Apple Repair. Apple fix it

[Fix it Now] “iPhone Stuck on Apple logo” is No Longer A Problem

5-year smartphone engineer, with rich experience in iOS software issues. He presents the most actionable solutions for readers in the most easy-to-understand manner.

If your iPhone is 100% alright, it should show the Apple logo at startup and continue to load past the home screen without delay. But when it’s staying on the Apple logo for too long, you’d know something is up.

Why Is My iPhone Stuck on The Apple Logo?

This issue can happen for various reasons, such as corrupt update packages, interrupted system restore or data transfer, storage space running low, or jailbreaking, etc.

In this article, I will discuss typical scenarios why the Apple logo stuck happens and the quick fixes for each. If you are not sure what has made your iPhone stuck on the Apple logo, no worries, those methods apply too.

Before moving forward, charge your iPhone for a while. A low battery can make your iPhone stuck or get unresponsive. And some of the fixes below can take long and will need sufficient power to complete.

iPhone stuck on Apple logo during/after the update, restore, and data transfer

The Apple logo stuck issue can happen while you are performing iOS updates, restoring the iPhone via iTunes, or syncing data from your iPhone to a computer. Maybe some background apps like antivirus are interfering with the update, restore or transfer process.

Apple’s 216 Repair Tool #Shorts

Or charging cables or USB ports that establish the connection between your iPhone and computer have gone faulty, corrupting your iPhone software.

If you have an iOS 13 or later, you are more likely to face this problem than other earlier Apple users. Now watch the progress bar for a while. If you’ve already waited an hour and your iPhone is still stuck, it’s time to take action.

Swap the USB cable, clean the ports

The very basic fix is to try charging your iPhone. If it still doesn’t boot up, try using a different charging cable. Also, clean the iPhone charging ports first with toothpick swabs or a compressed air can. Dust particles accumulated within can hinder the charging progress.

Hard reset

If that doesn’t work, try performing a hard reset. This method shuts down all iOS background activities, clears the cache automatically, and turns the iPhone brand new.

For iPhone 7: Press and hold the volume down button and sleep button at same time. Release them when the Apple logo appears.

For iPhone 6s and SE(1 st gen.): Press and hold the sleep/wake button and home button together. Release when the Apple logo appears.

For iPhone 8, iPhone SE(2nd gen), iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13 or iPhone 14:

First press and release the volume up button. Press and release the volume down button then. Now, long-press the side button until the Apple logo appears。

new iPhone will not activate force restart for different iPhone models

If the iPhone is no longer stuck on the Apple logo, the issue is resolved. Now you can jump to Part 6 to know how you can prevent the issue from happening again.

However, if the issue persists, you’ll need deeper restoration methods with tools like Mobitrix Perfix or iTunes. Read on!

Fix your iPhone stuck on Apple logo with Perfix

Mobitrix Perfix is a professional iOS system repair tool to fix 200 iPhone issues, including iPhone stuck on Apple logo. The entire repair process is easy and quick. You won’t lose any of your iPhone data as well.

All you need to do is follow the steps below:

• Download and launch Mobitrix Perfix on your computer
• Connect your iPhone to the computer using the USB cable
• Select your iPhone issue type and click Fix Now. Choose Standard Repair.

Mobitrix Perfix Standard Repair. Select Standard Mode

In around 30 minutes, your iPhone can be fixed, with all your photos, chats, videos, files being intact.

Fix your iPhone stuck on Apple logo with iTunes/Finder

You can also try fixing your iPhone with iTunes or Finder, while putting your iPhone in a certain mode. Before you start with it, it is highly recommended to back up your data.

If you have a Windows PC or Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier, install the latest iTunes on your computer. If you have a Mac with macOS Catalina, update your OS and launch Finder.

Update/Restore Via Recovery Mode With iTunes/Finder

Recovery Mode is an official feature by Apple that allows users to troubleshoot issues on Apple devices. Once your iPhone enters the Recovery mode while being connected to the computer, iTunes will then help you diagnose the issue. It will fix various bugs and vulnerabilities by reinstalling, updating or restoring the iOS.

To update/restore iPhone using iTunes, follow:

• Connect iPhone to the computer via USB cable
• Launch the latest iTunes/Finder on computer
• Put your iPhone into the recovery mode by pressing a combination of buttons.

iPhone 8 and later: Press and release the Volume Up button. Then press and release the volume down button. After that, press and hold the Side button. Continue to press and hold the Side button until your iPhone displays the Recovery Mode screen.

iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold the Volume Down button and the Sleep/Wake button at the same time, then continue to press and hold the Volume Down button until your iPhone displays the Recovery Mode screen.

iPhone 6s and earlier: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the same time, then continue to press and hold the Home button until your iPhone displays the Recovery Mode screen.

how to fix black screen iPhone update iPhone via iTunes

How to tell if my iPhone has entered recovery mode?

When the iPhone has entered recovery mode, the iPhone screen will stay black, and a message will be displayed on the computer screen saying support.Apple.com/iPhone/restore.

