MacBook Pro 2015 has a black screen but keyboard lights and startup sound are on

Question

Level 1

4 points

MacBook Pro 2015 has a black screen but keyboard lights and startup sound are on

My 2015 MacBook Pro is showing strange behaviour. Its was working perfectly. Then the screen went dark. I switched it on. Sound of starting is on, keyboard lights are on, but screen is dark.

Took off cable; tried again and when I connect the power cable, it turns on automatically without me pressing the power button. The keyboard lights come on, but the screen remains completely black.

I have already tried several resets (including the SMC), and I suspect there may be a problem with the charger, the battery, or the screen itself. But nothing happens. It sounds like its starting, lights on and then dark screen.

Anybody experienced this before? Please help

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Dark screen light keyboard

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jul 21, 2025 07:35 AM

Reply

Answer 1

HWTech

Level 9

66,986 points

Jul 21, 2025 11:27 AM in response to HloniSabina

Impossible to say what the problem may be.

I would try putting the laptop into Clamshell Mode to attempt to get video onto the external display. To do this you must connect the power adapter, a USB wired Keyboard & Mouse, and an external display directly to the laptop. Power on the laptop & close the clamshell Display lid. Hopefully video will automatically appear on the external display. For a 2015 laptop, this should work most times.....not guaranteed to work reliably/consistently with USB-C models.

Try a PRAM Reset (hold it for at least three chimes).

You can also try testing the laptop in a dark room to see whether you can see a faint image on the screen just in case the backlight on the built-in Display is bad. When powering on the laptop you should be able to see the Apple logo in the center of the screen (or a folder with blinking question mark if it is unable to find a bootable OS). You may be able to shine a flashlight through the Apple logo on the back of the Display which may help illuminate any video that may be on the screen. Once booted, the best place to see video is on the menubar if Dark Mode is not selected. Shining a light on the front of the screen may also help reveal if any video is shown. It will be extremely hard to see because it will be extremely faint.

Reply

Answer 2

Jul 21, 2025 10:12 AM in response to HloniSabina

Possible the display has failed. Do you have an external display (even a TV) that you can connect?

Reply

Answer 3

HloniSabina Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 21, 2025 11:14 AM in response to neuroanatomist

Yes, you are correct. Thank you for confirming for me. 5hours later I tried using my son's Xbox cable and it worked. I am now worried that I may need to substitute the entire Macbook.

Reply