Recovering data from a Mac that won’t power on or boot
No chime, no fan, a black screen – or a Mac that powers on but never reaches the desktop. These are different faults, and telling them apart is the first step to getting your files back.
Power fault or boot fault?
A power fault means nothing happens: no light, no fan, no sound. The cause is usually on the logic board or power supply, and the data is often untouched.
A boot fault means the Mac powers on but stops at a logo, a question-mark folder or a prohibitory sign. That points to the storage or the operating system.
Intel Macs that still power on can sometimes be read through Target Disk Mode, and Apple silicon Macs through the Share Disk option in macOS Recovery. If neither works, do not keep trying.
How we recover it
We test the power path and board first. Where storage is removable we image it on our own equipment. Where it is soldered and encrypted to the Mac, we repair the fault that stops the Mac starting, then copy your data while it runs.
What it costs
Every job starts with a professional evaluation (£94.80). You then get a fixed quote and a list of recoverable files before any recovery work is charged. As a guide, most no-power and no-boot cases fall in our £650–£1,200 band; boards needing extensive repair can reach £1,400–£2,800.
Frequently asked questions
Can you just take the drive out of my dead MacBook?
On older models yes. On most MacBooks since 2016 the storage is soldered and encrypted to the board, so the board has to be made to work.
Will a new battery or charger fix it?
Sometimes. We test those first because they are the cheapest fix, before any board-level work.
My iMac makes a chime but shows a black screen. Is that a data problem?
Often it is a display or graphics fault rather than storage, and the data can be copied off safely.
Related services
macOS Corruption & Failed UpdatesBoot loops, stuck updates and corrupted APFS volumes.
Deleted or Formatted Mac FilesEmptied Trash, erased disks and accidental reformats.
Mac SSD & Fusion Drive FailureFusion Drive, Apple blade SSD and soldered storage failures.
MacBook Liquid DamageCoffee, water and drink spills on MacBook Air and Pro.
FileVault-Encrypted Mac RecoveryFailed encrypted Mac drives, unlocked with your credentials.
iMac & Mac Pro Hard Drive CrashClicking and failed hard drives in iMac and Mac Pro towers.
Mac Logic Board & NAND DamageBoard-level repair to reach soldered, encrypted Mac storage.
Talk to an engineer
Describe the problem and the make and model if you know it. We will reply with a price and the fastest way to get it fixed, usually the same working day.
020 7237 6805 London repair centreUnit 1, 80 Willow Walk, London SE1 5SY
Monday to Saturday, 9am–6pm
Ready to send it in? Book online and get your job number by email straight away.