How to Fix Folder With Question Mark Issue in Mac – Guide
Your Mac can’t be turned on today, after it’s been running fine for years. You just see a Mac showing a folder with a question mark on the screen. What to do now? To fix the question mark folder problem on mac before asking for professional help, follow this article.
There are several reasons why a Mac question mark folder problem can occur. These can be classified into software-related and hardware-related issues. ..
Resolving question mark folder
If the Mac folder blinking with a question mark only appears when you boot the device, it means that the Mac is looking for a bootable volume because the default volume is not set correctly. Try these two fixes to resolve the issue:
- Check to see if your Mac has a valid backup of its operating system. If not, you may need to reinstall your operating system.
- If your Mac has a valid backup of its operating system, try setting the default volume in Disk Utility to be the backup volume instead of the original hard drive. ..
Reset NVRAM
NVRAM is a type of memory that stores data without a power supply. This includes basic startup information, so restarting it can help resolve the issue of the blinking question mark folder if it appears for a brief moment and the Mac continues to start up.
To reset NVRAM on a Mac, turn off the computer by clicking on the Apple menu and selecting Shut Down. Then turn your computer back on and immediately press the Option key, the Command key, and the P key. Release the keys after about 20 seconds. ..
Check system boot preferences
If your Mac doesn’t start up correctly, make sure you have a startup disk by going to System Preferences through the Apple menu. Click Startup Disk and you will see the disks available to use at startup.
If you make any changes to your computer, be sure to select the correct disk and restart it.
The question mark folder is preventing your Mac from loading. We recommend you remove it to fix the issue.
You’re stuck with a question mark folder on your screen, and you don’t know what to do about it. Is it time to go to service? ..
If you’re having trouble with your Mac, there are a few solutions you can try. Some solutions are easier than others, but all of them should work if you follow the instructions carefully. If the problem is more serious, or if you don’t have any other options, you may need to take your Mac to a professional. However, even if you do need help, it’s important to remember that losing data in the process is possible. So make sure to have backups! ..
If you want to try fixing the question mark folder yourself, here are some of the solutions available.
Diagnose in recovery mode
To diagnose the problem and try to fix it with the built-in Mac application’s Disk Utility, you need to load your laptop in recovery mode and run the application. Here it is how to do it.
If you are having trouble getting into Mac recovery mode, try these steps: -Press and hold the power button button until your device is turned off. -Then turn your Mac back on and press and hold Command + R. This should take you to Mac recovery mode. ..
In Disk Utility, click First Aid.
In the window that appears, select your startup disk and run First Aid to see if the application can find and repair any damage. If so, please follow the prompts to repair any damage.
If Disk Utility Terminates up unable to fix the boot disk error, there are some other steps you can follow. You can try formatting your startup disk, reinstalling your Mac OS, or using Time Machine to return to a up version of your disk – proceed with caution as formatting the disk and reinstalling the operating system will result in data loss (the disk will be erased) and using Time Machine will revert your Mac to a previously recorded image, which also means that you will lose data on your Mac.
If your boot disk doesn’t show up in Disk Utility, you may need to put it into service.
Format Startup Disk and Reinstall Mac OS
If Disk Utility cannot resolve the issue with the disk, you may need to format the disk and install Mac OS from scratch.
If you don’t have backups, make sure to have your Mac serviced before erasing the disk. ..
To start formatting, load your Mac into Recovery mode and open Disk Utility as instructed in the previous section. Once in Disk Utility, select the disk you want to format and click on the “Erase” button. Enter a name for the new disk (e.g. “NewDisk”), choose a format (Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or GUID Partition Table), and click on the “Erase” button. ..
To reinstall macOS on a Mac, you need to use a disk that was specifically designed for this purpose.
Open the Utilities window in rescue mode and select Reinstall macOS Big Sur. Do not close your Mac’s lid or put it to sleep during installation.
Restore files with Disk Drill
If you have had to erase the boot disk, you may need some of your files back. Disk Drill is an excellent file recovery application that can help you try to restore lost files and data. Run the app to find and restore files. ..
Disk Drill can help you recover files if they have been deleted, but the application cannot restore them if there has been new information written about them on your disk. This means that sooner you run Disk Drill after factory reset or disk wipe, the better your chances of recovering your files.
Backup your data
An unexpected error can lead to data loss that can be difficult to recover and sometimes not even possible. This means supporting up important data is regularly vital in your daily digital life.
If you need to return up your data from a cloud storage, you can use the built-in Time Machine app on your Mac. ..
To use Time Machine, open Apple menu > System Preferences and select Time Machine.
Once you have selected your external storage disk, the app will ask you to choose a location for the file.
CleanMyMac X is a great app for clearing up your Mac’s Unneeded files. It will optimize your Mac by clearing your cache and unneeded files, finding large old files for you to review, removing local copies of email attachments, and even shrinking your Time Machine snapshot. ..
Get Backup Pro is a comprehensive backup app that offers a variety of tools for your backups, including simple copy, cloning, incremental backups, and versions. Back up your data and restore it on any Mac, not just yours. ..
Get Backup Pro allows you to backup your files, compress your backup, sync folders and even schedule your backups.
If you see a folder with a question mark on it on your Mac screen, it means that the computer can’t find a bootable disk. Sometimes this is an easy fix with an NVRAM reset or disk utility first-aid scan, but other times the problem will require formatting the disk and reinstalling macOS. ..
If you have a startup disk for your Mac, and if you reinstall Mac OS, your data may be lost. Use Disk Drill to try to recover some of the lost files and data. If you have a backup option that works best for you – cloud storage, Time Machine, Get Backup Pro, etc. – make copies of your important files and documents, as well as system settings.
Final note
If you have a Mac that is having Folder With Question Mark Issue, then you may want to check out our guide on how to fix it. In case if you have any query regards this article, or if you just want to share your love with your friends, please feel free to do so.
