8 Things To Do When Lenovo ThinkPad Won’t Turn On

Lenovo ThinkPad is a well-known laptop brand that offers great features. However, there may be times when it refuses to turn on, showing only a black screen.

To fix the issue, firmly attach the power adapter and the power cable, check that the power cable isn’t loose/damaged/burnt, try using a different wall outlet. Make sure to only use an original Lenovo charging cable and adapter. Reset your laptop.

1. Unplug the power cord and any connected devices.
2. Find a paper clip.
3. Locate the Emergency Reset Hole on your laptop.
4. Press and hold the Reset Hole for about 10 seconds with the paper clip.
5. Power your laptop back on.

If you’re experiencing this issue, don’t worry – we’ll show you how to fix it! In this blog post, we’ll discuss the possible causes of the problem and provide some solutions. Keep reading to find out more.

Why Won’t Lenovo ThinkPad Turn On?

There are several reasons why your Lenovo ThinkPad might not turn on. Here are some of the most common ones:

1. The battery may be drained or faulty. If the battery is dead, your laptop will not turn on. Try charging it for a while and see if that fixes the problem.
2. The power adapter may be faulty. If you’re using a power adapter that’s not compatible with your laptop, it could cause the machine to not turn on. Try using a different adapter to see if that fixes the issue.
3. There may be a problem with the motherboard or other internal hardware components. If there’s something wrong with the motherboard, the laptop will not turn on no matter what you try. In this case, you’ll need to take it to a professional for repairs.
4. There might be a software/hardware issue with your laptop. The easiest way to fix that is to reset your laptop using a special reset hole. We will give you detailed instructions on how to do that in the next section.
5. Your laptop might be overheating. If it feels too hot, that’s probably the issue that is preventing it from functioning normally.

What to Do When Lenovo ThinkPad Won’t Turn On?

If your Lenovo ThinkPad doesn’t turn on, there are a few things you can try. Here are some steps you can take:

1. Reset your Laptop

Sometimes there may be a software or hardware issue that prevents your laptop from starting up. A reset usually fixes that.

To do this, press and hold the Power button for about 30 seconds until the laptop turns off. Then, press it again to turn it back on. This will force restart your laptop.

If that helped, great, if it didn’t, let’s reset your laptop using the reset hole.

1. Remove the battery and disconnect the AC adapter from the laptop.
2. Disconnect all other devices connected to the laptop.
3. Turn the laptop upside down and look for the emergency reset hole. It is a small hole, usually on the backside.
4. Using a needle, press the button.
5. Turn the laptop around and power it on. 

Tip: If your laptop doesn’t have a dedicated reset button, substitute this step for pressing and holding the power button on your laptop for 60 seconds.

This will almost certainly fix your issue.

2. Use a Different Power Adapter/Cable

If you’re using a power adapter that’s not compatible with your laptop, that could be the reason it won’t turn on. Try using a different adapter to see if that fixes the problem.

You can also test whether your AC cable is providing your laptop with enough power by doing the following:

1. Plug the AC cable into the port of your laptop.
2. Locate the power status indicator light(next to the AC cable).
3. If it is on, it means your cable is working. If not, check the power outlet and the power adapter.

Here is how to check if your charger is faulty:

1. Take out the laptop’s battery if possible.
2. Remove any plugs connected to the laptop, that includes USB, AC adapter, and so on.
3. Hold down the Power button for about 30 seconds.
4. Plug in your battery only. (leave the charger out).
5. Try to turn on your laptop.
6. If your computer turns on, it means you have a faulty charger.

Tip: Try using a different wall outlet. Make sure to only use an original Lenovo charging cable and adapter. Firmly attach the power adapter and the power cable. Check that the power cable isn’t loose.

3. Check the Laptop’s Battery

Let’s see if the battery of the laptop is the culprit by following the steps below:

1. Take out the laptop’s battery if possible.
2. Remove any plugs connected to the laptop, that includes USB, AC adapter, and so on.
3. Hold down the Power button for about 30 seconds.
4. Plug in your charger only. (leave the battery out).
5. Try to turn on your laptop.
6. If your computer turns on, it means you have a faulty battery.

The only solution is to have the battery serviced or replaced. When you perform this test, make sure that you charge the battery beforehand.

4. Inspect your Laptop’s Cables

Make sure all the cables are connected properly and aren’t loose. If they are, reconnect them and try turning on the laptop again.

It is a good idea to also check if there is any dust or dirt on the cables that might be preventing them from functioning normally and causing your laptop not to turn on.

If the cables look burnt, it’s a sign that the cable needs changing.

5. Check for Overheating

If your laptop shuts off by itself, won’t turn on, and feels hot, it is most likely due to overheating.

In such case, you should do the following:

1. Set your laptop aside, make sure it is not in direct sunlight.
2. Don’t try to turn it on, let it cool down for an hour.
3. If the laptop has a removable battery, remove it.
4. After an hour, put the battery back in (if you’ve taken it out) and turn the laptop on. 

The laptop should turn on. To prevent overheating in the future, make sure the laptop vents properly, and you don’t cover the vents while the laptop is in use.

6. Use the Recovery Mode

This method is similar to the previous ones we have talked about and can help if the reset didn’t work for you for some reason.

Some Lenovo laptops, like mine, have a pinhole button on the side called NOVO next to the AC cable which can help you access the recovery mode.

If you can power on your laptop using this button, it means that you are having some issues with the power button itself and need to contact Lenovo customer support for further assistance.

7. Reset the BIOS

If you’re still having problems turning on your laptop, the last thing you can try is resetting the BIOS. This will erase all your personal data so make sure you have a backup before proceeding.

To do this, you need to enter the BIOS setup. The way to do this varies from laptop to laptop, but usually it can be done by pressing one of the function keys (F1, F2, F3, etc.) right when you turn on your laptop.

Once in the BIOS setup, find the “Reset to factory defaults” or “Restore to default” option and follow the on-screen instructions.

Once you’ve reset the BIOS, try turning on your laptop again.

If that didn’t work, you can also reinstall your OS if you can get your laptop to stay on long enough to do that.

8. Check for Hardware Issues

If there’s something wrong with the motherboard or other internal hardware components, the laptop will not turn on no matter what you try.

In this case, you’ll need to take it to a professional for repairs.

Conclusion

If your Lenovo ThinkPad is not turning on, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try. The first step is to make sure that the laptop is actually plugged in and charging properly.

This can only happen if your charging cable and power block are not faulty.

If it is plugged in and still not turning on, then try these other steps: hold down the power button for about 30 seconds; reset your laptop using the reset button; disconnect and reconnect all the cables; reset the BIOS; or reinstall Windows 10. If none of these solutions work, your last resort may be to take the laptop to a technician.