Format the startup disk and reinstall macOS It is worth noting that if your startup disk isn’t showing up in Disk Utility you may want to take your Mac for a service.ĥ. Once in recovery mode > Select Disk Utility > Click First Aid > Select your Startup Disk and run First aid to see if there is any damage. When your screen is stuck on the question mark folder you need to begin by holding down the power button until your device shuts down > Next you need to turn your Mac on and hold the Command + R keys which should take you to recovery mode.

This app will delete system junk, unwanted apps and malware as well as tuning your Mac for maximum speed. The question mark folder can be caused by failed updates or corrupt files and so running regular maintenance can solve application errors as well as improve the performance of your Mac.įirst, you should begin by backing up your data in case the issue is hardware related > use a cleaning app such as CleanMyMac X which runs a set of maintenance scripts to determine what the issues are. Resetting NVRAM will not delete any data from your storage drive but will delete your Mac’s current state information and restore default settings including sound volume, time zone and display resolution. To do this begin by turning your Mac off via the Apple menu > Shut Down > Power your Mac back up and press Option + Cmd + P + R straight away > Release the keys after 15-20 seconds. NVRAM will contain basic information on booting up and so resetting may be able to resolve the flashing question mark folder. NVRAM (non-volatile random-access memory) refers to the computer memory that can hold data even when power is off. If you have multiple disks and are unsure which one to choose, you should consider consulting with a professional as there is a risk of wiping your data. To do this first go to System Preferences > Click on Startup Disk and you will be able to see the available disks to use > Select the correct disk, most commonly Macintosh HD > If you need to make changes, select the right disk and click restart. This requires you to check your Mac is using the right startup disk. It basically means that your Mac cannot locate its system boot folder (files that are used to start your computer).ĭealing with this issue will depend on whether your Mac will allow you to load or not. This could also happen after having replaced your hard drive, booting up from an external system drive or updating macOS. Some of the following issues can cause this to happen: This usually means your startup disk or Macintosh HD is not detected or doesn’t have a working Mac operating system. The dreaded question mark folder can appear with no warning when starting up your Mac device.

Mac boot question mark