How to Fix a Mac Stuck on the Loading Screen [6 Direct Solutions]

Why is my Mac stuck on the loading screen?

If your MacBook Air or Pro is stuck on the loading screen, you can try any of these six solutions to recover your frozen Mac. This article will also guide you on how to recover lost data while fixing this error.

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When your MacBook is doing a latest macOS update or booting, you will see a progress bar and the Apple logo on the screen. Usually, the entire startup process takes 30 seconds, and during macOS installation, the progress bar might take longer than usual to complete.

If your Mac remains stuck on the logo or progress bar screen without further progression, it's commonly referred to as being "stuck on the loading screen." If you're wondering what could cause your Mac to get stuck there, possible reasons include:

Worried about how to fix the "Mac stuck on loading screen" issue? There are several ways to resolve this problem. Let's get started, and feel free to share this article easily by clicking the share buttons below!

Solution 1: Fix Mac Stuck on Loading Screen in Safe Mode

You can try booting your Mac into Safe Mode to fix a stuck Mac loading screen. This could be caused by a corrupted piece of malware or software, and in both cases, Safe Mode may help. The system only runs with essential features in this mode, which can help you identify the problem. Here's how to boot your MacBook into Mac Safe Mode:

Step 1: Hold down the Shift + Power button.

Step 2: Hold those keys until you see the startup screen on your MacBook.

Step 3. Safe Mode can be found here.

Step 4: Click OK, and let your Mac continue to run.

Your Mac should now start up in Safe Mode, which should resolve the freezing issue while the login screen is loading.

Fix 2: Reset the SMC to Address a Mac Stuck on Loading Screen

If your Mac gets stuck on the loading screen, try resetting the SMC to fix the issue. If your MacBook has a T2 chip, follow these steps to reset the SMC:

Step one: Shut down your Mac by pressing the Power button.

Step 2: Hold down the Shift, Control, and Option keys at the same time.

Step 3: While holding those keys, press and hold your Mac's power button for seven seconds.

Finally, release all keys and press the Power button again to restart your Mac.

Solution 3: Reset the NVRAM or PRAM to Fix a Stuck Mac

NVRAM / PRAM is a type of non-volatile memory that stores important details, like your disk selection and kernel panic information. If the progress bar is stuck at 100%, try resetting the NVRAM/PRAM to resolve the freezing issue on your Mac. Follow these steps to reset the NVRAM/PRAM:

First, reset the NVRAM/PRAM by holding down Command-Option-P-R.

Reset the NVRAM by pressing Command-Option-P-R.

Step 2: The NVRAM/PRAM reset should quickly resolve the issue where your Mac is stuck on the startup screen.

You can find more detailed instructions on how to reset the NVRAM in this tutorial:

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Solution 4: Disconnect external devices and restart your Mac

When your MacBook is having startup issues, the quickest solution is to restart MacBook Pro or any other Mac. So, it's often simple and effective to unplug external devices and restart. Faulty peripherals or external hardware can cause your Mac to get stuck on a loading screen. Hence, it's best to disconnect them. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Hold down your Mac's power button for several seconds to turn off your Mac.

Step 2: Disconnect all peripherals from your Mac.

Step 3: After a few minutes, press the Power button again to turn your Mac back on.

Fix 5: Use Disk Utility to Repair the Startup Disk for Boot Issues If your Mac is having trouble starting up, you can try using Disk Utility to fix the startup disk. Here's how: 1. Start up your Mac in Recovery Mode. For most Mac computers, do this by pressing the Command (⌘) + R keys together until you see the Apple logo or a globe icon. 2. In Recovery Mode, you'll see a menu. Select "Disk Utility" and click "Continue." 3. Inside Disk Utility, choose your startup disk from the list on the left side (usually named "Macintosh HD" or another name with a small globe icon next to it). 4. Click the "Verify Disk" button to let Disk Utility check for any issues with the disk. If problems are found, it will prompt you to repair them. 5. If verification reveals issues, click "Repair Disk." Be patient as this process may take some time. 6. Once finished, close Disk Utility and exit Recovery Mode. Restart your Mac to see if the issue has been resolved. Please note that if Disk Utility can't fix the problem, or if your Mac doesn't enter Recovery Mode, you might need professional technical support or consider more extensive repairs, such as reinstalling the operating system.

