Why your Chromebook won’t turn on even when plugged in (and how to fix it)

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Chromebooks are useful laptops for anyone who wants or needs an affordable laptop, especially the Acer Chromebook Plus 515. They’re great for those Google purists who really want to be absorbed into the company’s ecosystem, having easy access to Google’s suite of programs on all their devices. However, users may encounter some issues that may discourage them from purchasing a Chromebook. For example, gaming on a Chromebook isn’t the best. Additionally, like every other computer known in the world, Chromebooks have a lot of technical problems.

One of the worst problems you can encounter is a Chromebook that won’t turn on. Yes, a Chromebook that keeps freezing and other similar issues is a nuisance, but when your laptop won’t even start, it makes troubleshooting that much more difficult. Typically, the solution would be to simply connect the Chromebook to the charger, as this is a sign that the computer is not working. But what to do when even that doesn’t work? Of course, the keys won’t respond in any meaningful way if your computer isn’t even starting, so getting into its “Settings” is almost impossible. Don’t worry, there are several methods you can try if you encounter such a problem.

What to do if your Chromebook isn’t charging

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If your Chromebook does not turn on when plugged in, make sure the charging cable is fully connected to the Chromebook and to the electrical outlet. If there is no indicator (usually a small LED around the charging port) that the computer is charging, check that it is plugged into an outlet controlled by a wall switch and that it is turned on. Otherwise, try a different outlet.

Once you’ve determined that the outlet is working, Google recommends leaving your Chromebook to charge for 30 minutes before trying to turn it back on. There are cases where charging the battery may take a full 24 hours. If that doesn’t work, try to rule out charging cable problems by using a different one. If you have one, that is. Of course, not everyone has multiple chargers for their devices. It is also possible that some peripheral devices are interfering with the computer’s startup process. Peripherals that connect via USB, typically such as external hard drives, keyboards, and mice. Disconnect all such devices and see if this solves the problem.

If neither method produces promising results, there is likely a problem with the charging port or the battery itself. In this case, contact the manufacturer of your Chromebook (Acer, Asus, HP, etc.)

Try hard resetting your Chromebook

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It’s possible that hard resetting your Chromebook will solve all your problems. OK, maybe not all the problems, but it can cause your Chromebook to boot, and you don’t even need your computer to be on. You will need:

Press and hold the refresh key (this is the round arrow key), then tap the power button.
The Chromebook should turn on, and if it does, release both buttons.
Alternatively, you can try holding the back button, refresh key and power button at the same time for at least 10 seconds.

Some Chromebook models, such as the Samsung Series 5 and Series 5 550, use a special reset button instead. It is located in a small hole on the bottom of the laptop where you need a paperclip to press the reset button. Other Chromebooks require you to press the reset button and at the same time reconnect the power adapter or remove and replace the battery.

Resetting your Chromebook resets all hardware and may potentially delete some files from your “Downloads” folder. This is not the same as a factory reset, which can only be performed once the Chromebook turns on successfully.