Laptop Turns On Then Off Immediately (Quick Fixes)

Larissa updated on Oct 25, 2024 to Computer Instruction | How-to Articles

If you're experiencing the "laptop turns on then off immediately" problem, look no further. In this detailed guide, we'll outline the main causes of this problem and then proceed to discuss 10 strong fixes you can apply. You'll also learn about an efficient backup tool for your computer data.

Key Takeaways

  • 🚩Your laptop may turn off immediately after booting due to a faulty power supply, overheating, battery issues, electrical shorts, etc.
  • 🚩To apply the right fix to this problem, you'll first need to identify the specific cause on your laptop.
  • 🚩The common fixes to the laptop randomly shutting down problem include checking the power supply and connection cables, checking the temperature, and disconnecting external devices.
"I have attempted turning on my laptop, but it keeps shutting off almost immediately. How can I fix this issue since I have urgent tasks?"

When your laptop turns on then off immediately, it could signify varying problems. To apply the right fix, you'll need first to establish the source of the errors. In this guide, you'll learn about some of the main causes of your laptop turning off suddenly. After that, we'll outline ten possible fixes you can apply.

Why Laptop Turns On Then Shut Off After a Few Seconds

For several reasons, your laptop may turn on and shut off after a few seconds. Some of the main causes of this problem include the following:

  • 🔌Faulty power supply: if your power supply is faulty, insufficient power will get to the motherboard, making your laptop shut off within no time.
  • 🔋Discharged battery: your laptop will likely shut off if your battery isn't holding a charge.
  • 💽Damaged internal components: if internal components such as hard disk or RAM are damaged, your laptop may fail to work correctly.
  • Overheating: if your laptop is experiencing extremely high temperatures, it may shut down to regulate itself.
  • 🖥️BIOS or firmware issue: an underlying problem with your CMOS battery or BIOS settings will likely cause your laptop to shut off unexpectedly.
  • 🔖Software problems: If your computer's applications have run into errors, they may affect the normal boot process.
  • 🔍Faulty power button: a laptop may experience intermittent shutdowns if the power button has started to stick due to prolonged usage.
  • 💡Electrical shorts: electrical shorts due to exposed wires in your laptop's internal components may also cause it to shut off immediately after booting up.

The next section will outline different fixes you can apply to fix the problems mentioned above.

🔥Editor's Recommendation:
Want to know how to ensure the security of your important files when your laptop suffers from these errors? Don't worry; EaseUS Todo Backup Free will be there to help. You can use this free tool to create a backup of your important data and save them on an external hard drive with simple clicks. We'll explore it in the next part.

10 Fixes to Solve Laptop Turns on Then Shut Off

It isn't very pleasant when you realize your laptop keeps shutting when you need to use it the most. Since there could be many causes of this issue, this section will outline ten possible fixes, including the following.

Fix 1. Check the Power Supply and Connection Cable

The first thing that comes into mind when your laptop shuts off unexpectedly is checking the power supply. You need to check whether the power supply is stable and the voltage is enough. The power supply voltage switch should have the correct settings. Upon confirming the power supply is okay, move forward and ensure that cable connections are right.

For example, you can check to ensure the cables connecting your hard drive, floppy drives, or DVDs to the motherboard are firmly attached to prevent loose connections. Once you've finished these steps, you can restart your laptop and check whether the error has disappeared. Otherwise, proceed to Fix 2.

📖Extend reading: What to Do If Computer Turns Off and On Repeatedly 

Fix 2. Check RAM

Random Access Memory (RAM) is a very important component for the normal functioning of your computer. To fix any issues with your RAM, you need to open your laptop's back casing and check whether the memory modules are properly attached to the motherboard.

You can remove the memory modules and then reseat them to the memory slots. Ensure that the memory modules are matched correctly in pairs. When reseating the memory modules, ensure you place them firmly.

🔖Further reading: Computer Shuts Down When Put to Sleep

Fix 3. Test the Laptop's Temperature to Make It Cool Enough

Extreme temperatures harm your system and will most likely force your laptop to shut suddenly. To test whether that's the case, gently place your hand over the location of the fan CPU. If it's too hot, it means your laptop has overheated.

As a remedy, you'll need to find ways to cool your device. You can do this by ensuring the air vents are not blocked. Also, you should check your fan to ensure no dust prevents it from working correctly.

Do you find the post helpful? Remember to share it on your social platforms to help them get out of their laptops turn on then off immediately.

 

Fix 4. Check If the Laptop Has Inside Electrical Shorts

Electrical shorts inside your laptop may happen when the metallic components attached to the motherboard cause electric currents to pass where they shouldn't. This will probably lead to a short circuit, interrupting your device's power connectors. Some of the equipment that could lead to a short circuit are the screws used to hold other components in place.

To confirm if that's the issue, you can lift your laptop and gently shake it while taking note of any banging sounds (of moving screws). If you confirm the sounds, you'll need to open the back casing and tighten all the screws.

