How To Turn On A Dell Laptop or Desktop

Are you having trouble turning on your Dell laptop? If your answer is yes, I have provided several ways to turn on your Dell laptop when it won’t turn on.

Over the years, Dell manufacturers have come up with different power button designs and placement that can be a little bit complex for some people when they want to turn on their computer.

On a Dell Latitude, Inspiron, XPS 13 or 15, you will notice that the power button is located in a specific location depending on the model you are using.

The power button may be located close to the button to turn off Dell laptop airplane mode.

Without wasting your time, let us get right into it.

Where Is the Power Button on a Dell Laptop?

The power button on a Dell laptop is usually located at the top right-hand corner in-between the keyboard and screen.

Although not all the Dell laptops have the same power button design located in the same location, some Dell laptops have a different power button design in a different location when compared to other laptops.

The power button design can either be round or rectangular in shape and mostly carrying a power icon or simply left blank.

Locations to find a power button on a Dell laptop:

• Top right.
• Top left.
• Top sides.
• Top right extreme edge on or beside the keyboard.

On a XPS Dell laptop, you will most likely find the power button on the top right-hand corner on the keyboard or beside the keyboard.

On an Inspiron Dell laptop, the power button is usually located at the top right-hand side on the keyboard at the extreme edge.

If you are using an older Dell laptop, you will find the power button dedicated at the top of your keyboard which could either be located at the left- or right-hand side.

If you can’t find your power button, comment below and tell me what model of Dell laptop you are using.

How to Turn On Dell Laptop

Turning on your Dell laptop is simple and straightforward if you follow the instructions correctly below. The methods below will work on any type of Dell laptop such as Inspiron, XPS, Latitude and more.

Here’s how:

1. Make sure your Dell laptop is well charged. If it’s not charged, plug in your charger.

2. Open the lid of the Dell laptop.

3. Locate and click on the power button once.

4. Hold on for a few seconds for the Dell laptop to finish booting.

How to Turn On Dell a Dell Laptop With Keyboard

Not every Dell laptop comes with a dedicated power button that is visible at the top of the keyboard, but there are some Dell laptops that come with a power button located among the keys on the keyboard.

Here’s how:

1. Make sure your battery still has power. If it doesn’t, connect your charger.

2. Gently open the lid of your Dell computer.

3. Click on the power button once located at the top right-hand corner on your keyboard.

4. Wait for your Dell laptop to load fully.

How to Turn On a Dell Laptop Without Power Button

There are two ways to turn on your Dell laptop without using a power button:

1. Through BIOS Recovery – The idea here is to disconnect everything from your Dell laptop while it is turned off. Then you should press and hold CTRL + Esc and connect your charger immediately. The moment your screen comes on, you should release your hand from the keys.

2. Jump Starting – This method will be a little bit dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing. So, I recommend that you seek professional help if you are unable to carry out this method.

If you are confident to try out this method, this is what you need to do:

Disassemble your laptop and detach the cable that connects your power button to your motherboard. Get a flat mouth screen driver and place it on the first two pins on your power button output while your laptop is connected.

How to Turn On a Dell Laptop Without battery

It is possible to turn on your Dell laptop without its battery and this guide will be helpful to those that have damaged or misplaced battery.

It is commonly known to turn on a Dell laptop with a charged battery, but did you know you can power on your Dell laptop with just its charger?

Here’s how:

1. Make sure your battery is disconnected from your laptop.

2. Connect your charger to your Dell laptop. Make sure the charger is providing power supply.

3. Click on your power button once.

4. Hold on until your Dell laptop is booted up.

How to Turn On a Dell Laptop Without opening the lid

The only way to turn on a Dell laptop without opening the lid is when the power button is located by the side of the Dell laptop.

Without a power button or sleep button by the side of the Dell laptop, it is impossible to turn on a Dell laptop without opening the list.

how to turn on Dell all in one computer

You can find the power button for Dell all in one computer by the side, top or bottom of the computer and this is how to turn it on.

Here’s how:

1. Plug in the original power cable from your power socket to your Dell all in one computer.

2. Make your mouse and keyboard connected.

3. Locate the power button and click on it.

4. Wait for a few minutes for your Dell all in one to completely boot up.

how to turn on a Dell desktop computer

A desktop computer is different from a laptop and turning on a desktop is different from turning on a laptop. A Dell laptop basically has all its components within itself but a desktop needs to attach its components together before it can work as a full computer.

Here’s how turn on your Dell desktop:

1. Make sure all the necessary cables are connected to their specific areas.

2. Turn on your power outlet supplying the power cable.

3. Turn on your UPS or stabilizer if you are using any.

4. Press the power button on your CPU.

5. Power on your monitor by clicking on its power button.

6. Wait for your desktop to finish booting.

Reasons Why Dell Laptop Won’t Turn On

These are the reasons:

1. Power Cord.
2. Battery.
3. Internal Connection.
4. Overheating.
5. Hardware Problems.

1. Power Cord

Sometimes, a power cord could be the problem. The power cord can go bad due to electrical issues. There are other times where you think your power cord is the problem only to find out it’s the wall socket or extension.

Power cord and wall socket should be the first thing you check and you will find troubleshooting methods below.

2. Battery

How long do you charge your Dell laptop battery?

How long have you been using your battery?

Charging your laptop battery for too long can damage your battery. There are some cases where your battery might discharge even when your charger is plugged in. In this kind of situation, your battery will be unable to charge and won’t have enough energy to turn on your laptop.

It’s important you check if your battery is drained or has simply gone bad. Troubleshooting methods are below.

