When your Mac is having a hard time finding a bootable operating system, what it usually does is it displays the flashing question mark on your screen. It’s your Mac’s way of crying out for help.
Jul 21, 2011 Question: Q: Launchpad app with a question mark. Apple Footer. This site contains user submitted content, comments and opinions and is for informational purposes only. Apple may provide or recommend responses as a possible solution based on the information provided; every potential issue may involve several factors not detailed in. Jan 03, 2016 Fix Apple Now. IPhone, iPad & Mac Repair 588,893 views 34:51 How to Fix Macbook Pro Flashing Folder, Blinking Question Mark, White Screen, Freeze Randomly - Duration: 6:24. Once the application has been installed, it needs to be launched once so that its file associations are updated and the program can open directly via.qmsb files. Updating Questionmark Secure for Mac. When an update for the Mac version of Questionmark Secure is released, you will automatically be prompted by the App Store to install the update. Dec 05, 2019 How to fix Flashing Folder with Question Mark on Mac - Duration: 14:44. Webpromo 1,040,325 views. How to Install OS X or macOS onto a new blank Hard Drive (Fresh Installation). May 15, 2011 So now that I have deleted the apps from the downloads folder, thinking I had also saved them in my apps folder, there are question marks where the app logo used to be. When I click on them it says 'the item cannot be found' Is there any way to find out what app the question mark is trying to find? I liked one but the other I'm not sorry I lost.
In most cases, your Mac boots quickly enough that you will never notice the flashing question mark. Then again, there are instances when you find the dreaded icon, either for a short time before finishing the startup process or it just appears stuck, waiting for you to do something.
Here’s what you should know to find a solution to the problem: While the icon is flashing on your screen, your Mac is actually checking your system for any available disk it can use to boot your OS. If it finds one, the startup process is completed. That’s it. Otherwise, you should take action.
Don’t worry because we’ll teach you how to fix a Mac with the dreaded flashing question mark. Although there are many ways on how to get rid of the flashing folder with the question mark, we’ve only listed the easiest methods. Check them out:
1. Use your Mac in Recovery mode.
If you are trying to boot your Mac using its internal drive, you need to shut it down first by holding down the Power button. When you start it up, hold the CMD and R keys until the Apple logo appears. This should start your Mac in recovery mode.
![Backward question mark on mac Backward question mark on mac](/uploads/1/2/6/4/126477065/796808644.jpg)
After this, go to the Apple menu and select a new startup disk from the Startup Disk option. Once you have selected a new disk, restart your Mac so that the changes will take effect.
2. Repair your Mac’s startup disk.
If your Mac cannot detect your startup drive, go to the macOS Utilities window and open Disk Utility. Select your startup drive and navigate to the First Aid tab. Click Run.
App With Question Mark Mac
Once the repair is successful, go back to the Apple menu and select the newly repaired disk under Startup Disk. Finally, restart your Mac.
Blue Question Mark On Mac
In the event that your Mac fails to repair the disk, you have to erase the disk and reinstall macOS. But before you do that, have a backup of your data. If you already have a Time Machine backup, you can proceed by going to Utilities -> Time Machine Backup. From here, click Restore.
![Backward question mark on mac Backward question mark on mac](/uploads/1/2/6/4/126477065/987916309.png)
If you don’t have a backup yet, make a new one by following the steps below:
- Plug an external drive to your Mac.
- Open Disk Utility.
- Go to the Erase tab and erase the contents of the external drive.
- Next, go to the Utilities window and click Reinstall macOS.
- Follow the steps and wait for your Mac to restart.
- Once you see the Setup Assistant, click on the migrate data from another Disk
- Select the regular startup disk of your Mac.
- Wait for the setup process to be completed.
- Once it is done, check if your data is already on the external drive.
Now that you already have a backup of your files and data, you may delete your Mac’s regular startup drive under Disk Utility. Boot your Mac in recovery mode. From the external disk, select Reinstall macOS and choose your Mac’s original startup disk. As soon as your Mac has restarted, select the migrate data from another disk option again, but this time, select your new external drive as the data source. You should now have an installation of macOS on your startup drive.
3. Seek help from an Apple Genius.
If the flashing question mark still exists, your best option is to consult an Apple Genius. Chances are, there might be a problem with your hardware. Set an appointment with a Genius as soon as possible and have your hardware fixed.
Wrapping Up
Of course, nobody wants to see that flashing question mark on their screens, especially when there are deadlines to meet. So, the best thing you can do is optimize your Mac for top performance with Tweakbit Mac Repair. This tool can quickly pinpoint issues you can resolve and suggest fixes for them. With all Mac issues resolved, there’s no way that the dreaded flashing question mark will ever bother you in the future.