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I cannot get my macbook air to start up

I am needing help with my macbook air, when I turned it on, it had a folder with a question mark on it. I did get far, but need further assistance.

Posted on Feb 14, 2021 9:31 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 14, 2021 10:22 PM

Below is a direct excerpt from a guide published by Apple to troubleshoot the "Folder with a question mark" on your screen.

If your Mac starts up to a question mark

A folder with a flashing question mark means that your startup disk is no longer available or doesn't contain a working Mac operating system.




If the question mark appears only momentarily before your Mac starts up normally:

  1. Reset NVRAM.
  2. Make sure that your preferred startup disk is selected in ➔ Startup Disk preferences.

If the question mark persists, follow these steps:

  1. Press and hold the power button on your Mac for up to 10 seconds, until your Mac turns off.
  2. Turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold Command (⌘) and R to ➔ start up from macOS Recovery.
  3. While in macOS Recovery, ➔ use Disk Utility to repair your startup disk.
  4. If Disk Utility found no errors or repaired all errors, reinstall macOS.
  5. If you still need help, please contact Apple Support.


Axel F.

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 14, 2021 10:22 PM in response to esanchez90

Below is a direct excerpt from a guide published by Apple to troubleshoot the "Folder with a question mark" on your screen.

If your Mac starts up to a question mark

A folder with a flashing question mark means that your startup disk is no longer available or doesn't contain a working Mac operating system.




If the question mark appears only momentarily before your Mac starts up normally:

  1. Reset NVRAM.
  2. Make sure that your preferred startup disk is selected in ➔ Startup Disk preferences.

If the question mark persists, follow these steps:

  1. Press and hold the power button on your Mac for up to 10 seconds, until your Mac turns off.
  2. Turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold Command (⌘) and R to ➔ start up from macOS Recovery.
  3. While in macOS Recovery, ➔ use Disk Utility to repair your startup disk.
  4. If Disk Utility found no errors or repaired all errors, reinstall macOS.
  5. If you still need help, please contact Apple Support.


Axel F.

I cannot get my macbook air to start up

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