Restore Via DFU Mode With iTunes/Finder

If you haven’t got any positive results from Recovery Mode, then you’ll have to perform a DFU restore with iTunes. This will for sure wipe out all your iPhone data. If you didn’t create a backup before, it’s better to use Perfix, as mentioned above.

What is DFU mode?

DFU or Device Firmware Update is a mode where the OS of the iPhone is restored and firmware is updated. This method is generally the last resort when recovery mode doesn’t work as expected. DFU restore is pursued by Apple technicians if the iOS of your iPhone is fully corrupted.

And since this method restores your entire iOS, it is tricky and complicated. You are required to follow a combination of button presses to enter into a DFU mode.

How to restore iPhone via DFU mode with iTunes/Finder?

To restore via DFU mode with iTunes, follow the below steps:

• Connect the iPhone to the computer using a USB cable
• Download and install the latest iTunes on your computer
• Enter the DFU mode by pressing the right keys (depending on your iPhone version)

For iPhone 6S or earlier: Long press the Sleep button while holding the Home button for like 8 seconds. Release the Sleep button but not the Home button. Keep pressing the Home button until the computer recognizes your iPhone.For iPhone 7 or 7 Plus: Long press the Side button while pressing the volume button for like 8 seconds, and then release the Side button but not the volume button. Keep pressing the volume button until the computer recognizes your iPhone.For iPhone 8 or newer: Press and then release the button for volume up. Next, do the same for the down volume button. Long-press the side button of the phone. Once you see a black screen, long-press the down volume button. Long press these buttons but release the Side button after 5 seconds while holding the volume down button. Follow the on-screen instructions that are shown.

How to tell if my iPhone has entered DFU mode?

The iPhone screen will go black as it enters the DFU mode. Also, your iPhone will be visible on iTunes (on the computer) when the iPhone has entered the DFU mode.

What is the difference between recovery mode and DFU mode?

When you enter into the recovery mode using iTunes, iTunes restores your iPhone to its original factory settings with the latest firmware and iOS. On the other hand, DFU restore erases all the system data and allows you to choose the firmware you want to install.

iPhone stuck on Apple logo due to low storage

Did you receive any full storage alerts before? Full storage interferes with the normal functioning of your iPhone, and hampers the iOS speed, making the iPhone behave abnormally.

Sometimes, an update is not executed smoothly due to low storage. This may make your iPhone get stuck and fail to turn on. By then it’s already too late to try to clean the space to fix the problem.

How to fix your iPhone stuck on the Apple logo due to full storage?

When you suspect that your iPhone is stuck on the Apple logo due to full storage but you cannot do anything to free up memory, Here is the catch.

Hard reset

Start by hard resetting your phone as I explained in the steps above. If your iPhone turns on, do the following:

You will see a color-coded bar that lets you know the amount of space left. It also shows which apps have taken the most space.

• You can open the photo gallery and clean photos
• Open the browser and clear the browser cache (Open BrowserSettingsClear history and website data)
• Clear app cache by individually opening each app in App settings (Open SettingsGeneraliPhone storage.
• Now, open the app on top of the list. Delete the app and reinstall it from the App Store. Repeat this with all other apps.

However, if hard reset doesn’t work, you should quickly backup your data, and connect your iPhone to your computer. Next, use Perfix or iTunes to help repair it.

iPhone stuck on Apple logo after jailbreaking

Jailbreaking is done to eliminate the hardware limitations of the iPhone, like allowing the user to download apps, themes not available on the Apple Store.

How does jailbreaking work?

Jailbreaking works by providing users with the root access to the device. This is where all the iOS files are stored.

It is a forced process that removes iOS security restrictions, allowing users to use non-Apple-Store apps. Often these apps can interfere with your iPhone’s functioning, making it load slow, or battery draining fast, or the system crashes often. This can cause your iPhone to get stuck on the Apple logo, while affecting your Apple warranty.

If someone else has installed spyware on your iPhone, surely it means your iPhone has been jailbroken. Or some second-handed iPhones you’ve purchased online are probably jailbroken too.

How to tell if my iPhone has been jailbroken?

There are three ways to tell if your iPhone is jailbroken or hacked.

Check for newly downloaded apps

To know if your iPhone is jailbroken, go to Settings and look for any unusual apps installed. The most common third-party apps often found in jailbroken iPhones are Sileo and Cydia. Uninstall them immediately if you see them.

Find unidentified apps

Do you also find other unidentified apps on your managed app settings? Look for launcher apps. These are often used to re-jailbreak the device if the jailbreak has been removed. Checkra1n is one such app that is often installed alongside jailbreaking. If you find any unusual app, it is recommended to Google it and see if it is a jailbreaking tool. As a precautionary step, delete or uninstall such unidentified apps that are not installed by you (if possible).

Use scan app

Thirdly, you can always use third-party scan apps to know if your iPhone is jailbroken. Such apps scan the phones and tell you if unusual activity is detected. You can run a scan with Certo Antispy. It can scan your phone, and confirm whether it has been jailbroken or not.

What happens to your iPhone after it’s jailbroken?

If a hacker performs jailbreaking on your iPhone, they can access your iPhone remotely. In other cases, if you have jailbroken it on your own, it lets you download and install non-Apple-supported apps, modify icons, change themes, and switch the Control Centre. It also allows you to delete in-built preinstalled Apple apps.

However, sometimes when jailbreaking is not performed aptly, it can crash the iPhone, and that’s when your iPhone gets stuck on the Apple logo screen. Jailbreaking also hampers your iPhone’s security, causes it to behave erratically, and shortens its battery life.

Do you know Apple never recommends jailbreaking? It releases constant iOS update patches to remove any jailbreak software from your iPhone. And if your iPhone is having issues due to jailbreaking, technicians at the Genius Bar can refuse to repair it for you.

How to remove jailbreak to fix iPhone stuck on Apple logo?

Only a deep restore can help get your jailbroken iPhone out of the white Apple logo screen of death. You can use Perfix or iTunes to remove jailbreaking. Both have been explained in detail above.

iPhone stuck on Apple logo due to hardware damage

Hardware damage to your iPhone is caused when you accidentally drop your iPhone on a hard surface, or maybe spill coffee over it, damaging the ports, internal circuits, or buttons, etc. If such a thing happened with you lately and you got the Apple logo stuck issue, the quick solution is to contact Apple.

Here are three ways you can contact Apple for assistance:

Visit authorized Apple Store

Your first instinct should be to visit a nearby authorized Apple Store in your area. Approach the Apple Store executive with your iPhone and explain your issue.

Apple provides one year of hardware repair coverage for free to iPhone users. If your iPhone is within warranty, you can get it repaired for free. If you do not remember the purchase date, you can check your iPhone’s service and support coverage here using a serial number.

Call Apple customer care

If there is no authorized Apple Store nearby your place, you can choose to call the Apple customer care service providers. Check here to find the number to talk to Apple customer care representatives. Explain your issue and they would certainly come up with a feasible solution.

Ask the Apple support community

Another way to seek Apple assistance is to ask for help in the Apple support community group. Alternatively, you can check the related queries and see if any of the provided recommendations work.

How to prevent your iPhone from getting stuck on the Apple logo?

To eliminate chances of your iPhone stuck on Apple logo again in the future, make sure:

Make sure your iPhone’s storage never gets too full. Even when it’s close to being full, refrain from ignoring the notifications. Keep deleting the unnecessary stuff or back up your data on iCloud and delete what you have on your iPhone. This will prevent iPhone crashes, and Apple logo stuck issues.

Sometimes due to low battery level, an iPhone behaves abnormally and gets stuck on the Apple logo.You should keep your iPhone charged between 40% and 80% all the time. Overcharging as well as charging just before it is about to die, should both be avoided. The charging slots should be kept clean. The lightning cables should also be original.

Keeping your iPhone iOS updated keeps your iPhone in a top-notch condition. The new Apple updates are focused on removing any bugs in the existing iOS and other improvements. This allows the iPhone to work more effectively with minimum issues.

Managing background tasks like running apps is a daunting task for operating systems. Ending such tasks when not in use allows your iPhone to work faster. It also helps in saving battery life. Altogether, this enables your iPhone to get stuck or crash less frequently.

FAQ

How to tell you that my iTunes is the latest version?

In the Windows PC, open iTunes, follow Menu Help Check for iTunes updates. Update iTunes if the latest version is available.

If your macOS is updated on the Mac PC, iTunes will be in the latest version.

How to Backup Data Before Restoring With iTunes?

• Connect iPhone to your computer
• Open Finder app on computer
• Select your iPhone icon within the Finder
• Click General on top of Finder window
• Click on “Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac.”
• Encrypt backup with ID and password
• Click on Backup Now
• Connect your iPhone to computer
• Launch iTunes on the computer
• Click on the iPhone icon top left of the iTunes window
• Click on summary
• Click Backup Now
• On your iPhone, go to Settings
• Click on your name iCloud iCloud backup
• Turn iCloud backup on
• For manual backup, tap on Backup Now

Apple Repair

We all know that Apple is one of the powerhouse leaders in the mobile phone and handheld device markets. While these devices are very reliable and extremely capable machines, sometimes things do go wrong. Whether your Apple device needs a towel for the bath, a battery, or just a new screen replacement, QuikFix Phone Repair can help. We are proud to be the premier source for Apple repair services in Raleigh, NC.

Not having your iDevice, even for a few moments, can certainly leave you disconnected from the world. At QuikFix Phone Repair, we get it! This is why we have a team of highly-trained technicians who specialize in repairing damaged or broken Apple products. Whether you have the iPhone 6, iPhone 5/5c/5s, iPhone 4/4s or an earlier model, we can repair your phone – usually in 45 minutes or less. Other Apple devices such as iPads may take us a little longer, but still usually within a couple hours.

Some Common Repairs of Apple Repairs Consist of:

• Glass Replacement
• Battery Replacement
• Diagnostic Service
• Glass LCD Replacement
• Charge Port Repair
• Water Damage Diagnostic

Allow our team to repair your iPod, iPad and other Apple Devices!

Whatever your iPhone or iDevice problem, we have experience fixing it. Every QuikFix Phone Repair store location is well-equipped to handle most iPhone issues with same-day service. With our diligent and experienced technicians, we are sure to save you cash by repairing versus replacing your iDevice.

Once we make a repair, our technicians will test and make sure the device is in optimal condition. We will not let you walk out of our store without a resolution to your device’s needs. This includes a 90-day guarantee for parts and labor.

Don’t let iPhone issues and other iDevice problems become an inconvenience. Call or visit your nearest QuikFix Phone Repair location for all of your smartphone and gadget problems. For mail-in service, please send us your phone and battery. You don’t need to send your charger. We also recommend adding shipping insurance to your package as added protection.

Cracked Screen? No Problem!

If your Apple device gets a cracked screen. Don’t worry! The experts at QuikFix will do exactly what our name suggests, a quick fix. We will make sure your iPhone, iPad or MacBook get back to you in a heart beat. Once you get your Apple device back, you won’t even notice the difference. Cracking your screen is not the end of the world and you won’t need to get a new device when you rely on us! Give us a call or stop in today and we will handle the situation quickly!

iPhone Repair

We offer iPhone repair services for all the iPhone models. Buying a smartphone can be quite an investment, which is why we want you to come to us before giving up on your phone when it breaks. We will do all we can to make sure you can save a little money and keep your phone instead of having to buy a new one. We also understand how critical it is to have a properly functioning iPhone when it comes to business. Your phone needs to be in tip-top shape if you are on the road conducting business. Should your phone glitch or run slow, stop by and let us have a look. Contact us today to get started.

Better Than The Apple Store!

Have you ever tried to make an appointment at the Apple store? It can be a difficult process to get your devices in for quick repair at a reasonable time! But when you choose QuikFix Phone Repair for Apple repair, you will wonder why you ever tried to go through the Apple store. Not only do you have to navigate through a series of automated answering machines, but it can be difficult to find the exact dealer you are looking for, and you may be directed to a call center! Not at QuikFix though! When you choose us for Apple repair, you get a team of dedicated professionals who want to see you walk out of the store satisfied! Whether you have an Apple iPhone or iPad, we can help! Don’t worry about contacting Apple support and waiting what feels like an eternity to even speak to a person. At QuikFix Phone Repair, there is no need for an appointment to simply come talk to somebody! We are happy to speak to you right away. Bring your iPhone 7, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6 plus or whatever Apple device you have and we will help!

Ill-informed YouTuber bemoans Apple repair policies after breaking iMac Pro

A YouTube video is generating over a million views and myriad social media complaints about Apple “refusing” to fix an iMac Pro destroyed after taken apart for a video.- but the creators are short on specifics, and profoundly lacking an understanding of how the system works.

Taken from Linus Tech Tips video “Apple refused to fix our iMac Pro”

The video starts by showing one employee of the YouTube channel appearing to mount the display while the iMac Pro is vertical, instead of being laid down flat, dropping the screen onto a screwdriver handle. It is claimed by the venue that Apple’s support was contacted on January 30, with the Apple representative identified as Andrea offering to help, but advising up-front “typically if a Mac is taken apart by someone other than an authorized technician, we can typically no longer service the Mac.”

At around the same time, the damaged iMac Pro was dropped off for repairs at “the local Apple store,” the store staff apparently said they would order the parts and get everything running “in a jiffy.” A few days later, the Apple Store sent an email to LTT, noting the repair was declined.

Read from AppleInsider

A conversation with Jesse, another Apple support staff member mentions “If they are unable to obtain the parts, they wouldn’t be able to repair the iMac.” The Apple Store later confirmed they couldn’t fix it because “HQ wouldn’t send the parts they ordered” according to the video presenter, and the only option was to collect it from the store untouched.

They were advised the only option was to try a third-party Apple Authorized Service Provider.

An update from the repair center advised they could order parts, but to approve the sale, they needed someone with Apple Pro certification, “and unfortunately, that doesn’t exist yet.” Furthermore, if they somehow got someone with the certification and were able to order the parts required, the third-party repair center could not risk losing their new certification by simply handing the parts over.

Yeah, the YouTubers had an “accident” as they said. But, it appears that they were more interested in generating revenue and having a laugh, rather than portraying any part of the repair process accurately.

iMac Pro without screen (iFixit)

Apple’s terms of service

Apple reserves the right to refuse service on gear that has been modified by the user, or if there are signs of tampering with the equipment. This is an accountability issue, and sometimes a safety matter for the repair crew.

Speaking with Apple service staff, though, they reserve this clause for only the worst cases of obvious damage done to a machine by the user when attempting to do something. In this case, Linus Tech Tips destroyed their monitor, and possibly the motherboard as well, necessitating a repair of the two costliest hardware components of the machine.

The Apple store likely punted based on Linus Tech Tips bringing in what was essentially a box of parts, plus the clear damage caused by the disassembly and failure of reassembly.

This probably should have ended the process right here, but, it didn’t. AppleInsider has contacted Apple for comment, and we haven’t had an official statement regarding policies and the contentions made by the video yet.- but there are plenty of people who wanted to talk to us about it.

Service Providers have training available now

At one point in the video, after Apple itself suggested that the venue talk to a third-party shop, the group was told that training for the repair for the iMac Pro wasn’t available. This is false, and likely used by the shop to dodge the repair. Training materials have been available since before the iMac Pro launched, with some components able to be ordered in January, with the rest ready in early March.

Bigger issue, is iMac Pro parts are in short supply

When Apple execs teased new professional level hardware, they said that previous Mac Pro purchases were in the “low single digits” by percentage of Mac units sold.- and AppleInsider has since learned that that percentage of the buyers has applied back to the genesis of the Intel tower line. There is no reason to believe that a machine starting at 4999 has any better adoption than the Mac Pro tower ever had.

This also means that proportionately, a lower spare part reserve is kept in reserve for the Pro-level gear.

Additionally, for authorized service centers, few if any parts are kept in stock. The remainder are ordered after the diagnostic process is complete, and shipped FedEx to the repair shop. The shop performs the repair, and must return the “core” failed part to Apple for examination, refurbishment and return to service stock, or both.

In the case of a warranty repair, Apple picks up the tab for the difference between the core price and the non-return price. Otherwise, the shop pays the bill, which is then passed to the customer. Core are often up to 75 percent the cost of the whole part, ordered new. So, part accountability is important, and Apple has put prohibitions in place to prevent shops from selling directly to customers as a result of abuse in years gone by.

Shops selling parts to users is grounds for a loss in Apple authorized status.- which can be financially deadly.

It’s just business.

It’s great that the channel with over a million subscribers is offering to pay for the repairs.- because claiming any kind of manufacturer defect for the repair on it would be straight fraud. But, complaining that Apple wouldn’t pave the way for the repair even at the channel’s cost makes no sense, and demonstrates a clear lack of knowledge about not just Apple’s repair terms and conditions, but how the service system works.

Given that a power supply didn’t fix the issue, if just the screen and motherboard were shot, not including the processor, AppleInsider has been told that without labor, and with a core part exchange this is a 5200 repair out of warranty on the 4999 base model. There are about three hours of labor involved assuming absolute precision and the fastest technician ever, and at the conservative price of repair labor at 100 per hour for third parties, this turns into a 5500 repair, assuming the shop doesn’t mark up any parts, and that there are no other parts or interconnects required beyond the bare minimum.

This is in no way a cost-effective repair.- which the video creators were likely fully aware of before they made their video about the process.

The video compares the incident to crashing a car into a street light, with the dealer and insurance company denying the repair because there aren’t parts or repair manuals. The analogy is inappropriate, because an iMac Pro isn’t a car, and this wasn’t an incident generated by normal use.

Driving into a lamp post isn’t the same as cracking open the engine block and breaking something, while explaining how internal combustion works to a rapt YouTube audience.

Apple’s Self Service Repair Program Is Missing This #Shorts

Mac or MacBook won’t turn on? Here’s how to fix it

We explain what to do if your Mac won’t turn on. Find out why your MacBook isn’t turning on and how to fix it, including how to force a Mac to start.

There are lots of reasons why you might find that your Mac won’t turn on, or your MacBook won’t start up, but you probably just want to get it working again. We’ll run through the various checks and changes to make to get your iMac, Mac mini, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro to turn on so you can start using it again.

Read on for some simple tips that should get your Mac working, from the obvious stuff like checking the power connection, to performing a power cycle, starting in Recovery mode, and checking the file system. And if your Mac really is dead, we’ll also tell you where to turn next.

The fixes in this article apply to most recent versions of macOS. The menus and interfaces may look slightly different depending on which OS you are running, but their functions are in essence the same. Similarly, if you have an M1 or M2 Mac there are some changes to the way you perform certain functions – like starting up the computer in Safe mode or Recovery, we’ll detail these below.

Check your Mac turns on

First, let’s find out if the problem is that your Mac won’t start up, or that it won’t turn on – those might sound like the same thing, but there’s actually a big difference.

Press the Power button on your Mac. If you don’t hear a startup chime, you don’t hear any fan or drive noise, and there are no images, video, or visuals of any sort on your display, then your Mac isn’t turning on at all. You’re not even getting to the point where it refuses to start up.

A Mac that doesn’t turn on calls for a different approach to one that doesn’t start up. If your computer doesn’t turn on then you need to do the following:

i) Check your power connection

Don’t be the cliché: check that the power is on and the Mac is plugged in correctly. Or if it’s a laptop, be sure that the battery isn’t dead – and if it needs charging give it a while to attempt to charge before concluding that it isn’t going to work. If your MacBook won’t charge read this.

ii) Try a different power cable or adapter

If you recently had a power cut, that could be responsible: your power adaptor could have been damaged in a power surge and you may need a new one.

Finally, it’s possible that the cable is loose, and pulling it out and plugging it in again will solve the problem. But we doubt it will be that easy.

Apple sells various cables for charging Apple Macs and laptops. You should find the one you need here: Apple power adaptors. Also read: Which MacBook charger do I need?

iii) Disconnect all accessories

Unplug all the accessories (such as printers and USB hubs) attached to your Mac. It could be that one of your peripherals is causing problems with the startup sequence.

If you recently installed new RAM or a new hard drive in your Mac (both of which are something you can only do with old Macs), make sure they are correctly installed and compatible. (If possible, reinstall the old memory or hard drive and see if that helps.)

If none of those steps work then it’s time to move onto the next stage.

Perform a Power Cycle

If you aren’t hearing any signs of life, you could perform a power cycle, which involves forcing your Mac to restart after killing the power to it.

• On a MacBook you need to hold down the power key for ten seconds. You’ll usually hear a squeak as the Mac’s power is forcibly cut. Hopefully after waiting ten seconds and restarting, all will be well.
• If your Mac is a desktop you will need to unplug it and leave it unplugged for at least ten seconds before plugging it back in and attempting to restart.
• For M1 and M2-series Macs if you press and hold the Power button you would eventually see Loading startup options – assuming the Mac was working properly. If pressing and holding the power button does allow you to access the startup options then you can run through those options below to get your Mac up and running-we discuss how to do this below. We also discuss how to revive your M1 or M2 Mac using a second Mac and the Configurator app below.

If performing a power cycle on your Mac doesn’t help, or if pressing the Power button on the M1 or M2 Mac doesn’t open the start up options, there are a few other simple things to try out before moving on to the more complicated steps.

Check your display

If you’re using a desktop Mac such as a Mac Pro or Mac mini this could apply to you. If you don’t have a separate display plugged in you can skip this step.

You could have a problem with the display you have plugged in, rather than the Mac itself. Have a listen to your Mac to see if it’s making any sounds during boot-up.

It is possible that your Mac does turn on, but doesn’t boot up because it can’t access the display – if that’s the case you are most likely having trouble with the display hardware (rather than a broader startup issue).

If you think it’s a problem with your monitor, then take a look at this Apple Support document for advice on troubleshooting a display. If your display isn’t working the advice is to:

• Check the power supply to the Mac (and the power to the display if using a separate unit).
• Confirm that all cables are connected securely.
• Remove all display extenders and switches, and any other devices between the Mac and monitor.
• Unplug the video cable (if using a separate monitor) and plug it back in.
• If using more than one monitor in a ‘daisy chain’, unplug all monitors and test using just one.
• If possible, try to use a different display, or a different adapter (use DVI instead of VGA, for example).
• Apple also advises adjusting the screen resolution in System Preferences.

Boot up your Mac in Safe Boot

Safe Boot limits what checks and functionality your Mac focuses on during startup, and performs certain diagnostics. It’s rare, but sometimes you can get your unhappy Mac to start up successfully with a Safe Boot, and then restart it normally, and everything returns to hunky-doriness. If you want more help with this step read: How to start a Mac in Safe Mode.

• To enter Safe Mode on an Intel-powered Mac: Start your Mac up while holding down the Shift key. Safe Boot can take a while to start (if it does work at all).
• To enter Safe Mode on an M1 or later-powered Mac: Press and continue to hold the power button until you see the startup options appear on the screen. Choose the startup disk. Now press and hold Shift and then click Continue in Safe Mode. Then release the Shift key. You will see the words Safe Mode in menu at the top right of your screen.
• To get more feedback about what’s happening, you could start up an Intel-powered Mac while holding down Shift, Command and V: that enters both Safe Boot and something called Verbose Mode, which spits out some messages about what Safe Boot is actually trying to do as it goes.

Now you are in safe mode we will discuss how to use Safe Mode to fix your Mac start up issues.

While you are Safe Mode the interface will look very slightly different, with blocks of colour rather than transparency. The biggest giveaway is the Dock at the bottom of the screen, such as in the image below, for example.

Once in Safe Mode you may be able to run certain checks (we’ll run through these below) and make changes that could fix your Mac. For example you could reinstall macOS or update other software.

If you find you can start up in Safe Mode it is probable that the issue is related to one of your startup items, in which case you should go to: System Preferences Users Groups and remove all the items (click on.). You could use trial and error to work out which startup item is causing the problem.

Reset the PRAM / NVRAM

In the pre-Intel, PowerPC, days, we talked about resetting the PRAM. On Intel Macs, the term is resetting the NVRAM. The NVRAM in M1 or M2 Macs is reset automatically, but there is a way to reset NVRAM on the M-series Mac – we discuss that here: How to reset NVRAM on an M1 or Intel Mac.

The name refers to special memory sections on your Mac that store data that persists even when the Mac is shut off, such as volume settings and screen resolution.

Resetting that data isn’t harmful, but quite frankly it’s also rarely genuinely useful. But it can’t hurt.

You might need to grow an extra finger or two for this one, or have a friend help you out. Here’s how to reset the PRAM/NVRAM on your Intel-powered Mac:

• Hold down all of these keys: Command, Option (Alt), P and R, and turn on the Mac (it’s the same keys to reset the PRAM).
• Keep holding the keys down until you hear the Mac restart again.
• Listen for a second reboot, and then release the keys.

On M1/M2 Mac resetting the NVRAM means using Terminal, the method is discussed in the article linked above.

In some cases, after performing this step, your Mac will restart normally. In other cases, you might instead see a progress bar on startup. If the progress bar fills up and then the Mac starts up, you’re probably good to go. In some cases we’ve seen, however, the Mac shuts down at around the halfway point in the progress bar.

Reset the SMC

In some situations, you may need to reset your Mac’s SMC (System Management Controller). This is largely a last-ditch attempt to fix the current version of macOS before attempting to recover the data and moving on to reinstalling the OS.

SMC is absent from the M1 Mac so you can’t reset it. However you can change the settings that the SMC used to look after. We discuss how to do this here: How to reset a Mac’s SMC. We also discuss How to reset the NVRAM, PRAM, and SMC on any Mac.

Here’s what to do if you want to reset the SMC (Intel Macs):

• Shut down the MacBook.
• Unplug and then reconnect the power cable.
• Press Shift Ctrl Option/Alt keys and the power button at the same time.
• Now release all those keys and the power button at the same time.
• You may see the light on the power cable flicker.
• Restart your MacBook.
• Shut down the Mac.
• Unplug it.
• Press the power button for 5 seconds.
• Plug the Mac back in.
• Turn on your Mac.

Run Disk Utility in Recovery Mode

If your Mac is booting, but the operating system isn’t loading up, you may have a corrupted drive. Luckily it is possible to fix this in Recovery Mode. We have a detailed tutorial on using Recovery Mode here, but we’ll run thorough the basics below.

Yet again, accessing Recovery Mode is a little different on an M1/M2 Mac (read about All the new ways of doing things on M1 Macs).

The first step is to run Disk Utility. On a Mac running Mountain Lion or later, which will be the vast majority of Macs, you can run Disk Utility by booting into Recovery Mode.

• On an Intel Mac you need to make sure the Mac is turned off. If it’s not responsive because it’s stuck on a grey, blue or white screen, just hold down the Mac’s power button for several seconds until it gives up and shuts off. (Here’s what to do to fix a Blue Screen of Death on a Mac.) Hold down the Command and R keys, and power the Mac back up again. Keep pressing Cmd R while your Mac is booting up until you see the Apple logo.
• On an M1/M2 Mac press and hold the Power button until the Mac starts up and eventually shows the start up options. Select Options Continue to enter Recovery.

Now you are in Recovery mode here’s what to do:

• Once your Mac starts in Recovery Mode you will gain access to Utilities. Click on the Disk Utility option.
• Locate your Mac’s drive – probably Macintosh HD, select it.
• Click First Aid.
• If there are errors with your disk, Disk Utility should find them and will either repair them automatically, or will ask if you would like to repair them. Click Repair Disk if this is the case.

In Recovery Mode you can also do the following:

Revive an M1 or M2 Mac with Configurator

If you have an M1 or M2 Mac and you still haven’t been able to revive it, the next option to try is to use a second Mac running Apple’s Configurator 2 to update the firmware.

You will need a second Mac, a USB to USB cable, a web connection and Apple’s Configurator 2 software.

• Connect the two Macs with a USB-C to USB-C or USB-C to USB-A cable.
• Open Configurator 2 software on the working Mac.
• Now on the non-working Mac press and hold the power button while also pressing the following key combination: Right shift, Left Option/Alt, Left Control. You will need someone to help you unless you have gigantic hands because you also need to be pressing the Power Button at the same time.
• After about 10 seconds let go of the keys, but keep pressing the Power button. Hopefully the M1 Mac will appear in the Configurator app on your second Mac by this point (the M1 Mac still won’t show any screen activity though).

The process is a little different for an M1 desktop, like the Mac mini, iMac, Mac Studio.

• In this case you need to unplug it and wait for about 10 seconds.
• Press and hold the power button.
• Plug it in again, while still holding the power button.
• Release the power button.

How to use the Configurator software to revive an M1/M2 Mac.

• The M1/M2 Mac should be showing in the Configurator software on the other Mac. Select the Mac you want to revive.
• Click on Actions Advanced.
• Select Revive Device.
• This will revive the firmware on the M1/M2 Mac.

Back up if you haven’t already or copy what you can

This step should be taken prior to reinstalling macOS and it depends on your backup situation. You do make regular backups, or at least sync important documents, music and photos to the Cloud, right?

If you’re not sweating at the moment, and are confident in your Time Machine or other backup solution, then skip to Step 10 below. But if you wish you’d backed up your Mac then now is the time to see what you can salvage from the machine.

For this, you’ll need a second Mac. If you haven’t got one then ask a friend. Follow these steps to use Target Disk Mode on an Intel Mac, or Mac Sharing Mode on an M1 or later Mac.

• Connect both Macs together. You’ll need a Apple Thunderbolt cable (39 / £39 from Apple), or a USB-3 cable, depending on the Macs being used – check what standards they support. Really old Macs used FireWire cables for this purpose.
• Shut down your Mac (assuming you’d been able to turn it on at all).
• Start up your Mac while holding down the T button on the keyboard.
• Keep holding the T button down as you hear the startup chime and keep it pressed until the Thunderbolt icon appears on your screen.

This places your Mac in Target disk mode. In Target Disk mode your Mac acts like an external drive. You should now hopefully see the hard drive for your faulty Mac on your second Mac’s Finder.

You should be able to grab the files you need from your unresponsive Mac, or even clone the entire hard drive to another external drive. Good luck!

Reinstall macOS

This is pretty drastic, but if you have tried everything else, then reinstalling the operating system could remove the issue that is stopping the Mac from starting properly.

Remember macOS Recovery from step 7 above? You can use it to reinstall macOS too.

• Boot into Recovery mode as above (hold the Command and R keys while you start up, or press and hold the power button if you are on an M1/M2 Mac).
• Once in Recovery click to install the latest OS and follow the onscreen prompts.

Our article on resetting a Mac to factory settings has more information on wiping a Mac and reinstalling macOS.

Make a Genius Bar appointment

If you’ve made it this far and your Mac still doesn’t work, you’ll need to take it to an Apple Genius Bar to see if they can help you fix it (or arrange for a repair under warranty). Hopefully you have got enough data from your Mac so as to be able to back up, or continue working on a new Mac.

Wondering how many years your Mac should last for? Read: How long do Macs last?

Your independent Apple fix

We specialize in restoring your misbehaving Apple product to good health and offer expedited services that can get your computer on a technician’s bench within as little as two hours.

And because our techs are Apple Certified, the job will be done right. Speaking of which, we happen to offer some of the best value for Apple Certified service in the entire Willamette Valley with repairs starting at 50.

And your software

Macs don’t need to have their hard drives defragged, nor do you have to restart them multiple times a day to free up memory. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t have their own software issues. Over time your Mac may feel slower, you may start to see applications freezing or refusing to open. If that’s the case, it may be time for a software tune-up.

For 50, we’ll run a cocktail of software designed to repair underlying software issues. It only takes 24 hours, but can save you a lot of frustration and prevent more serious issues from developing.

While we have it, we’ll also check your battery, make sure you have enough room on your hard drive, and physically clean your Mac.

On-location remote support without travel fees

NOTE THAT ON-LOCATION SERVICES ARE TEMPORARILY DISCONTINUED DUE TO COVID-19. Sometimes it isn’t convenient to bring your ailing system to the shop. We understand. That’s why we are happy to come to your home or place of business to get your machine up and running.

As a bonus, on-location and remote appointments can be set up for times outside of our normal business hours. Check your calendar, get in touch (contact links are at the top and bottom of this page), and we’ll make every effort to schedule a time that works best for you.

Upgrades: the rainbow eliminator

Seeing a lot of spinning rainbows? It might be worth exploring three simple, but very effective upgrade options:

The first place to look is at your hard drive. Generally, having 20% unused allows your Mac plenty of room to temporarily store files it creates while working. Drop too far under that amount and your computer will become painfully slow.

The second possible upgrade is RAM. Usually the most cost effective and quickest upgrade, more RAM allows you to have a larger number of applications open and the ability to work with larger file sizes without slowing down.

A relative newcomer to the upgrade scene is the SSD (solid state drive). In most cases, it replaces the regular hard drive. What makes SSDs special is how fast they transfer data to the rest of the system. Good ones can cut startup times by 2/3 or more and open applications almost instantaneously. The downside is that right now they are expensive when compared to a regular hard drive, especially in larger sizes. If you are curious whether a SSD would be a good fit for you, let us know and we’ll discuss the pros and cons.

Warranty repairs for U of O students

mac tonic is Eugene’s authorized service provider for Safeware, the affordable hardware warranty option available through the Digital Duck at the University of Oregon Bookstore. That means no-hassle service with people you already know and trust, conveniently located seven blocks west of the University of Oregon campus.

If you have a third party warranty through another company, let us know. than likely, we can make arrangements with your vendor to provide service.