The basic power-on steps for Mac, MacBook, and iMac

To turn on an Apple computer, locate the power button and press it once. On most Macs, the power button is in the top-right corner of the keyboard. On iMacs and Mac minis, it is on the back or side of the machine. On MacBooks, it is in the top-right corner of the keyboard, often marked with a power symbol. Press and release it — you do not need to hold it down.

After you press the button, you will see the Apple logo appear on your screen within a few seconds. The startup process takes about 30 seconds to two minutes, depending on your model and how long it has been since the last shutdown. During this time, you may hear the fan running or see a progress bar. Let the machine finish starting up on its own — do not press the button again.

Once the startup is complete, you will see the login screen (if you have a user account set up) or the desktop. If this is your first time turning on the computer, you may see a setup assistant instead, which will walk you through creating a user account and connecting to Wi-Fi.

Key Takeaways

  • The power button on most Apple computers is in the top-right corner of the keyboard or on the back of the machine, and you press it once and release.
  • The startup process takes 30 seconds to two minutes; do not press the power button again while the computer is starting up.
  • You will see the Apple logo first, followed by the login screen or setup assistant.
  • If your computer does not respond to the power button, check that it is plugged in and that the battery is not completely drained.

Where the power button is on different Apple models

MacBook Air and MacBook Pro: The power button is in the top-right corner of the keyboard. On newer models (2021 and later), it is integrated into the Touch ID button. Press it once to wake the computer or turn it on from a complete shutdown.

iMac: The power button is on the back of the machine, toward the bottom-right. You may need to reach around the back to find it, or you can press any key on the keyboard to wake it if it is in sleep mode.

Mac mini: The power button is on the back of the unit, on the right side. It is small and recessed, so you may need to use your finger or a thin object to press it.

Mac Studio: The power button is on the back of the machine. Press it once to turn the computer on.

What happens if the power button does not work

If you press the power button and nothing happens, first check that the computer is plugged into a working power outlet. Use a different outlet or a different power cable if you have one available, because the cable or outlet may be faulty.

If the computer is plugged in but still does not respond, the battery may be completely drained. Leave it plugged in for at least 30 minutes, then try the power button again. Some Macs take time to charge enough to turn on.

If the computer still does not turn on after charging, try a force restart. On Intel-based Macs, hold down the power button for 10 seconds, release it, and then press it again. On Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3, and later), hold down the power button for about 10 seconds until you see the startup options screen, then release and select your startup disk.

Sleep mode versus shutdown

Apple computers have two low-power states: sleep and shutdown. Sleep is a temporary pause where the computer uses very little power but stays ready to wake up when ready. Shutdown is a complete power-off where the computer uses almost no power but takes longer to start up again.

If your Mac is in sleep mode, pressing any key on the keyboard or moving the mouse will wake it up — you do not need to press the power button. If your Mac is completely shut down, you must press the power button to turn it back on.

To put your Mac to sleep without shutting it down, press Control + Eject (or Control + Power on newer keyboards), or go to the Apple menu and select Sleep. To shut down completely, go to the Apple menu, select Shut Down, and confirm.

First startup and setup

The first time you turn on a new Apple computer, you will see the Setup Assistant, which guides you through creating a user account, connecting to Wi-Fi, and signing in with your Apple ID. This process takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

You will be asked to choose a language, connect to a Wi-Fi network, and create a username and password for your account. If you have an Apple ID (used for iCloud, the App Store, and other Apple services), you can sign in during setup. If you do not have one, you can create one or skip this step and set it up later.

After setup is complete, you will see the desktop and can begin using your Mac. You can change any of these settings later through System Settings (on newer Macs) or System Preferences (on older ones).

Restarting your Mac

If you need to restart your Mac without fully shutting it down, go to the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select Restart. A dialog box will appear asking you to confirm. Click Restart, and your Mac will shut down and turn back on automatically.

Restarting is useful when a program is not responding, when you have installed software updates, or when your Mac is running slowly. The restart process takes about one to two minutes.

If your Mac is frozen and will not respond to the Restart command, you can force a restart by holding down the power button for 10 seconds (Intel Macs) or until the startup options screen appears (Apple Silicon Macs), then releasing and selecting your startup disk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn on my Mac with the keyboard?

If your Mac is in sleep mode, you can wake it by pressing any key or moving the mouse. If it is completely shut down, you must press the physical power button — the keyboard alone cannot turn it on from a full shutdown.

Why does my Mac take so long to start up?

Startup time depends on how many programs are set to open automatically, how full your hard drive is, and how old your Mac is. If startup is taking more than three minutes, you may have too many login items. Go to System Settings (or System Preferences), select General, then Login Items, and remove programs you do not need to open at startup.

Is it bad to leave my Mac on all the time?

Modern Macs are designed to handle being left on, and sleep mode uses very little power. However, shutting down your Mac occasionally (once a week or so) can help clear temporary files and may improve performance. Leaving it in sleep mode most of the time is fine.

What is the difference between restarting and shutting down?

Restarting shuts down your Mac and turns it back on automatically. Shutting down turns it off completely and leaves it off until you press the power button again. Restarting is useful for fixing problems; shutting down is useful if you will not use the Mac for a while.