How to Turn On a Toshiba Laptop Without the Power Button

If your Toshiba laptop’s power button is broken, stuck, or just not responding, it can be frustrating not being able to turn on your device. You might have already tried pressing the button multiple times with no success. But don’t worry — there are several alternative methods you can try to power on your Toshiba laptop without using the power button.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through practical ways to turn on your laptop, explain some useful features like keyboard shortcuts and Wake-on-LAN, and share tips to avoid causing damage. These solutions work for many Toshiba models, so whether your power button is physically damaged or just unresponsive, keep reading.

Why Won’t My Toshiba Laptop Power Button Work?

Before trying alternative methods, it helps to understand why the power button might not be working:

• Physical damage: The power button could be stuck or broken from impact or wear.
• Internal circuit issues: The button’s connection to the motherboard might be faulty.
• Dirt or debris: Something might be blocking the button’s movement.
• Hardware problems: Sometimes other hardware failures prevent the laptop from turning on, making it seem like the button is the issue.
• Power supply or battery issues: If the laptop isn’t receiving power, pressing the button won’t help.

Is It Possible to Turn On a Toshiba Laptop Without the Power Button?

Yes, it is! While the power button is the simplest way to turn on your laptop, there are alternative methods you can try. Depending on your Toshiba model and its BIOS features, you might be able to power on your laptop by:

• Using keyboard shortcuts
• Powering on via external USB devices
• Enabling features like Wake-on-LAN
• Setting the laptop to turn on automatically when plugged into power
• Shorting motherboard pins (advanced users only)

Let’s look at these options in detail.

Step 1: Try Keyboard Shortcuts to Power On Your Toshiba Laptop

Some Toshiba laptops support powering on via the keyboard, especially if certain BIOS settings are enabled.

Wake-On-Keyboard Feature

Many models have a Wake on Keyboard or Power On by Keyboard option in the BIOS. This lets you turn on the laptop by pressing a key or a key combination like Fn + Power or Fn + Esc.

How to check or enable this:

1. Connect an external USB keyboard if your built-in keyboard might be faulty.
2. Access the BIOS settings by pressing F2, Esc, or Del immediately after powering on (this step requires the power button to work at least once — see other steps if not).
3. Look for options named “Wake on Keyboard” or “Power On by Keyboard” and enable them.
4. Save the changes and exit BIOS.

Once activated, pressing a designated key should turn on your laptop from sleep or hibernation mode.

Note: This method generally works only if the laptop is in a low-power state like sleep or hibernation, not when it’s fully powered off.

For more details, see Toshiba’s official support or user manuals: Toshiba Support.

Step 2: Use Wake-On-LAN (WOL) to Power On Your Laptop Remotely

If your laptop has a compatible network card, you can power it on remotely using Wake-On-LAN (WOL).

How Wake-On-LAN Works

WOL lets you turn on your laptop over a network by sending a special “magic packet” from another device.

Steps to set up WOL:

1. Enable Wake On LAN in your Toshiba laptop’s BIOS. This requires accessing BIOS, which might need the power button briefly.
2. Connect your laptop to a wired Ethernet network.
3. From another device on the same network, send a magic packet using software like Depicus Wake On LAN or WakeMeOnLan.
4. Your laptop should power on when it receives the packet.

WOL is a powerful option, especially for remote management, but it requires some networking knowledge.

For more information, see Microsoft’s guide on Wake-On-LAN: Wake-on-LAN Overview.

Step 3: Enable Automatic Power-On When Plugged In

Some Toshiba laptops have a BIOS feature that automatically powers on the laptop when it’s connected to AC power. This can be helpful if your power button isn’t working.

How to use this feature:

1. Enter the BIOS setup when the laptop is on (again, this requires the power button at least once).
2. Find the setting labeled “Power On AC”, “Power On When Plugged”, or similar under the Power Management section.
3. Enable this option.
4. Save and exit BIOS.

Now, whenever you plug your laptop into a power source, it should turn on automatically without pressing the power button.

Step 4: Short the Power Button Pins on the Motherboard (Advanced)

If you’re comfortable opening your laptop