How to troubleshoot ASUS laptop startup problems

You sit down with your ASUS® laptop and hit the power button. But something's wrong—the familiar logo doesn't appear on your screen. "Why won't my ASUS laptop turn on?" you wonder. Your question turns to frustration—but there may be an easy fix.

Asurion Experts are here to help solve your tech issues. From ASUS touchpad issues to laptop batteries that won't charge, we have you covered. Try these solutions to get your ASUS laptop powered on and back in action.

Common reasons why your ASUS laptop won't turn on

There are a few causes behind ASUS laptop startup issues.

• Battery problems: Batteries don't last forever. If your laptop battery won't charge, it may require a replacement.
• Power supply issues: Inspect cables for signs of damage, and make sure they're securely plugged into outlets.
• Outdated or malfunctioning drivers: An older driver may conflict with the laptop's startup processes.
• Hardware configuration issues: Internal components, such as the laptop's motherboard, may fail.

How to fix ASUS laptop startup problems

You may be able to resolve the problem through troubleshooting. Here are a few methods to try. 

Check the power supply and battery

A laptop without an adequate power source won't turn on. To determine whether there's a power issue, try the following:

• Change wall outlets: If the laptop is plugged into a wall outlet, try moving to a different one. 
• Confirm cables are plugged in: Loose cables may prevent the laptop from receiving power. 
• Look for battery damage: Take a close look at your laptop's keyboard area. Do you see any swelling? That's a sign the battery requires replacement. 

Perform a hard reboot

A hard reset restores an ASUS laptop's hardware state. It may resolve any glitches causing it not to turn on. To do a hard reboot, follow these steps:

1. Remove any external devices connected to your laptop.
2. Connect the power adapter and plug it into a nearby wall outlet.
3. Press and hold the Power button for 40 seconds. 
4. If your device supports a shorter reset time, the power button may start flashing after 15 seconds. Hold down the power button until it stops flashing.
5. Try turning on the ASUS laptop to see if the hard reset fixed the issue.

Check the power button and indicator lights

ASUS laptops have several indicator lights. Take a quick look at them to see if they're operating correctly. They should be on the side of the device.

Power indicator

The power indicator has an icon shaped like a light bulb. It lights up when the laptop is on. Verify whether the laptop has power or not. 

Battery charge indicator

ASUS uses a two-color indicator to show battery status. It appears white when battery life is between 95% and 100%. A solid orange light means the battery life is between 10% and 95%. 

If the light is completely off, the notebook is sourcing its power from the battery. It may have a charge between 10% and 100%. 

An ASUS laptop with a blinking orange light may require charging before it powers on. Try plugging it into the charger for several minutes before turning it on again.

Test the charger and power cable

A damaged power cable won't properly charge a laptop. Look closely at it for any telltale signs of wear and tear, like exposed wiring. Also, make sure the cable isn't twisted. If it is, straighten it and see if that resolves the issue.

If you have a multimeter available and are familiar with how to use it, check the cable's voltage. Compare the results with the expected voltage, which is printed on the rectangular box of the power cable. If the multimeter's output is less than expected, replace the power cord.

Boot in Safe Mode

Booting your device in Safe Mode helps identify any settings or drivers that may cause ASUS laptop startup issues. Try this option if your device powers on but doesn't advance to the home screen.

1. After powering on the ASUS laptop, press and hold the Power button for 15 seconds to shut it down.
2. Press the Power button again to turn it back on.
3. When you see the ASUS logo, immediately press and hold the Power button again for 15 seconds to shut the system down.
4. Press the Power button to turn the laptop on.
5. Wait until Windows restarts. Press and hold the Power button for 15 seconds to shut it down.
6. Press the Power button once more to turn on the laptop. It will fully restart and enter the Windows Recovery Environment.

Once you're in the Windows Recovery Environment, follow these steps.

1. Select Troubleshoot. 
2. Select Advanced options.
3. Click Startup Settings.
4. Select Restart.
5. Click Enable Safe Mode.

A device that enters Safe Mode without issues doesn't have any driver or settings problems.

Reset BIOS settings

Restoring an ASUS laptop's BIOS settings to their defaults may resolve a boot issue.

1. Press the ESC key after turning on the laptop.
2. Press the F7 key or click the Advanced Settings option on the upper right of the screen.
3. Press the F9 key to load optimized defaults, then click Confirm.
4. Press the F10 key to save the new defaults. Click Confirm.

The laptop will restart after resetting the BIOS. 

Check for faulty hardware

An ASUS System Diagnostics test can pinpoint hardware issues that stop your laptop from turning on. It's available even if your operating system won't boot.

1. Press the ESC key after powering on the device. 
2. Click System Diagnostics on the left menu.
3. Click Check to run a test for each individual component. 

Hardware components that fail a System Diagnostics test may require repair.