3. Internal connection

Internal connections are extremely important for your laptop to work properly. if you fell down or hit something, there could be a little chance that the incident might have let some wires loose inside your laptop. For example, wires like your laptop battery connection cable might have been disconnected resulting from your computer falling down.

Check all your internal cable to see everything is well plugged in. The troubleshooting methods are below.

4. Overheating

All laptops have a processor and these processors have internal thermal protection that shuts down your laptop when your laptop overheats. In this kind of situation, your laptop won’t come on as long as your laptop is still very hot. your laptop has to cool off first before it can actually come on.

It’s important you check if your laptop is extremely hot. The troubleshooting methods are below.

5. Hardware Problems

The ram, motherboard, and processor are the most like hardware that could go wrong. If your laptop has a bad ram, this problem can make your laptop not come on. The same goes for the motherboard and processor.

It’s important to check if you have any hardware issues that could result in your laptop not coming on. The troubleshooting methods are below.

How To Turn on A Dell Laptop That Won’t Turn On

Here’s how:

1. Check If You Have a Bad Power Cord or Wall Socket.
2. Check If Your Battery Is Low or Dead.
3. Disconnect and Reconnect your Internal Cable Connection.
4. Check Your Dell Laptop For Overheating.
5. Check Your Hardware.

1. Check If You Have a Bad Power Cord or Wall Socket

You need to find out if your power cord is bad or not properly plugged in. Try your Dell charger on someone else’s laptop to find out if it still works.

If you don’t have any friends with a Dell laptop, smell your charger for a burnt smell. If it is fine then head over to your wall socket or extension to check if they are working properly.

You can also remove your battery and plug in your power cord to your laptop and try to see if your laptop will come on.

Check your LED light that indicates if your laptop is charging to see if it is actually blinking. If your LED light is blinking, hold your power button for 30 sec without your charger and battery. After you have done that for 30 sec, put your battery back into your laptop and connect your power cord then turn on your laptop.

If your laptop doesn’t come on, Try the same method with only your battery in your laptop, don’t connect your charger. Hold for 30 sec and then turn on your laptop with your charger plugged in. If your Dell laptop refuses to come on, try the method again with only your charger connected to your computer, remove your battery and then hold for 30 sec and then turn your laptop on.

If none of this troubleshooting method works for you, proceed to the next method.

2. Check If Your Battery Is Low or Dead

Start by checking your battery connection cable to see if it is properly plugged in. If your battery connection cable is well plugged in, remove the connection cable and put it back then try turning on your computer.

Note – Look at your LED light to see if it is blinking. As long as it is blinking, it means your laptop battery is low and simply needs to charge. If your LED light doesn’t show any light, connect a different laptop charger or power cord to your laptop and then turn your computer on without your battery in.

If you see a light on your LED, it means your battery is dead and needs to be replaced.

3. Disconnect and Reconnect your Internal Cable Connection

Note – This process is not for anyone without experience, if you don’t know how to open a laptop, please seek the help of a professional.

Not to take any chances, you need to open your computer with a screwdriver. Locate all the connection cables, remove them and wipe them with a clean cloth then put them back properly in their rightful place.

Now turn on your computer with everything plugged in including your charger and battery. If your computer is still not turning on, you shouldn’t worry. proceed to the next step.

4. Check Your Dell Laptop For Overheating

Touch your laptop to feel how hot it is. If your laptop is really hot, it simply means your computer will come on after your laptop cools off.

For your laptop to overheat means your laptop fan is not working.

To find if your laptop fan isn’t working, you wait for your laptop to cool off and then turn your laptop on. While your laptop is on, put your fingers really close to the fan vent to feel air coming out. If you don’t feel anything, take your ear close to the fan vent and try to listen to your laptop fan if it’s moving at all. It’s not rocket science; you will surely be able to tell if your laptop fan is working.

If your laptop fan is working, then you simply have to stop placing your laptop on your pillow or bed. If your fan isn’t working, I suggest you get yourself a cooling pad here. You should consult a professional to help you replace your Dell laptop fan.

5. Check Your Hardware

Note – This process is not for anyone without experience, if you don’t know how to open a laptop, please seek the help of a professional.

Open your laptop with a screwdriver, locate your RAM and remove your ram from the slot. Use a clean cloth to wipe your RAM, check your RAM slot to see if it’s dirty so you can clean it. After cleaning your RAM and RAM Slot, insert your RAM back into your laptop and turn your computer on with your charger plugged in.

If you are unable to fix your laptop, then I suggest you give a laptop engineer to help you diagnose and fix your computer or you can let Dell help you fix your laptop by going to their website.

If any of these methods work for you, continue reading.

How To Prevent Dell Power Issues

Here’s how:

1. Update Your Drivers Regularly.
2. Windows Update.
3. Protect Your Laptop.

1. Update Your Drivers Regularly

To update your drivers, visit Dell’s official website to download and install your drivers manually. If you want to save yourself from the stress of downloading and installing your laptop driver. You can consider using Driver Easy. This software will help you update your drivers automatically.

2. Windows Update

Set your windows to perform windows update for you automatically, to do this -click on start and search for windows update. Open windows update and go to advance. In advance settings, you can let Windows automatically update your laptop.

3. Protect Your Laptop

I recommend you get yourself a laptop bag to protect your laptop anytime it falls down.

Conclusion

When your Dell laptop won’t turn on even when plugged in, you basically have to go through the solutions I provided to resolve it.

Everybody might experience a similar problem which might not entirely be the same problem. That’s why I made sure I covered every possible troubleshooting method to help you with your computer.

I hope you have successfully fixed your Dell laptop and I will love a positive reply in the comment section.