps to Resolve:
Check Brightness and External Displays
Adjust brightness with the keyboard or Touch Bar.
If using an external monitor, verify it’s connected and powered on.
NVRAM Reset
Clears display and resolution settings. Use Command + Option + P + R on boot.
Safe Mode Boot
Boots with minimal drivers and disables any problematic extensions. Hold Shift during startup.
External Display Test
Connect to an external display using a USB-C to HDMI/DisplayPort adapter.
If external display works but the internal doesn’t, the internal display may be faulty.
6. Wi-Fi or Internet Connectivity Issues
Symptoms: Slow or dropped Wi-Fi, can't connect to known networks.
Steps to Resolve:
Restart Router and Mac
Power cycle both to reset the network connection.
Forget and Reconnect to Network
Go to System Settings > Wi-Fi > [Network Name] > Forget This Network, then reconnect and re-enter the password.
Renew DHCP Lease
Go to System Settings > Network > Wi-Fi > Details > TCP/IP tab > Renew Lease.
Create a New Network Location
Go to System Settings > Network > Locations > Edit Locations, add a new location, and connect again.
Check DNS Settings
Under Wi-Fi > Details > DNS, try adding 8.8.8.8 and 1.1.1.1 as DNS servers.
7. Bluetooth Not Working or Devices Not Connecting
Symptoms: Can’t pair devices, laggy connections, devices disconnecting randomly.
Steps to Resolve:
Toggle Bluetooth Off and On
Go to System Settings > Bluetooth, turn it off for 10 seconds, then turn it back on.
Forget and Re-Pair the Device
Remove the device and re-add it from the Bluetooth settings.
Reset NVRAM and SMC
These resets help reinitialize Bluetooth hardware.
Remove .plist Files (Advanced)
Open Finder and go to ~/Library/Preferences/ByHost/
Delete files starting with com.apple.Bluetooth
Restart your Mac and re-pair devices.