PLEASE HELP!!! 2016 MacBook Pro flashing folder with question mark

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PLEASE HELP!!! 2016 MacBook Pro flashing folder with question mark

I have an old MacBook Pro 2016 4 thunderbolt ports sitting around. I decided to take it out, so I get it out, open recovery mode and delete everything (since it was my family's member). Then I go to re install macOS Sierra. I do that but at the end the blue download bar is full and says -1 seconds remaining. I wait a minute and still there. So I press cancel and restart installation. I tell my self, wait it might do that again so I cancel downloading and I go in the apple menu and press restart. I wait a few seconds, nothing. Now it's a folder with a big question mark in it flashing. PLEASE HELP!!!! Any help is appreciated thank you!!

Posted on Mar 21, 2026 2:01 PM

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Answer 1

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D.I. Johnson

Level 8

35,579 points

Mar 21, 2026 2:28 PM in response to macbookguy12

The reinstall of the OS did not complete.

If your Mac starts up to a question mark - Apple Support

Since this was someone else's Mac - even a family member's - this is what you should do to prepare it for someone else to use: What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

Else, you could try to restart in recovery and try again.

How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

❝If you used Command-R to start up from the local Recovery system, you get the current version of the most recently installed macOS.
If you used Option-Command-R to start up from Internet Recovery, you might get the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac.
If you used Shift-Option-Command-R to start up from Internet Recovery, you might get the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.❞

Don't count on the "Estimated Time to Completion" bar. It will likely vary wildly as the process progresses.

The Mac may reboot several times while the OS is being reinstalled.

Patience, young padewan.

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