Why would you want to turn your PC motherboard without using the main power button? The answer to this is pretty simple. Many PC builders like to check whether or not their PC building has gone successful or if they have made any mistakes somewhere. 

Before you just wind up everything and close the case of your PC, how about checking whether the PC will work or not beforehand? This will save you a lot of time as you won’t have to open the case again. 


Key Takeaways

  • It is important first to check whether everything is connected properly or not before closing the case of your PC while building it.
  • You don’t need to use the main power button of your PC to turn on the motherboard. 
  • Your PC motherboard can be turned on through different methods.

But how does this work? How can someone turn on their PC without pressing the power button on the case? This is where this guide comes in. 

The Basics

You know what a motherboard is. Yes, the essential part; you can call it the heart of the computer. But technically, a motherboard is a device containing all the important components. 

Motherboard Power Button
Z490 Aorus Pro Motherboard – Image Captured By Tech4Gamers

Important components like CPU, Graphics Card, Hard Drive, and all the wirings and connections are actually on the motherboard. Malfunctioning the motherboard is a serious problem, as it can cause a lot of problems. 

Power Button

What do you do when you are all set to use your computer? You turn on the socket, and then you push the button on your PC. That PC button is called the power button. Now we are here to let you know that that button is present on the enclosure of the PC. 

However, it is important to learn how the motherboard’s power button works, as it can save you a lot of time while building a PC. 

How To Turn On The Motherboard With The Power Button

Follow the below-given steps as they are stated, and you will be able to turn on your computer without the main power button.

Find The Front Panel Header 

Firstly, you will need to find the front panel header because the pins of the power button are on this header.

For that purpose, you will have to inspect the motherboard and find it physically. For your ease, these headers have labels on them. And for the front panel header, the label you need to look for is F_Panel. 

After you have found the panel, you need to look more closely and find where the 2 pins are for the purpose of power. Again the labels will help you. Find the label +PW- and those two pins will be your power pins. 

Power Pins
X670E AORUS MASTER-Bottom Headers – Image Captured By Tech4Gamers.

Short Circuit The Power Switch Pins

Be sure that you have located the pins correctly because short-circuiting the wrong pins will lead you to a dead motherboard. How to short circuit? Well, we got you here too. You take a screwdriver and connect both pins with each other, and your PC will turn on.

Now that Your PC has turned on, do not touch any other part of your motherboard at all. This will be dangerous for you. Make sure that kids are not around.

What If The PC Isn’t Turning On? 

If your PC does not turn on, it means that while building the PC, you have made a mistake somewhere. There might be disconnected wires or unplugged plugs. To see that, remove the screwdriver and double-check the connections, and try again. Once you are done with this all, now you can further proceed to enclose the PC with the case. 

How To Connect A Power Button To A Motherboard

Now that you have verified, do you know how to connect the motherboard power button to the PC case? This itself is a huge topic to be covered alone. But now that you are here, let’s learn how to connect the motherboard power button.

There are going to be a few things you need to know first before we move on to the guide. 

  1. Electrical Pins
    Basically, the computer is filled with electrical pins. And motherboards bear almost the majority of them. For example, CPU fans need electrical pins to connect, and many other components such as Hard Disk, USB, etc. Headers
  2. Headers
    Many call them connectors because they do what they are called; they connect. They are connectors with male pins. Headers can be of different sizes depending on where they are going to be inserted. 

You can connect your motherboard power button with the following simple and easy steps. Try to follow the exact same method, and hopefully, you will not face any hurdles while doing this. Let’s start. 

Find The Front Panel Header

As explained above thoroughly, you will need to find the front panel header because the pins of the power button are on this header.

F Panel
X670E AORUS MASTER Bottom Section – Image Captured By Tech4Gamers.

For that purpose, you will have to inspect the motherboard and find it physically. For your ease, these headers have labels on them. And for the front panel header, the label you need to look for is F_Panel. 

Look For PINs Of Power On The Switch

Your next step is going to be inspected again. In the founding panel, you need to look more closely and find where the 2 pins are, for the purpose of power. Again the labels will help you find the label +PW- and those two pins will be your power pins. Now, connect the case’s plug to the power switch pins which you just found.

Note: The polarity does not really matter here, so you can go for it without being concerned.

Conclusion 

We hope that the guide was helpful and if you found any difficulty during the process, comment down below, and we will help you out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my motherboard power button not working?

This can happen if your PC case has got disconnected from the motherboard. Make sure that all the cables are connected properly, as 

How can I turn on my motherboard without the power button?

For this, you will have to find the F_panel. Then you will have to short-circuit the two power pins in the front panel. After doing that, your PC will turn on. 

Was our article helpful? 👨‍💻

Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋

How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔

Ali Rashid Khan is an avid gamer, hardware enthusiast, photographer, and devoted litterateur with a period of experience spanning more than 14 years. Sporting a specialization with regards to the latest tech in flagship phones, gaming laptops, and top-of-the-line PCs, Ali is known for consistently presenting the most detailed objective perspective on all types of gaming products, ranging from the Best Motherboards, CPU Coolers, RAM kits, GPUs, and PSUs amongst numerous other peripherals. When he’s not busy writing, you’ll find Ali meddling with mechanical keyboards, indulging in vehicular racing, or professionally competing worldwide with fellow mind-sport athletes in Scrabble at an international level. Currently speaking, Ali has completed his A-Level GCEs with plans to go into Business Studies, or who knows, perhaps a full-time dedicated technological journalist.