MacBooks are famous for being reliable and long-lasting computers. Still, that does not mean Apple computers are perfect or do not experience software and hardware glitches. Sometimes users report the problem with MacBooks stuck on loading screen (boot screen with the Apple logo and the loading indicator).
A Macbook can stuck on the loading screen when installing a macOS update or during a regular power-on cycle. If you got hit by the bug and you do not know how to get past the loading screen in Mac, here are several ways to solve the problem. Read this article to the end to learn how to fix Macbook stuck on the loading screen.
How to Restart MacBook Stuck on Loading Screen?
There are few possible reasons why your MacBook is stuck on the boot screen. Those can be mere software glitch or a more serious hardware issue. Unfortunately, there are very few things you can do to malfunctioning MacBook. Modern Apple laptops are non-user-serviceable, which means you need to contact Apple if you suspect there is a hardware problem.
The good thing is that it is relatively easy to fix a MacBook stuck on the loading screen with the Apple logo, assuming you are dealing with a software bug.
Important. If your MacBook stuck on the loading screen during system update, give your computer some time. MacOS takes a lot of time to complete the update process, which means a MacBook may appear to be stuck. It is completely normal for a MacBook to install a major macOS update for more than an hour, especially on older models. If nothing happens for more than a couple of hours, you have got a problem to fix.
The first thing to do is try to reboot your MacBook. You can do that by holding down the power button for 10-20 seconds. In modern MacBooks, power button “lives” inside the TouchID sensor in the upper-right corner of the keyboard. Older Macs with optical drives use the eject button for power-on or shutdown.
Holding the power button will cause your MacBook to turn off completely, even if the operating system has crashed. After that, you can try power-on your computer as usual or in safe mode.
Tip. You can also try to force-restart your computer if a MacBook is stuck on the loading screen with the Apple logo. Hold the Command + Ctr + Power keys until the display goes dark and the system starts booting.
How to Start a MacBook in Safe Mode?
- Start your MacBook as you usually do.
- Press and hold down the Shift button immediately. The Apple logo should appear on the screen.
- When the login screen appears, release the Shift key and log into your account.
- You may need to log in twice if you have FileVault enabled.
Safe Mode performs various checks and prevents certain programs from autostart on boot. In addition, macOS clears system cache and fonts, and the boot procedure checks the drive for errors (and attempts to fix them if found). In most cases of software glitches, booting a MacBook in Safe mode helps fix the MacBook stuck on the loading screen error.
Now restart your computer as you usually do and try botting it in normal mode.
Fix MacBook Stuck on Loading Screen – Check the Disk in Recovery Mode
If booting in Safe Mode fails, you should try Recovery Mode. It will help you check whether system drive operates normally and without hardware issues. Often, boot failures are caused by a broken drive or a corrupted system file. In Recovery Mode, you can diagnose the drive, reinstall macOS, or restore a previously saved backup (for that reason, you should always backup your MacBook using various tools from Apple or third parties).
To enter Recovery Mode, turn off your Mac by holding the power button. Turn it back on and hold the Command + R buttons until you see the system entering Recovery. Recovery Mode turns on with a small window and various macOS utilities. Here you can restore your operating system from a backup, reinstall the OS, and test the hardware. Begin with step three. Select Disk Utility from the menu and click First Aid. The system will show an error if the disk is corrupted.
If no errors were found, try booting macOS from a backup (if available). The process is automatic. Click “Restore from Time Machine Backup” on the macOS disk utilities menu in Recovery Mode.
Re-install MacOS You Cannot fix MacBook Stuck on Loading Screen
If nothing works, try reinstalling the operating system. You can also do this through Recovery Mode using the “Reinstall macOS” option. Select it and follow the instructions. Note that reinstalling requires an Internet connection and power. If there is no active Internet connection, you need a bootable macOS media for offline installation.
If none of the methods worked, there may be a problem hardware. For example, bootloop occurs when RAM, graphics card, processor, or disk storage is broken. In this case, you may need to replace the damaged component or contact Apple.
If you’ve managed to reboot your computer or successfully reinstall macOS, run a system diagnostic. An article called the Mac Hardware Test will help you do just that.
