MacBook shows folders with flashing question marks - what to do?

If your MacBook displays a folder with a blinking question mark, you should respond quickly. In this practical tip, we will tell you what exactly the symbol means and what you can do to troubleshoot it.

MacBook: folder with blinking question mark - what does that mean?

If the folder with the flashing question mark appears on the MacBook for only a few seconds, all you have to do is re-select the startup disk as there were errors when booting.

1. Click the Apple icon at the top and choose System Preferences.
2. Change here to the "Start volume" settings. This is the primary hard drive from which the operating system is started.
3. Here you have to click on the drive that you normally use to start up.
4. By default, this drive is "Macintosh HD". You only need to mark the drive. You can then close the wizard again.
5. Finally, you should restart the MacBook.

Folder with a question mark blinking continuously on the MacBook

If a blinking question mark or a gray screen appears when you start the MacBook, wait a short while for the system drive to be found:

• If you start your MacBook from a USB stick or an external hard drive, make sure that the startup disk is connected correctly.
• Alternatively, try another port to ensure that the startup disk can boot.
• If the MacBook still doesn't start, follow the steps in the next paragraph.

Other solutions: MacBook folder with a permanently flashing question mark

1. First, turn off your MacBook by pressing the power button for one second.
2. Then restart your MacBook and press the [Alt / Options] key during startup.
3. Wait for the "Startup Manager" to open. Look for the standard hard drive from which you normally boot.
4. The MacBook will restart automatically. After a successful system start, you must click on the Apple logo at the top to be able to select the "System Settings" option in the context menu.
5. After that you have to switch back to the "Start volume" settings. Select your standard drive here - as already described above.
6. Restart your MacBook.