MacBook Air 2020 problems and how to fix them

A few months ago I shared my experiences with the 2020 MacBook Air I had just purchased, deciding that it is the computer 90% of users need.

It has everything you could ask for in this era of pocket computers, taking into account that it doesn't fit in a pocket: it's light, compact, powerful, durable, etc. and, of course, it incorporates the most advanced operating system in the world (sorry to use Apple's slogan) by incorporating as standard many applications that are unmatched in the Windows world.



MacBook Air 2020 problems and how to fix them

Sure, for people over 50, the screen may be too small to use without presbyopia glasses, although the system also includes several tools in the Finder and applications to display larger text and icons.

In any case, since I bought it, I have the MacBook Air 2020 connected to a second monitor, and while it is basically a matter of productivity and visual limitations, it has proved to be a real lifesaver in the end.

My problem with MacBook Air 2020

It all started as one more day, working on both screens, email, web, WhatsApp, Pages, etc. I get up to have a coffee and when I come back, of course, the computer is inactive. I unlock it (with Apple Watch, thanks for that!) And the external screen turns on but that of the MacBook Air 2020 does not.

I use, as you may have already guessed, the extended desktops option, so that some applications are on one monitor and others on another. So I get away with passing all applications to the external monitor.

As the minutes go by I discover that the computer monitor is working, it just doesn't turn on. I wait to finish the urgent and necessary homework in the morning and begin to see what it can be.



MacBook Air Troubleshooting

As I said, the computer works and the monitor works too, only it doesn't "turn on", which makes it unusable. Here we are going to review the steps that you can take to try to fix your computer yourself without having to take it to the technical service, because many times they work and you save a huge amount of time (and money - for the hours not lost).

First of all, make a backup, if you haven't prepared it to run automatically. In my case, in addition to the remote copy, I connected an external drive to make a manual copy of the folders that I was interested in restoring in case I lost my computer. That is, I manually copied the Desktop, Downloads, Documents, Music and Pictures folder. I have no particular interest in copying the Library or emails (which are already stored on their own in the cloud).

After that, I opened Disk Utility (Applications> Utilities> Disk Utility) and I ran First Aid to verify that everything was correct and did not detect any errors in the file tree or sectors. I know that - for the more experienced it will be obvious - that it has nothing to do with the problem he was giving me (which clearly looked like hardware), but it is more a question of methodology adopted over the years.

Verifying that the disk and system are perfect, I have closed my username and logged into another one, to verify that the situation was repeating itself, and therefore also exclude that something had broken in my session. Sure enough, predictably, the 2020 MacBook Air monitor still wouldn't turn on.


At this point, I was convinced that my problems with the 2020 MacBook were not something simple that could be solved with the usual tools. So I tried the "miracle" solution: restart your computer. I know that to many this may seem like an elementary thought (i.e. little elaborate) but I must say that, upon restart, macOS clears its caches and checks the startup disk, sometimes fixing problems before they become serious. But also, as with many appliances, that action can make things worse (more on that later).


As I said, it is about crossing off the list of things that can be fixed without going to a technical service, because if you have to go, the first thing they will do is ask you if you have done this or that, and if they find something that you do not have. still tried, either you do it directly while talking to them, or they tell you to do it and then call back.

In my case, restarting the computer only made things worse. Suddenly the computer did not start up. He read the system, but when it was time to load the user, everything went black again. This triggered all the alarms, because, although the urgency was over, it had to be a short stop and then continue with the remaining tasks, the important ones. I absolutely didn't think this would destroy my three-month-old computer in the ICU!

Things you can do before you give up

Restart the SMC:


To reset SMC functions on the T2 chip (iMac Pro or MacBook Pro 2018 with Touch Bar):

  1. Turn off your Mac.
  2. Once it turns off, press and hold the power button for 10 seconds.
  3. After releasing the power button, wait a few seconds, then press the power button again to turn on your Mac.

In my case it served to restore the computer to the state it was before the dark screen. The external screen worked again.

Reset PRAM and NVRAM

NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random Access Memory) is a small amount of memory that your Mac uses to store certain settings and access them quickly. The PRAM (Parameter RAM) stores similar information and the steps to reset NVRAM and PRAM are the same.


