A ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 that will not start is usually in one of three states, and Lenovo's design gives owners a useful tool for the worst of them. A laptop that shows no sign of power may need its battery reset. ThinkPads with an internal battery have an emergency reset hole on the underside, and Lenovo's guides describe pressing a straightened paper clip into it for a few seconds with the charger disconnected;
check the user guide for your model for the exact steps. A laptop that powers on but shows nothing needs the display and external monitor checks. A laptop that shows the Lenovo logo and stops needs the BIOS and recovery steps. In all three cases the first move is the same: confirm the charger is the right wattage and the outlet works, and let the laptop charge for a while before pressing the power button.
Differential
Likely causes of “Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 will not turn on or start”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A depleted battery or a bad adapter
What separates it No lights and no response
How to confirm Charge on the original adapter for thirty minutes and watch the charge indicator
- 2
A stuck power state
What separates it The laptop does not respond after a sleep or update
How to confirm Hold the power button for ten seconds, or use the emergency reset hole as the user guide describes
- 3
A black screen with the laptop running
What separates it The fan spins and the keyboard backlight lights
How to confirm Try an external monitor and a Windows, Ctrl, Shift, B graphics reset
- 4
A start-up fault
What separates it The Lenovo logo appears and Windows does not load
How to confirm Press F1 for BIOS, check boot order, and use Windows recovery
- 5
A hardware fault
What separates it Nothing works after the above
How to confirm Lenovo service
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The adapter wattage and whether the charge indicator comes on
- Whether any light, fan or sound shows life
- What the screen shows: nothing, the logo or an error
- The date of the last BIOS or Windows update
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedCheck the adapter and outlet
ReversibleThe original adapter, another outlet, and let it charge for thirty minutes.
Force a power-off
ReversibleHold the power button for ten seconds.
Use the emergency reset hole
ReversibleDisconnect the charger, press a straightened paper clip into the reset hole as the user guide shows, then reconnect the charger.
Try an external monitor
ReversibleIf the fans spin but the screen is black.
Enter BIOS with F1
ReversibleIf the logo appears, check boot order and the SSD.
Use Windows recovery
ReversibleStartup Repair, then Reset this PC if needed, after a backup.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The reset hole
- A small hole on the underside that resets the embedded battery controller; Lenovo describes it in its guides for ThinkPads with internal batteries.
- Charging first
- A deeply drained battery needs time on the adapter before the laptop will start.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the laptop does not respond after a battery reset and a known-good adapter, book Lenovo service
- !If data matters, ask Lenovo or a shop to image the SSD before a Windows reset
- !A laptop that smells burnt or swells needs service at once
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does my X1 Carbon Gen 13 not turn on?+
Charge it first, then force a power-off and use the emergency reset hole if the user guide for your model describes one.
Where is the ThinkPad emergency reset hole?+
On the underside of ThinkPads with an internal battery; the user guide shows its position.
What if only the screen is black?+
Try an external monitor and the graphics reset shortcut.
Should I reset Windows?+
Only after a backup and after the start-up repair options fail.