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RE: How to Fix MacBook Stuck on Loading Screen

author Emily Watson
date Friday, August 6, 2021

ASK:How to Fix MacBook Stuck on Loading Screen

As we know, MacBooks are reliable computers, but sometimes MacBooks are also acting strange. For example, iMac gets stuck on loading screen, or Mac progress bar is stuck at 100% and has no response, MacBook stuck after successful High Sierra installation. When you meet this troublesome issue for the first time, you might be freak out. To fix MacBook Pro/Air stuck on loading screen problem, please try the following methods below.

If you find files missing after reinstalling macOS, try FonePaw Data Recovery (opens new window)to recover files from Mac.

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Mac Progress Bar

1. Reset your Mac's SMC

There is no doubt that resetting MacBook's SMC is helpful to fix some minor glitches. Therefore, when your MacBook gets stuck on loading screen, you can try to reset your Mac's SMC.

To reset MacBook Pro, MacBook Air with non-removable battery:

  • After shutting down the MacBook, press Shift, Control, Option keys on the keyboard;
  • And then, the Power button for 10 seconds. Next, release all the keys and reboot your MacBook.

To learn about how to reset SMC on iMac, iMac Pro and more, you can refer to the full guide on How to reset the SMC on Your Mac (opens new window).

Reset SMC on Mac

2. Reset your Mac's NVRAM

If resetting Mac's SMC is not workable, you can try to reset your Mac's NVRAM.

  • Turn off the MacBook>Restart your MacBook.
  • Press down and hold Command, Option, R, P keys for about 20 seconds until computer restart automatically.

Learn more about What is PRAM/NVRAM and How to Reset (opens new window).

3. Boot up your Mac in Safe Mode

Safe Mode is designed to help users troubleshoot issues related to your startup disk. Booting up your Mac in Safe Mode is beneficial to fix the problem that MacBook is stuck on the loading screen.

Step 1. Boot up or reboot your MacBook.

Step 2. Press and hold the Shift key until you see the Apple logo on the screen.

Step 3. Release Shift key when login window shows.

Tips

You are able to restart Macbook again without pressing any keys when an issue doesn't happen in safe mode. If, after exiting safe mode, the issue happens again, you might need to delete incompatible login items in Apple menu. Or try MacMaster (opens new window) to manage the login extensions.

Step 1. Open System Preferences on Apple menu, and choose Users & Groups.

Click on Users Groups in Mac System Preferences

Step 2. Choose your account in Current User, and then, go to Login Items.

Step 3. Make a list of all login items which you might need.

Step 4. Select all login items and hit on the delete key. Restart your MacBook.

If it is useful to fix the problem, you are able to add the login items one by one later on System Preferences.

  • What's more, remember to restart your MacBook after adding one login item.
  • However, what if the problem happens again? Remove the previous login items and restart your MacBook.

When an issue doesn't happen again after safe mode, it might be the result of a cache or directory issue with your startup disk, which has been fixed in Safe mode.

4. Boot up your Mac in Recovery Mode

The utilities in macOS Recovery can help you to repair or erase a hard disk. With Recovery Mode, you are able to fix MacBook stuck on the loading screen.

Step 1. Press down the Power button to turn on MacBook, and then, immediately press Command and R keys until the Apple logo or spinning globe shows.

Step 2. Next, the utility window will appear automatically.

Step 3. Choose Disk Utility to repair your startup disk.

macOS Utilities Disk

5. Boot up your Mac in Single-User Mode

What's more, you can try to fix the problem that Mac progress bar is stuck at 100% by booting up your Mac in Single-User Mode.

Step 1. Immediately press down Command+S after switch on your Macbook by pushing down the Power button.

Step 2. Hold them until the white text appears on the screen.

6. Make a Genius Bar appointment at your local Apple Store

If after trying all the methods above, your Mac is still stuck so you will have to take your Mac to a local Apple Store to get it fixed. There could be a more intricate issue deep inside your Mac that should be handled by the professionals. You should get your Mac fixed for free if it is under warranty.