Framework 13 (Ultra 7 165H) power button failure, SW1 workaround

Community Support
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1

Hey all!

Two days ago I shut the laptop down normally after work. The next morning it would not power on. The charger is connected via USB-C and the LED on the side of the port lights up, so power is reaching the system, but pressing the power button does nothing.

I managed to turn it on, but not in a viable every day solution.

Troubleshooting Path

  1. Tried multiple USB-C ports and a second PD charger. No change.
  2. Performed the full mainboard reset procedure: removed the input cover, confirmed the mainboard LED was blinking red continuously when plugged in, pressed the chassis intrusion switch (SW3) 10 times for 2 seconds each. The laptop still would not power on via the normal power button afterwards.
  3. Pressed SW1 directly on the mainboard. The laptop powered on immediately and boots normally.
  4. With the system running, I confirmed the keyboard, trackpad, and the LED ring around the external power button all work correctly. The only thing that does not work is the power button switch itself pressing it produces no response, even though the LED around it illuminates.

Isn’t it weird the LED still works but the button doesn’t?

I opened a support ticket, but maybe there is something else I can do to fix this myself?

Thanks!

2

You might need a new one of these.
Buttons can break. Generally things that do not move, e.g. LEDs last longer.

Contact FW support via their web page form. If you are still in warranty, they might send you one for free.

3

Thanks for replying. If it comes to that I will do it, easy not too expensive replacement. But I would still like to try something else unless it’s pointless.

4

Not really, the button is completely independent from both the LEDs and the fingerprint reader.

Until you’re able to fix it, there is an option in the BIOS named “Power on AC attach”. It will power on the laptop when a charger is connected. If you have AC or a battery bank available it’s lot easier than pressing the tiny mainboard button.

Welcome to the forum by the way.

5

My only guess at a fix in the mean time, is remove the cable at the button and and mainboard end and put them back again. It might have got loose.
The power button works as just a single wire that connects from the button to a gpio of the EC.
So a simple loose cable could cause this.

6

Oh this is a really helpful tip, thank you!

And thank you for the welcome, so far it’s proving very much worth it. Also re-affirming my choice to buy framework. I guess something positive came out of having the issue, heh.

7

Regarding the power on ac attach.
Some bios versions broke that feature, so you might need to update the bios, if it does not work.

8

I just tested it and it does work, thank you for the tip. I had updated the bios recently.

By the way, the fingerprint reader is also working, I am assuming it’s also an isolated component?

9

The figure print reader is a usb device so independent.
The power button led and power button are controlled via different, independent, wires connection to gpio on the EC.