Jul. 26, 2023 / Updated by Eloise to Windows 10
If your laptop’s power button is broken or not working, you might think that you have no choice to power up your system. However, there are some ways to turn on your laptop without using the power button. Let's first understand why the power button will not turn on the computer.
Dust or dirt accumulation: Over time, dust or dirt can get inside the power button and prevent it from making contact with the circuit board.
Loose or broken wires: The wires that connect the power button to the motherboard might get loose or damaged due to wear and tear, physical impact, or water damage.
Faulty motherboard: The motherboard is the main component of your laptop that controls all the other parts. If it has a problem, it might not be able to receive or send signals to the power button.
Software issues: Sometimes, the problem might not be with the hardware but with the software. For example, a corrupted BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) or a faulty driver might prevent your laptop from booting up.
Depending on the type and model of your laptop, you might have different options to turn it on without using the power button. Here are some of the most common methods:
Step 1: Connect an external keyboard to your laptop via USB or Bluetooth.
Step 2: Turn off your laptop and unplug it from the power source.
Step 3: Turn on your laptop by connecting it to the power source again.
Step 4: As soon as you see the logo of your laptop brand, press F2, F10, Del, or Esc repeatedly to enter the BIOS setup menu. The exact key might vary depending on your laptop model, so check your user manual or online guide for more information.
See also How to Enter BIOS on Lenovo Laptops
Step 5: In the BIOS menu, look for an option called Power On By Keyboard, Power Management, or something similar. It might be under "Advanced Settings" or "System Configuration".
Step 6: Enable the Power On By Keyboard option and choose a key that you want to use as the power button. It could be any key on your keyboard, such as Enter, Spacebar, F12, etc.
Step 7: Save the changes and exit the BIOS menu.
Step 8: Turn off your laptop and disconnect it from the power source again.
Now you can turn on your laptop by pressing the key that you selected on your external keyboard.
The idea is to remove the battery from your laptop and then reinsert it after a few seconds. This will create a short circuit that will trigger your laptop to turn on automatically.
Step 1: Turn off your laptop and unplug it from the power source.
Step 2: Flip over your laptop and locate the battery compartment.
Step 3: Remove the battery from your laptop by sliding or pushing the release latch.
Step 4: Wait for about 10 seconds and then reinsert the battery into your laptop.
Your laptop should turn on by itself.
This method works for some laptops that have a USB port that can provide power even when the laptop is off. The idea is to connect a USB device such as a phone charger, a flash drive, or a mouse to your laptop and then disconnect it after a few seconds. This will create a voltage change that will trigger your laptop to turn on automatically.
Step 1: Turn off your laptop and unplug it from the power source.
Step 2: Find a USB port on your laptop that has a lightning bolt symbol next to it. This indicates that it can provide power even when the laptop is off.
Step 3: Connect a USB device such as a phone charger, a flash drive, or a mouse to that USB port.
Step 4: Wait for about 10 seconds and then disconnect the USB device from your laptop.
Your laptop should turn on by itself.
While these methods can help you turn on your laptop without a power button, they are not permanent solutions. You should try to fix your laptop power button as soon as possible to avoid further damage or inconvenience.
One of the possible causes of your laptop power button not working is a software issue, such as a corrupted BIOS or a faulty driver. To fix this, you need to update or reinstall the BIOS and the drivers of your laptop. However, this can be a tedious and risky process, especially if you don’t have the technical skills or the right tools. Therefore we highly recommend using Driver Talent, which is an easy-to-use tool that can automatically scan, download, install, and update all the drivers for your laptop in minutes. Driver Talent can fix any driver-related issues, and optimize your laptop’s performance. With such a tool, you don’t have to worry about finding the right drivers for your laptop or messing up your system.
Step 1: Launch Driver Talent and click on the Scan button to start scanning your laptop for any driver issues.
Step 2: After the scan is completed, you will see a list of drivers that need to be updated, repaired, or installed. You can choose to update all the drivers at once by clicking on the Install All button, or you can update them individually by clicking on the Update button next to each driver.
Step 3: Wait for Driver Talent to download and install the latest drivers for your laptop. You might need to restart your laptop after the installation is finished.
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