Mac stuck on the Apple logo or loading bar? 6 fixes to try

2 min read · 6 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Short answer

If an update is being installed, wait. The bar can stand still for a long time. Otherwise hold the power button for up to 10 seconds until the Mac switches off, then switch it on again. If it sticks again, unplug all accessories, then repair the startup disk from macOS Recovery.

The Apple logo appears when the Mac has found its startup disk, and the bar below it shows the progress of starting up. During a macOS update, both can stay on the screen far longer than usual, and the screen may go blank several times. That is normal.

Menu names are from recent versions of macOS, where the settings app is called System Settings.

Step by step

  1. Wait, if an update is running

    While macOS is being updated, the bar moves slowly and can pause for a long time. Apple advises starting an installation in the evening, so that it can finish overnight. Do not switch the Mac off in the middle of an update unless it has clearly been stuck for hours.

  2. Force the Mac to switch off

    Press and hold the power button for up to 10 seconds, until the Mac turns off. On a MacBook with Touch ID, the power button is the Touch ID button.

  3. Switch it on again

    Press the power button once. Often the Mac now starts normally.

  4. Unplug all accessories

    If it sticks again, force it off once more. Unplug printers, drives, USB hubs and other cables that are not needed. Then switch the Mac on.

  5. Repair the startup disk

    Force the Mac off and start from macOS Recovery. On a Mac with Apple silicon, switch the Mac off, then press and hold the power button until the startup options appear, click Options and click Continue. On an Intel Mac, switch it on and at once hold Command and R. Open Disk Utility, select the startup disk and click First Aid.

  6. Reinstall macOS

    If the repair finds no error or does not help, choose Reinstall macOS in macOS Recovery. This installs the system again and leaves your files in place. It needs an internet connection.

Good to know

If the Mac still does not start after a reinstall, Apple says it might need service. Contact Apple Support.

A black screen with no logo at all is a different problem: Mac won't turn on: 7 things to try before a repair.

Safe mode is another way to get a Mac past a stuck start: how to start a Mac in safe mode.

In short: Wait for updates, hold the power button 10 seconds, restart, unplug accessories, First Aid in Recovery, reinstall macOS.

Sources
  • Apple Support: If your Mac starts up to an Apple logo or progress bar

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