Ways to Fix an Apple Folder that Flashes a Question Mark at Startup In some cases, the solution may be straightforward and easy to implement, while in other cases, it may require more advanced troubleshooting and repair. These issues can be classified as hardware or software related, and the resolution of the problem can vary depending on the specific cause. File system damage: Any damage to the file system can also prevent the Mac from finding the boot directory.Broken or damaged macOS: If the operating system is not functioning correctly, it can prevent the Mac from accessing the boot directory.Hard drive malfunction: If the hard drive is not working properly, the Mac may not be able to access the boot directory and display the question mark folder.The flashing question mark folder on a Mac can be caused by a number of issues, including:

Possible Reasons for a Folder on a Mac to Flash a Question Mark So, how do you fix it? Let’s explore a few solutions. This issue, depicted by the flashing folder with a question mark, can occur on any Mac device, including the MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac Mini, as they all run on the same operating system, macOS.

2.Have you ever experienced an instance where upon turning on your Mac, instead of the typical Apple logo, a flashing folder with a question mark is displayed? If you are using an older Mac model prior to 2015, you may also hear a chime before the appearance of this folder.

Recover data from a Mac showing a flashing folder with question mark

Then, follow the solutions below to remove the blinking folder with question mark on Mac and boot up your computer as usual.įix flashing folder with question mark on Mac: So, to avoid data loss, recover files from your Mac computer first. In the worst situation, you can't go past the Mac question mark folder icon, even with a restart. Usually, the MacBook folder with question mark results from either software or hardware issues. You may experience the Mac flashing folder with question mark after replacing hard drive, booting from an external system drive, or updating macOS. What does it mean? The blinking question mark folder on Mac shows up when your startup disk or Macintosh HD is not detected or doesn't have a working Mac operating system. Without warning in advance, a flashing folder with a question mark appears when your Mac starts up.

Mac startup question mark