Asus Zenbook won’t turn on (Guaranteed Fix)

Asus redefines expectations by delivering a device in the form of a Zenbook that seamlessly integrates impressive performance, extended battery longevity, and a captivating OLED display.

These machines consistently showcase a sleek and sophisticated design, prioritizing effortless portability. Distinguished by their metallic construction and hallmark “Zen” design philosophy, Asus products are a testament to form and function.

Irrespective of their inherent durability, it is universally acknowledged that electronic devices, including the Asus Zenbook, are susceptible to software and hardware Problems.

If your Asus Zenbook won’t turn on, a Hard reset is the first step to do. If there are no hardware issues, your laptops should turn on.

Disconnect the battery to execute a Hard Reset while ensuring the AC adapter remains connected. Press and hold the Power button for 40 seconds. Next, reinsert the battery and restart your laptop’s system.

Having your Asus Zenbook not turninig on can be very frustrating and potentially expensive if you have to fix it. But before you rush to the repair shop, check out this article – it’s got all the info you need to try and fix the problem yourself.

If the hard reset didn’t do the trick for you, don’t worry! This article also covers other reasons why your Asus laptop might not be turning on and what you can do to fix it.

If the hard reset didn’t work for you, here are the other causes and fixes when an Asus Zenbook won’t turn on

Scenario 1: The power Light is off

If the power light of your laptop is off, there is no Power supply to the critical components of your laptop. Somewhere there is a disruption between the switchboard and the power IC on the motherboard.

Causes and Solutions

A Zenbook not turning on can have various reasons, and figuring out the exact cause is crucial to prevent unnecessary troubles. Below, I’ve outlined the most frequent culprits responsible for this issue.

1. Battery failure

In most cases, the primary reason for an Asus Zenbook’s failure to power on is related to battery issues. Laptop batteries encounter problems after 1-2 years or approximately 300-400 charge cycles.

To know if there is a battery problem, you must remove the battery and try to turn on the laptop by AC adopter. If your laptop turns on, you need to replace the battery.

To remove the battery of the Zenbook laptop, follow these steps:

1. Flip the laptop over to access the underside.
2. Take off the supporting rubber feet located on the bottom.
3. Unscrew the back cover of the laptop.
4. After removing the cover, you will find the battery enclosed within.
5. Locate the terminal of the battery; it might be covered with rubber. Remove this rubber cover.
6. Disconnect the battery by unplugging it.
7. Place the back cover back onto the laptop, but don’t screw it in place for now.
8. Connect the power adapter to the laptop.
9. Attempt to power on the laptop to ensure everything is working as expected.

The laptop battery has a sticker that mentions its model, power, and amps. Always replace the battery with an original battery from Asus. Chinese third-party batteries work but usually fail within six months to a year.

2. AC Adopter failure

On occasions, your laptop’s battery might be fully depleted, leading to a situation where your laptop won’t power on. This issue could arise not because of a faulty battery but due to a malfunctioning AC adapter.

The adapter might have become defective, preventing it from properly charging the laptop’s battery.

To check if the AC adapter has failed:

1. Indicator Light: If the adapter’s light is off, there might be an issue.
2. Smell Test: Sniff the adapter for any burnt or unusual odour.

These quick checks can give hints about the adapter’s condition, but be cautious while handling electronic components.

A burnt smell from the adapter often signifies an internal component failure. Replace the AC adapter with an authentic new one to resolve this issue.

Opt for a genuine replacement, as using a cheap adapter can harm your laptop’s battery.

3. Loose connections

If your Asus Zenbook fails to turn on, a loose power supply might be the cause. Ensure that the power cord, outlet-side, and laptop-side plug (NB side) are all firmly connected in their respective correct positions.

Examine the AC adapter cable for any signs of damage. If you discover any damage, it’s advisable to replace the adapter.

Also, disconnect external devices like USB drives, memory cards, internet cables, and HDMI cables. Then, try unplugging and replugging the laptop, as this might help initiate the startup process.

4. Power IC failure

A power IC acts as a link between the power source and various components within your laptop. It manages and distributes the appropriate electrical current to essential elements such as the LED screen, hard drive, motherboard, processor, and more.

When the Power IC malfunctions or becomes damaged, the laptop won’t receive the necessary power to turn on.

The leading cause of Power IC failure is often humidity or exposure to water through spills or splashes. Water, a conductor of electricity, can swiftly cause the Power IC to burn upon contact.

An experienced technician can readily replace the Power IC, and the cost is usually reasonable.

