Why Does the Power Button on My Desktop Computer Change Colors or Blink
Summary: This article assists determining what changing color or blinking on your desktop power button indicates.
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Instructions
Meanings of Power Button States
Dell desktop computers have a power button light (LED) that is able to change its status. This is useful for reporting the general status of the computer. The LED can be green, yellow, or off. It can also blink or maintain a steady color (Table 1).
|
LED State |
System State |
Action |
|---|---|---|
| Steady Yellow |
The computer is receiving power and providing power to all the hardware inside. However, data is not being transferred properly. |
Refer to our Support Library page, Computer Won't Turn On: Troubleshoot Power Issues |
| Blinking Yellow |
The computer is receiving power, but all of the hardware in the computer may not be getting enough power. |
Refer to our Support Library page, Computer Won't Turn On: Troubleshoot Power Issues |
| Steady Green | The computer is powered on. | If the computer is unusable in the power-on state, see the resources at the end of this article. |
| Blinking Green | The computer has been put into standby (sleep) mode. | Press the power button to bring the computer out of standby. |
| Off | The computer has been turned off. | Turn the computer on, or verify that it is plugged into a working power source. |
Table 1: Power Button LED States
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Help can also be found in the following articles and guides:
- For advanced troubleshooting of device power issues, see KB article Dell Computer Does Not Turn On or Boot Into Windows With Errors Such as No Bootable Device.
- If the computer seems to turn on, but nothing appears on the screen, refer to How to Troubleshoot Display or Video Issues on a Dell Laptop.
- For information on setting up your computer, an overview of features, and instructions for adding or removing parts, see the Online User's Guides.
- For additional help, contact Dell technical support.
Additional Information
Visit our Battery and Power site for additional resources and information.
Affected Products
Chromebox, Alienware, Inspiron, Legacy Desktop Models, OptiPlex, Vostro, XPS, G Series, Fixed WorkstationsArticle Properties
Article Number: 000138267
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 17 Feb 2025
Version: 8
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