Understanding Desktop Power Button Colors and Blinking Indicators
Summary: Learn why the power button on your Dell desktop changes colors or blinks. Understand power states, troubleshooting steps, and how to resolve power issues efficiently.
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Instructions
Computer Power Button Color Meaning
Dell desktop computers have a power button light (LED) that can 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. |
See our Support Library page, Computer Won't Turn On: Troubleshoot Power Issues |
| Blinking Yellow |
The computer is receiving power, but all the hardware in the computer may not be getting enough power. |
See 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
No Post/No Video Articles
Help can also be found in the following articles and guides:
- For advanced troubleshooting of device power issues, see Dell Knowledge Base 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, see Dell Knowledge Base How to Troubleshoot Display or Video Issues on a Dell Laptop.
- For information about 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
Browse to our Battery and Power site for additional resources and information.
Affected Products
Chromebox, Alienware, Dell All-in-One, Dell Pro All-in-One, Dell Pro Max Micro, Dell Pro Max Slim, Dell Pro Max Tower, Dell Pro Micro, Dell Pro Slim, Dell Pro Tower, Dell Slim, Dell Tower, Inspiron, Legacy Desktop Models, OptiPlex, Vostro, XPS
, G Series, Fixed Workstations, Dell Pro Max Micro XE FCM2250, Dell Pro Max Slim XE FCS1250, Dell Pro Max Tower T2 XE FCT2250, Dell Pro Micro Plus XE QBM1250, Dell Pro Slim Plus XE5 QBS1250, Dell Pro Tower Plus XE5 QBT1250
...
Article Properties
Article Number: 000138267
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 18 June 2025
Version: 10
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