Turn off your Mac, turn it back on, then immediately hold these four keys together for about 20 seconds: Option, Command, P, and R. During this time, the Mac may appear to restart.

  • On Mac computers that play a startup sound, you can release the keys after the second sound.
  • On Mac computers equipped with the Apple T2 chip, you can release the keys after the Apple logo appears and disappears a second time.

MacBook Air 2020 problems and how to fix themMacBook Air 2020 problems and how to fix themMacBook Air 2020 problems and how to fix themMacBook Air 2020 problems and how to fix themMacBook Air 2020 problems and how to fix themMacBook Air 2020 problems and how to fix themMacBook Air 2020 problems and how to fix them

Note: If you have a firmware password, this process will not work.

Start in Target mode (Target)

This option allows you to connect your computer to another so that its hard disk is mounted on the desktop as an external disk, allowing you to recover files and use third-party utilities to try to repair it.

Other ways to start your Mac with keyboard shortcuts

Command (⌘) -R:  boot from the built-in macOS Recovery system. Or use Option-Command-R or Shift-Option-Command-R to boot from macOS Recovery over the Internet. MacOS Recovery installs different versions of macOS based on the key combination you press during startup. If your Mac uses a firmware password, you will be prompted to enter it.

Option (⌥) or Alt:  starts the Boot Manager, which allows you to choose other boot disks or volumes, if available. If your Mac uses a firmware password, you will be prompted to enter it.

Shift (⇧):  boot in safe mode. Disabled when using a firmware password.

D:  launch the Apple Diagnostics utility. Or use Option-D  to launch this utility on the Internet.

Command-V:  start in verbose mode. Disabled when using a firmware password.

When you fail to fix MacBook Air 2020 issue

MacBook Air 2020 problems and how to fix them

There comes a time when you have to give up. When you've tried everything you know, you've asked friends who know more than you, and nothing works, it's just that you are beyond your means. Now is the time to call technical support.

As I said earlier, I was in the midst of deliveries and commitments, and this unexpected and inopportune failure caused me the closest thing to a panic attack I've had in a long time. I didn't want to think about having to spend weeks waiting for a repair.

They are extremely lucky to live within ten minutes of an Apple Store and have always been friendly, helpful and supportive. So I took my flimsy MacBook Air and went there without an appointment or anything.

Times are what they are, and the store was empty of customers due to the coronavirus, and only those who had an appointment entered. For the first time since I needed to go to the Apple Store, they gave me no alternatives. They had always told me: sit down and as soon as there is space between appointments we will assist you. This time there was no alternative. I had to go home (not) composed and with a broken computer.

MacBook Air 2020 problems and how to fix them

Since, despite everything, I am an elderly dog, before leaving I had made an appointment via the app. It was for two days later. At the time, after having complied with the prescriptions (alcohol on my hands, wearing protective gloves and surgical mask - I was used to Apple and the seriousness with which anti-contagion measures are taken) I entered the shop.

I went to what was then called the Genius Bar. I know they have removed the 'bar' and I'm not sure it's still called the 'Genius' area - I think it's just 'counter' now. Within a few minutes a nice employee came by to listen to my problem and to make a diagnosis on the computer.

MacBook Air 2020 problems and how to fix them

Just as I feared, they kept it. The deadline, in these coronavirus times, is about seven working days. My God. A week without a computer. Returning home I tried to organize myself mentally to see what jobs I could complete with the old equipment I have and which ones I needed to renovate ...

Within three days, I received an email announcing that my computer was ready for pickup.

MacBook Air 2020 problems and how to fix them

Honestly, after such a short time, I thought the answer would be: it's not worth fixing, here's another one. Just the prospect of having to reconfigure everything, remembering passwords, logins, etc. It made my legs limp that I couldn't stand.

Fortunately, it was all my imagination. The problem with the MacBook Air 2020 was solved by changing the screen… and leaving the rest of the computer intact!

I can only have good words for the Apple Store Repair Service, not only did they do it perfectly, but they passed their own deadline in three days!

I am once again a happy user of MacBook Air 2020 and can recommend Apple's after-sales service without hesitation.

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Leave a comment if you own a 2020 MacBook Air or have had experiences with Apple Support.

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