What does the flashing folder with question mark mean on a Mac?

Whether you turn off or put your Mac to sleep, you will normally have no problem getting back to work. But sometimes your computer suddenly crashes. Instead of seeing the usual home screen when you start your Mac, you’re greeted by a flashing folder with a question mark on a blank screen. In some cases, it disappears after a few seconds and your Mac boots normally. But other times, your Mac gets stuck on the flashing folder screen.

This error icon can mean one of two things. First, there is a problem with your internal storage, which is also a sign that your SSD is about to fail or has already failed. Second, your Mac can’t find the valid, working operating system it needs to boot. In turn, it does not go to the home screen.

However, a flashing folder with a question mark doesn’t automatically mean your Mac is finished. Depending on the cause, you may still be able to resolve it. We’ll tell you what to do when you see this flashing folder on your Mac.

If you temporarily only see a flashing folder with a question mark on your Mac, it’s worth checking if your startup disk is set correctly in Settings. Follow these steps:

1. Click the Apple menu.
2. Go to System Settings.
3. On the General tab, select Startup Disk.
4. Choose your startup disk.
5. Tap Restart.

If you’re using an Intel-based Mac, try resetting the NVRAM as well (this also helps fix a MacBook stuck on a black screen). Simply turn off your Mac. Next, press the Power button once and quickly hold Option + Command + R + P. Continue pressing the keys for 20 seconds, even after the Apple logo appears on the screen. After 20 seconds, release the buttons and let your computer boot.

If you have an Apple Silicon Mac, there is no need to reset the NVRAM. If the flashing folder with a question mark screen still appears briefly, you may want to contact customer service for assistance.

When your Mac displays a flashing folder with a question mark, the first thing you should do is start macOS Recovery. Here’s how to do it for Apple Silicon Macs:

1. Long press the power button for ten seconds to turn off your Mac.
2. After the screen turns off, hold down the Power button again until the message “Loading Boot Options” or the Options icon appears on the screen.
3. Select Options.
4. Tap Continue to continue.
5. When prompted, choose your drive (for example, Macintosh HD) and enter your user and password.

From the Recovery Options, you can then repair your disk with Disk Utility:

1. In the Disk Utility panel, click the View icon in the upper left corner.
2. Go to Show All Devices.
3. Find your startup disk at the very top of the list in the left panel. If it is not listed, it may be defective and requires service.
4. Select the very last entry under your startup disk.
5. If available, tap First Aid to fix it.
6. Once finished, choose the entry above the first one you selected.
7. Fix it again with first aid.
8. Go back up the list until you repair the startup disk.

If Disk Utility fixed the errors, you should be able to restart your Mac without issue. But if the flashing folder still appears, you will need to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery. If, on the other hand, Disk Utility was unable to repair the errors, proceed to format the disk directly in Disk Utility before reinstalling macOS from the Recovery menu. If you receive an error message stating that the erase process failed, your startup disk may be defective. Take your Mac to a service center.