The technician will employ a multimeter to check for short circuits on the motherboard. Once the cause is identified, they’ll use a heat gun to detach the faulty Power IC from the circuit board and replace it with a new one through soldering.

Scenario 2: The Power light is ON

If you see the Power light ON, but your Asus laptop still won’t start, it’s probably not the power cord or adapter’s fault. Instead, there might be something wrong inside the laptop, like its parts or the software to make it work.

Causes and Solution

If you notice that the power light is illuminated but are unsure whether your Asus Zenbook is turning on, there are a couple of things to check before moving forward.

Firstly, make sure that you haven’t accidentally lowered the brightness to a level that it’s not visible or that you haven’t turned off the display altogether.

To increase the brightness on your Zenbook, press the combination of keys Fn+F6. Similarly, pressing the function keys Fn+F7 will toggle the display on or off.

If neither of these methods works to turn on the display, you can find more troubleshooting steps in the blog below.

1. Loose Connection between LCD and Motherboard

Inside your laptop’s frame, a flexible printed circuit (FPC) plays a vital role in supplying power to the LCD screen. Unfortunately, accidents can lead to loosening the connection between the FPC and the LCD.

When this connection becomes compromised, you might notice signs like screen flickering. In more severe cases, if the FPC and LCD connection becomes excessively loose, your Asus Zenbook might not display anything, failing to turn on.

To inspect the connection, follow these steps:

1. Unscrew the Frame: Carefully remove the screws securing the laptop’s frame.
2. Gently Remove the Cover: Use a card or a similar tool to open the cover gently. Be highly cautious; even a slight mistake or dent could damage the entire LCD screen.

Please watch this tutorial video before attempting this process;

An alternate approach involves attaching an external monitor to your laptop and using the Fn+F8 key combination to switch between the laptop’s screen and the external monitor. Should the external monitor exhibit a display, it indicates an issue with the LCD or drivers.

To inspect your graphics card drivers, follow these steps:

1. Launch Control Panel.
2. Choose Display Adapters.
3. Pick your Graphics Card from the list.
4. Click on the Drivers tab.
5. Verify the status and currency of the drivers.

If they’re not functioning properly or are outdated, you have the option to update the graphics card drivers either automatically or manually, provided you possess saved drivers on your laptop.

Occasionally, Windows 10 might encounter a bug causing a loss of display connectivity.

In such instances, you can resolve this by pressing the Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B simultaneously on your keyboard. This action will trigger a restart of the video driver.

2. Problem with the Graphic Card

Think of the graphic card as your laptop’s brain for pictures and videos. If this part doesn’t work, your Zenbook won’t show anything on the screen. There are a few reasons for this.

First, the graphic card might be broken, not connected properly, or gotten loose. Second, Zenbooks have graphic cards built right into them, so you can’t take them out like a puzzle piece. Third, if the graphic card gets dusty and dirty inside, it can stop working well.

If you haven’t given your laptop a good cleaning in a while, that could be why you’re not seeing anything on the screen. Sometimes, just cleaning the graphic card can fix the problem.

Below is a video that will help you clean a Zenbook.

3. Loose or Dusty RAM

If your Laptop RAM is dodgy or dusty, you’ll get issues with the display output. Therefore cleaning the RAM should be the priority for fixing “Asus Zenbook won’t turn on.”

Cleaning the RAM is a straightforward process. Just follow these steps:

1. Disconnect the power cable.
2. Unscrew and remove the back cover of your laptop.
3. Take out the battery.
4. Find the RAM slots, usually on the left side.
5. Gently unclip the RAM by pressing the side tabs and lifting it out.
6. Begin by removing any dust using compressed air or a cloth. Then, cautiously apply some recommended Isopropyl alcohol (made for electronics) using a spray.
7. Use a soft toothbrush to brush the gold contacts on the RAM carefully.
8. Allow around 10 minutes for the alcohol to evaporate completely.
9. Insert the RAM sticks back into their slots carefully, matching the slot marks.
10. Insert the battery back and secure the back cover.

Make sure not to insert the RAM forcefully; they should easily slide in without excessive pressure. Pushing too hard could harm the slot, RAM, or motherboard.

4. Corrupted BIOS Setting

A virus, certain software changes, or a new Windows installation could mess up your BIOS/UEFI settings, which might be causing your Asus laptop to not turn on.

You should reset the BIOS/UEFI settings to their default to fix this. To learn how to do this, you can watch the video linked below: