Is your MacBook stuck on the Apple logo and won’t boot?
When your MacBook gets stuck on the Apple logo, it usually indicates a problem with the operating system.
An error may have occurred during software updates, causing some files to corrupt.
It may also be due to improper shutdowns, buggy third-party applications, and improper configurations.
Today, we’ll show you how to get your MacBook to boot properly.
Let’s begin!
1. Check For Faulty Peripherals.
Your MacBook may not be booting due to peripheral devices you’ve installed. Remove all external devices on your Mac and boot it in safe mode.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Hold the Power button until the ‘Loading startup options’ prompt appears.
- Now, choose a Volume.
- Press and hold the Shift key and click Continue in Safe Mode.
If your MacBook successfully boots in safe mode, connect one external device and restart it.
Repeat this process until the problems start occurring again. When this happens, remove the last device you’ve plugged in.
This is what causes your MacBook to get stuck in the Apple logo.
2. Use Disk Utility.
If you recently updated your MacBook and it won’t boot, there’s a chance that some resources were not installed properly.
Luckily, macOS has a software utility that automatically checks and repairs broken system files.
Follow the steps below to use Disk Utility on your Mac:
- To start, identify whether your Mac is using Apple silicon or Intel. Follow the steps below afterward:
- Apple Silicon Mac – Hold the Power button until you see the startup options window.
- Intel Mac – Turn on your Mac and press Command + R until you see the Apple logo.
- Select your user account and click Next.
- Provide your password when prompted.
- On the Utilities window, click on Disk Utility and click Continue.
- Finally, click First Aid and choose Run.
Wait for your MacBook to complete the scan and it should automatically repair errors on your drive.
Restart your computer afterward to check if it will boot normally.
3. Reset NVRAM (Intel Macs).
Clearing your NVRAM can also help solve booting issues on your MacBook.
NVRAM is a small memory on your Mac that stores certain system settings. Some of these settings may have gotten corrupted, preventing your Mac from booting up.
Here’s how you can reset your NVRAM:
- First, make sure that your MacBook is fully turned off.
- After that, turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold the Option + Command + P + R keys.
- After 20 seconds release the keys and your Mac should restart.
Boot your Mac normally and check if it will still get stuck on the Apple logo.
4. Check Power Cable and Charger.
If your MacBook shows the Apple logo and shuts off immediately, it’s possible that it just ran out of battery.
To confirm this, try charging your MacBook for a few minutes and see if it will turn on.
You should also check if the outlet is working. Try plugging in other devices to see if they will work.
Inspect the charging cable and adapter for damages, exposed wires, and bent pints. If your charger is the problem, head to the nearest Apple Store to buy a genuine charger.
Head to the nearest Apple Store if you’ve confirmed that your charger is the problem and buy a replacement.
Note
We strongly suggest using genuine chargers on your MacBook to avoid damaging the battery.
5. Perform A Force Startup.
If you had your MacBook for a while, there’s a chance that the power button is starting to malfunction.
If the power button is stuck, your MacBook won’t boot up and will just cycle through the Apple logo.
Give it a few wiggles after turning on your MacBook or lift it up to ensure that it is not stuck.
You can also perform a force startup by holding Power + Function + Control + Command on your keyboard.
6. Reset System Management Controller.
System Management Controller or SMC is tasked to manage the power of your Mac.
Resetting your MacBook’s SMC can solve problems related to power, boot, and thermal management.
MacBook w/ Apple Silicon:
- Make sure that your MacBook is plugged into a charger.
- Now, shut down the device by holding the Power button for a few seconds.
- Turn on your MacBook normally.
MacBook w/ T2 Chip:
- Turn off your MacBook.
- On the keyboard, press and hold Control + Option + Shift keys together with the Power button.
- Keep holding all keys for another 7 seconds and release them. Turn on your Mac normally.
MacBook w/o T2 Chip:
- Make sure that your MacBook is turned off.
- On your keyboard, press the Shift + Control + Option keys together with the Power button.
- Continue holding all keys for 10 seconds. Release the keys afterward and turn on your Mac normally.
Once done, your MacBook should boot up and the issue should be resolved.
7. Reinstall macOS.
If your MacBook is still stuck on the Apple logo, there might be an issue with the operating system.
In this case, it’s best to reinstall macOS on your MacBook to ensure everything’s in order.
Here’s what you need to do:
- First, connect your MacBook to your network using a network cable.
- Now, hold the Power button until your MacBook’s screen turns black.
- Press and hold the Command + R keys on your keyboard and turn on your Mac.
- Release the keys once the Apple logo appears.
- Lastly, select Reinstall macOS on the Utilities window and follow the prompts.
Once done, set up your MacBook and you are good to go.
9. Contact Apple.
If none of the solutions above worked, we recommend that you bring your MacBook to the nearest Apple Store.
Ask a certified technician to look at your MacBook and check for possible hardware and software issues.
That ends our guide on how to fix your MacBook if it’s stuck on the Apple logo.
If you have questions or other concerns, please let us know in the comment section, and we’ll do our best to answer them.