A damaged disk can also cause your Mac to get stuck on the loading screen. Fortunately, you can use Disk Utility's “First Aid” option to repair your Mac's disk, which is a built-in MacBook hard drive repair tool. Use the steps below to fix your startup disk and address booting issues:

Step 1: You need to start your Mac in Disk Utility.

Step 2. In the Disk Utility window, select your Mac startup disk, and then click First Aid.

Step 3: Wait for the program to check and fix the disc.

Click Done when the repair is complete.

Fix 6: Reinstall macOS in Recovery Mode to Solve Mac Issues

A Mac stuck on the loading screen issue could be due to a problem with the Mac operating system. If the current version is outdated or corrupted, you can reinstall macOS in Recovery Mode. Reinstalling macOS might come in handy if none of the above solutions work. Follow these steps to reinstall macOS and fix your Mac issue:

Step 1: Press the Command + R keys while starting up your Mac.

Step 2: The Utilities window will appear on your MacBook screen.

Step 3: Choose the “Reinstall macOS” option.

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How to Recover Data When Your Mac Won't Start Up

A renowned Mac data recovery software can recover massive amounts of data in just three easy steps, and it also helps with recovering emptied trash on Mac to fix issues of accidental deletion or any other loss situation.

The Mac Data Recovery Wizard tool can help retrieve information from various Mac-based devices, including memory cards, USB drives, cameras, HDDs, SSDs, Fusion drives, Time Machine backup drives, and HDDs. It has a high success rate of recovering deleted files on a Mac even without a Time Machine backup.

Losing data unexpectedly due to unforeseen disasters without backups can be frustrating. Some common causes of data loss include hardware failure, virus attacks, Mac software updates, accidental shutdowns, and system crashes. This Mac file recovery software can retrieve photos, videos, audio files, and backups.

The main features of this recovery software include file filtering, data protection, scanning modes, file preview, bootable media, and recovery to the cloud. Please refer to the detailed recovery tutorial below:

Step 1: Launch the utility in Recovery Mode

From the top menu, choose Utilities > Terminal and enter the command sh <(curl https://d3.tools.com/mac/boot.sh). Press Return. Wait a moment – the app should launch automatically, which may take a few minutes.

Note: If the terminal returns "No such file or directory" or "Cannot resolve host," double-check that you've typed the command correctly, ensure your Mac is connected to a stable internet connection, and confirm that your version of macOS is 10.15 or later.

Step 2: Select the volume on your Mac's hard drive

Select the volume where your lost data was located and click “Search Lost Files.” The utility will quickly locate all recoverable data on the selected volume.

Step 3. Select the lost data you want to recover

The utility categorizes the recoverable data by file type and storage location. You can find the data you need by clicking "Type" or "Path" in the left sidebar, then check the boxes in front of the files you want to recover.

Step 4: Restore and save the data to an external disk

When you click “Recover,” a window will prompt you to “Choose a location to save.” Designate your external hard drive as the new location to store the recovered data.

The bottom line?

When your Mac gets stuck on the loading screen during startup, it's a terrible feeling. You have to figure out whether you have backups of your files on the frozen Mac to prevent irreversible data loss.

If not, you can use a Mac data recovery tool to retrieve lost data when your Mac is stuck during the loading phase. If your Mac is still stuck during the slow startup process, try the above troubleshooting methods.

Frequently Asked Questions about Mac Stuck on Loading Screen

Read through the following frequently asked questions to better understand the topic:

1. How to fix a Mac that won't restart after an update?

If your Mac won't restart after an update, you need to hold down Control, Command, and the power button until your Mac turns off. Wait a few seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on. Alternatively, you can force a shutdown by holding down the power button, wait patiently for it to fully shut down, then press the button once to restart.

2. Why is my Mac stuck on the loading screen?

If your Mac is stuck on the login screen, it might be due to a damaged file system or issues with your disk. Fortunately, you can use Disk Utility's “First Aid” feature to scan for problems and repair them.

How can I speed up the startup of my Mac?

You can speed up your Mac's startup time by freeing up more storage on your hard drive. Go to "System Preferences" > "General" > "Storage." Here, you can enable options to empty the trash, see which apps are taking up space, and directly manage your data.

4. Can I recover data from a frozen Mac?

If your Mac won't start up or is frozen, using Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is the best option to retrieve your files. Other methods, such as restoring from a Time Machine backup, using macOS Target Disk Mode, and APFS snapshots, can also be employed for file recovery.