HP Spectre x360 won’t turn on – LED blinks 3 times

[Julia_J12]

Hi,

My HP Spectre x360 Convertible won’t turn on. When I press the power button, nothing happens except the LED blinking three times. The screen stays black and there’s no fan or startup sound. The battery is built-in, so I can’t remove it, and I’m hesitant to open the device myself.

I’ve already tried a hard reset by holding the power button for over 30 seconds – no change.

Any ideas what this could be or what I should do next?

Thanks in advance!

[Hawks_Eye · Accepted solution]

Hi @Julia_J12 

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for posting your query! We're here to help you get back up and running.

The three-blink pattern usually indicates a power-related issue, which could mean a battery failure, motherboard fault, or RAM problem. Since you've already tried a hard reset, here are a few more things to test before considering repairs:

1. Power Reset with Adapter

• Disconnect the power adapter from the laptop.
• Press and hold the power button for at least 60 seconds (sometimes longer than 30 sec helps).
• Plug the power adapter back in and try turning it on.
• If the LED blinks three times again, try using a different power adapter if possible.

2. Check for Keyboard or Caps Lock Blink Codes

• Press the power button again and see if Caps Lock or any other key LEDs blink.
• If there’s a pattern, it could indicate a more specific hardware issue.

3. Attempt an External Boot

• If the laptop isn't responding, try booting from a USB recovery drive:
  • Plug in a Windows recovery USB.
  • Hold Esc while powering on to see if it detects boot options.

4. Try Booting Without Accessories

• Unplug all USB devices, external monitors, or docking stations.
• If an accessory is causing interference, this could force a normal startup.

5. Battery Bypass Test (If Possible)

• Some HP Spectre models allow booting with just the adapter.
• Leave the laptop plugged in for 30 minutes, then try turning it on without pressing the power button—some units auto-start when charged enough.

6. HP Hardware Diagnostics (External Method)

• If you have access to another HP laptop:
  • Download HP PC Hardware Diagnostics from HP’s support site onto a USB.
  • Boot the Spectre x360 using this USB and run tests.

If none of these work, it's likely a hardware fault. Since opening the device isn’t ideal, HP support may need to inspect the battery, motherboard, or RAM. If it's still under warranty, definitely reach out to HP before considering third-party repair.

Let me know which steps give you any response!

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Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye