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question mark folder showing on screen

My MacBook Air is showing a flashing folder and question mark and I tried turning it on and immediately pressing option command r but nothing happens any suggestions

MacBook Air

Posted on Jan 12, 2023 3:29 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 12, 2023 3:38 AM

According to Apple:

A folder with a flashing question mark means that your startup disk is no longer available or doesn't contain a working Mac operating system.



If the question mark is persistent, and your Mac does not start up normally:

  1. Press and hold the power button on your Mac for up to 10 seconds, until your Mac turns off.
  2. Every Mac has a power button. On notebook computers that have Touch ID, press and hold Touch ID.
  3. Use Disk Utility to repair your startup disk. Follow the steps for a Mac with an Intel processor.
  4. If Disk Utility found no errors or repaired all errors, reinstall macOS.


Need more help?

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 12, 2023 3:38 AM in response to LaGeegee

According to Apple:

A folder with a flashing question mark means that your startup disk is no longer available or doesn't contain a working Mac operating system.



If the question mark is persistent, and your Mac does not start up normally:

  1. Press and hold the power button on your Mac for up to 10 seconds, until your Mac turns off.
  2. Every Mac has a power button. On notebook computers that have Touch ID, press and hold Touch ID.
  3. Use Disk Utility to repair your startup disk. Follow the steps for a Mac with an Intel processor.
  4. If Disk Utility found no errors or repaired all errors, reinstall macOS.


Need more help?

question mark folder showing on screen

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