May 07, 2025 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions
Mac stuck on the loading screen is a common issue that can soccer due to several reasons. The fix does exist but it will take a few minutes of your time. Learn how to solve it once for all and how you can continue using your computer once again. Below are the detailed steps of all the things you must do and also explanations why you should use them. At the moment, all we can say is that this problem occurs as a side effect when the operating system finds an error.
There are several reasons why the Mac computer can display a loading screen and cannot pass it. The reasons are explained below.
Mac not responding is probably the first phrase you are going to search with Google. Before you rush to the Apple repair center, make sure you have tried all of the steps included below. Chances are high that one of them will work and your Mac will be ready to be used within minutes and you can continue with your usage.
When this issue occurs you won’t be able to shut down Mac. The solution is to hold the power button for a few seconds until the computer shuts down. Once you are done, turn it back on and see if the problem is solved. If it is still there, you can move to the next step.
Another way to fix the Mac Stuck on loading screen issue is to reboot it into Safe Mode. To start Mac in safe mode:
On this way, your Mac will boot into safe mode and the being stuck on loading screen problem can be solved.
The SMC can also cause Mac stuck on loading screen. In this case, you can reset the Mac SMC to fix the issue.
If your Mac is stuck on the Apple logo or you see a progress bar but there is no actual progress, try resetting the NVRAM. This reset usually fixes the problem.
To start mac in recovery mode, all you have to do is to hold the command and R buttons and turn on the computer. It will start in recovery mode and offer you several options that can be used to resolve the main problem. The process is the same for all Mac computers.
This type of booting is helpful when the Mac computer is stuck at the progress bar at 100%. To boot into sign-user mode:
MacBook Pro stuck on the loading screen can usually be fixed with this process.
If nothing else works, you will have to reinstall the operating system. To do that:
The computer will download the operating system from the official servers and install it. The time for this process depends on the version of the operating system your computer will download (it will always download the latest supported OS) and the speed of your internet connection.
If you booted your computer from an external device before, it can also cause the Mac stuck on loading screen problem. In this case, you need to manually select the start-up disk for your computer.
If it still doesn’t work after changing the start-up disk, then there might be some error in the booting disk. In this case, you need to fix the error to solve the problem.
Another possible reason for the Mac stuck on booting screen could be that the Mac OS version is not compatible with your computer, especially when you just upgraded your system. In such a case you may need to downgrade to the older version to make your computer works normally.
(Noted: MacOS downgrade can cause you lose all the data from your hard drive, don’t forget to make a data backup.)
If you have mac stuck on startup, it means that the system is damaged, the hard drive is malfunctioning, or something else. Yes, reinstallation of the entire OS can fix the problem but your files will be lost. The situation is even more severe if you know that all your files and data will be permanently lost!
To prevent that, before reinstalling the operating system you should use Recoverit Mac Data Recovery software and recover your files. After you are done, you can reinstall the Mac OS and move or copy the files back on the computer. In order to use the Recoverit Data Recovery, you should follow the steps mentioned and explain below.
The first step is to actually create a bootable USB drive. You can use a DVD or CD as well, but USB is a bit easier and works with more computers. Open the Recoverit Data Recovery and click on "Recover data from system crash". Insert the USB into the USB port.
This is the same type of process you create when you want to install the operating system from a USB drive. A drive must be created using a special process. Just copying the files on it won’t be successful.
Choose the USB drive you want to use and click create. The software will move to the next screen and you will need to confirm. Don’t pull the USB at this point. If you remove it, the drive won’t work and you won’t be able to recover your files. The situation is the same if you use a CD or DVD disc.
Click on format now to delete all the files from the USB drive. This step may take a few seconds, depending on the size of the drive and the computer itself. Keep in mind that formatting will remove all the files and change the name of the drive. This is perfectly normal. We recommend you to use a blank USB drive or a drive with irrelevant data.
On this screen, you can see the entire process and how it is advancing. There is no need to tell you that you should reach 100% and then the process will be done. If you have an old computer you should give it more time to complete the process. Also, make sure you don’t play games or using advanced software during the creation of a bootable USB drive.
This is the last step for creating the bootable USB drive and you can see that it was created successfully. Once this screen is presented to you, be free to remove the USB drive. Now you are also ready to move to the next section which will help you extract the data from a failing Mac computer.
At this point, all you should do is to boot from the USB drive or the CD/DVD you just created. To do so on a Mac, turn it on, and when you hear the sound, press the options button. You will see the screen as in the picture above. Select the USB or drive and confirm your selection. Wait a few seconds.
Select the drive where your files are located. You can select the main drive or a specific partition according to your needs. A useful addition is the list of all available hard drives and also the size and free space of each one.
This can give you insight into which partition is the one that contains your files. Once you are done, click on start and move to the next step. In addition, you can scan all partitions or just one, see the files available and go back and scan another one until you find the data you want to recover.
Now you should select the files you want to recover. There is no limit on how many files you can recover and you can choose all of them if needed. If a file or files that you need are not displayed here, click on Deep Scan (lower left corner) and the software will scan the hard drives again in order to find all the files that can be recovered. This provides you a more complete list.
All you have to do in this step is to preview the files you want to recover. Select the ones you want and click Recovery. The software will complete the task and your files will be recovered. Depending on the size of the files this step may require a few minutes. Be patient and don’t cancel it.
Mac stuck on a loading or white screen is more common than you may believe. The fix is relatively easy and you will need a few minutes of your time. The ultimate fix is to reinstall the operating system. Before doing so, use Recoverit and make sure all important files are safe and sound. Once you install a new OS, the hard drive will be wiped from all files.
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Sue Wayne
staff Editor