I tried turning off my audio dedicated PC yesterday from sleep and the button jammed . I took apart the right side, the top and front to see if I could unjam it, which I could but it still is stuck on one side and I need to unjam it every time. At the bottom on the floor of the case I found a little plastic thing (see photo) that seems to match a twin on the other side of where it seems this was previously.

I bought some compressed air and contact cleaner. I was thinking to blow out the button zone to see if a little plastic bit broke off and is keeping it from depressing on the the part of the button not going down.

Is this a good first step to try or not?

 

I would try this: first turn off the computer on the power supply, then get some clean cloth and soak it with alcohol (vodka or tequila can do, too ), clean the button with it, especially the edges of it and its casing. "train" the button a little while it's wet until it turns on/off smoothly. That usually does it. Compressed air is not of great help as this is most probably sticky grease from fingers that collected on the sides both on the button side and the casing of the button side. It is sticky and prevents the button from working normally. That happens more often than you think.

Hope it helps! Cheers!

p.s. if you can't reach the greasy dirt with the cloth, you can use ear cleaning tips, or use a toothpick with a bit of cotton wool.

 

Last edited: Jun 21, 2025 at 9:27 PM

Power Your PC On With A Screwdriver
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/w4KBy_laYLw

How to bypass power button on a desktop computer

Time for a new PC case?

 

I didn't see the picture when I replied. So the little plastic button holder broke. You will most probably have to pull out the whole plastic cover, which is the button in fact, and use the real button inside to turn the PC on. Yeah, it won't look great, but it will work. However, maybe cleaning it the way I described could work, too, but I doubt it. The little plastic holder is pretty important for the button to work properly.

Let us know how it goes, mate. I'll be here for the time being. Drinking red, writing lyrics and making some tunes later... the standard Saturday night procedure.

 

The comment above is correct. Remove the plastic from the button and just use the real button beneath to turn it on. I hope your outlets are properly grounded, because that might start giving a bit of a electric shock depending on the type of button they used in the case.

I highly recommend getting a new case, there are many inexpensive cases that are high quality nowadays. Take a look at Phanteks and Lian Li cases.

 

If the problem stay unresolved ordering an external Power Button could help
It's cheap

 

You can start the PC with a screwdriver. Just short up start pins on the motherboard (Google it)

 

All the power buttons I've ever seen, even in blade servers, are made from hard plastic (for this very reason), so grounding shouldn't be a problem. It's a good practice to check it, anyway, of course. Thanks!

 

i'd buy a new case if cannot be fixed easily

 

Cases are fairly cheap these days. While I get that it seems extravagant to buy a new case because of a piece of broken plastic, sometimes, the quickest solution can be the better, versus the time trying to fix something that may not last post-fix.

 

Try turning it on and off again.... oh shit nevermind sorry Lois Lane

 

Those wonderful Saturday nights, eh? Saturdays rule. Enjoy!

 

Guessing from the pic alone i could not make any thing it looks like a clip or lock of a component that broke apart, they usually like push in lock kinda thingy. A little more detail of the the situation could be useful. And also the make or model of the unit.
If everything fails, i Would go with external power button. There are other accessories can can be installed like a dvd rom or the fan controller, but its unnecessary, and its the cheapest simplest way.
https://www.amazon.com/power-button-pc/s?k=power+button+pc