Fix 5. Test the Power Button

If the power button is faulty, it may be hard to turn on your laptop. One symptom of the faulty power button is when it becomes sticky. This could be due to the accumulation of debris beneath it or following long-term pressing. The accumulation of debris could lead to a short circuit, affecting your laptop's power-on behavior.

To test if the power button is the source of the problem, you can try unsticking it by blowing compressed air around it to remove any accumulated debris. If the issue hasn't been resolved, you must replace the power button.

Fix 6. Reseat Every Components

The term "reseat" means unplugging and then reattaching the components of your laptop. If you're unsure which component is causing the problem, you can try reseating them one after the other while checking if your laptop works correctly.

Reseating helps establish a new connection between the components and your laptop, ensuring they work correctly. Some components you can try reseating include power cables, data cables, RAM, HDDs, SSDS, and expansion cards.

Fix 7. Clear CMOS to Erase the BIOS Memory

Sometimes, your laptop could behave abnormally due to a BIOS misconfiguration. The remedy, therefore, is to return your BIOS memory settings to their defaults. The best way to do this is to clear the CMOS because it powers your BIOS memory. Follow the steps below:

Step 1. Shut down your computer, then hit the power button to restart it.

Step 2. While the device is restarting, enter BIOS by pressing F2 or F10, depending on your laptop brand.

Step 3. Once you are on "BIOS setup," click on "Load Setup Defaults" or "Reset to default." This setting will restore BIOS settings to their defaults.

Step 4. Next, click "Apply Changes" then "Exit." Your laptop will then restart with the new changes that are in effect.

Fix 8. Disconnect All External Devices

The external devices connected to your laptop may sometimes cause power interference. To check whether this is true, you can disconnect all of them and restart your laptop. Some external devices could draw more power than expected from your laptop, making it malfunction.

The common devices you might consider disconnecting include printers, network cables, data cables, keyboards, mice, or monitors.

Fix 9. Test Laptop with a Power On Self Test Card

Once you've disconnected all the non-essential hardware but your laptop is still shutting down unexpectedly a Power On Self Test (POST) card could help you determine which of the remaining hardware is the problem. When testing your laptop, POST will transmit a 2-digit code across port 0x80 to diagnose all components.

If any error is detected, the computer boot process will stop, and the POST test card will display an error code.

Fix 10. Seek Help from Manufacturer's Customer Support

If you've tried all the fixes above but are still experiencing problems with your laptop during bootup, it's best to seek help from your device manufacturers. Whether you're using an HP, Dell, ASUS, MSI, Lenovo, or Acer computer, contacting your specific device manufacturer could greatly help. You're good to go by visiting your product's official website.

Pro Tip: Backup Your Laptop Data to Prevent Such Error

Are you afraid of losing data in case your laptop runs into errors? Using a reliable backup tool like EaseUS Todo Backup Free is important to minimize such worries. This software will allow you to securely backup and restore your important files to another device if your laptop fails to boot.

You can backup your favorite videos, documents, photos, applications, etc, to different locations, including the cloud, external hard drives, the network, or NAS. Its multi-path backup storage feature ensures your data remains accessible even when the backup source gets damaged.

The main laptop backup features of EaseUS Todo Backup include the following:

  • Basic backup scheduling.
  • Multi-path backup storage.
  • Enhanced backup efficiency.
  • App data backup and recovery.
  • Secured password-protect backups.
  • Bootable backup and recovery.
  • Support full backup, differential backup and incremental backup.

Ensure you download EaseUS Todo Backup today to safeguard your laptop data. The steps to getting started with this tool are very easy; therefore, you should make it your backup companion.

Conclusion

The main reasons for the laptop turns on then off immediately problem include faulty power supply, discharged battery, overheating, damaged internal components, BIOS issues, software problems, faulty power button, electrical shorts, etc. Ensure you check out for these issues and follow the ten fixes discussed in this article to address them.

To avoid losing data when your laptop runs into errors, it's wise to create a backup using EaseUS Todo Backup Free. This backup and restore software allows you to save your data to different locations for safety and accessibility. Ensure you download EaseUS Todo Backup today and check out how it works.

Do you find the post helpful? Remember to share it on your social platforms to help them get out of their laptops turn on then off immediately.

 

Laptop Turns On ThenOff Immediately FAQs

1. How Do I Know If My Computer Power Supply Is Bad?

Your power supply could be bad if there's completely no power connection or there's intermittent supply. If your device can't boot or randomly shuts down, this could also be the case. This indicates that not all is well with your power connections.

2. Can Bad RAM Cause Shutdown?

If your RAM is faulty (not properly fitted in its slot), you may experience system crashes that could lead to irregular shutdown. You should, therefore, ensure the RAM is fitted correctly to the motherboard.

3. What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Failing RAM?

The common signs and symptoms of a failing RAM include the following:

  • Declining computer performance.
  • The infamous blue screen of death (BSOD).
  • Random reboot.
  • Computer beeps.
  • Corrupted files.

If you encounter any of these issues, ensure you fix your RAM promptly.