Yesterday I wanted to upgrade my Mac to the newest macOS, macOS Sierra. After the update, my Mac restarted, however, the computer booted to a black screen. The dark screen had an active white cursor. This article explains how I fixed this problem.
I was investigating this issue and I realized that many users were having this problem. Some of our readers stated that they experienced this issue with their Macs unexpectedly. Some users have also stated that they found their Mac like this in the morning after waking the computer from sleep or standby mode.
So it seems that even though my Mac went into a black screen after an upgrade that fails to successfully update; however it also looks like the Mac computers may stop working unexpectedly and display only a black screen.
Black Screen Fix
Please try each step until you resolve this issue:
Sep 16, 2013 - But first let's look at what's probably happening in the background. To restart in Safe Mode, hold down “Shift” while the computer restarts immediately. Insert your Mac OS X Install Disk or Bootable Drive; Shut Down you Mac; Start up. Please help I have read almost everything and nothing is helping. Dec 10, 2016 If you find your Mac is stuck on a white screen during boot and is not powering on as expected, read on to troubleshooting and learn how you might be able to fix this issue. To be clear, what we’re describing here is a Mac that is stuck on an all white screen with no logos, no progress bar, nothing, it’s just a blank white display.
First thing, you may want to back up your Mac.
Even though, your screen is completely black and you can’t see anything, but still enter your password (or try entering your pass) then press enter. This may fix the problem. Entering my password is how I fixed this issue.
Reset NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random-Access Memory), here is how:
Steps are slightly different. If you own a a late-2016 MacBook Pro:
Hold the power button until the Mac powers off
Turn on your Mac and press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys together as soon as you turn on the Mac
Keep holding the keys for at least 20 seconds
Then release the keys
Other Mac models:
Turn off your Mac
Power on your Mac and as soon as you hear the boot chime, press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys
Once you hear the boot sound again, release the keys
Reset SMC (System Management Controller). Apple’s web site explains this nicely.
Load your Mac in Safe Mode. Here is how:
Shut down your Mac
Start your Mac and press and hold the Shift key while it boots
Release the Shift ket when the login window appears
Then try restarting your Mac without pressing any keys.
If you are still having the issue, then try the steps below:
Start your Mac in single-user mode by following these steps:
Turn off your Mac
Press and hold the Command + S keys while turning on the Mac
Now you are in single user mode. Now we will enter various commands. You have to enter them exactly as shown below (pay attention to the spaces):
Now run a disk check by typing: /sbin/fsck -fy and press Return
Then enter: /sbin/mount -uw / and press Return
Enter rm /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow.plist and press Return
Enter rm /Library/Preferences/loginwindow.plist and press Return
Enter rm /private/var/db/.AppleUpgrade and press Return
Now exit single-user mode by typing reboot then press Return
Hopefully, one of the solutions above will help you. Apple manufacture great computers. I never had any major problems with Mac computers. And troubleshooting a Mac is usually very simple.
Also see: Mac White Screen? and iPhone Black Screen
Startup screens can vary by Mac model, operating system (macOS), and more. Some screens, such as the prohibitory symbol or question mark, mean that you need to resolve an issue before your Mac can finish starting up. For all Mac models, startup is complete when you see the Finder menu bar, desktop, and Dock.
Prohibitory symbol
A circle with a line or slash through it means that the selected startup disk contains a Mac operating system, but it's not a macOS that your Mac can use. You should reinstall macOS on that disk.
Question mark
A folder with a question mark means that the selected startup disk isn't available or doesn't contain a Mac operating system. Learn how to resolve a flashing question mark.
Blank (empty) screen
It's normal for a blank screen to appear once or more during startup. It can be black, gray, blue, or a desktop picture. If an image doesn't appear after a few moments, make sure that your display is turned on, connected, and has its brightness turned up.
Apple logo
Your Mac shows an Apple logo when it finds a local startup disk, which is a startup disk built into your Mac or directly connected to your Mac. If it can't find one, it attempts to use a network startup disk, if available. As startup continues, you should see a progress bar or indicator , with or without the Apple logo. This screen might alternate with a blank screen several times.
If you're updating or reinstalling macOS, this stage can take much longer to complete. The progress bar might move more slowly and pause for longer periods as installation progresses. Learn what to do if your Mac seems to be stuck on this screen during or immediately after installation.
Spinning globe
When using a network startup disk, your Mac shows a spinning globe instead of an Apple logo. A spinning globe also appears when starting up from macOS Recovery over the Internet. As startup continues, you should see a progress bar or indicator , which might alternate with a blank screen several times.
Globe with alert symbol
You might see a globe with an exclamation point when your Mac is unsuccessfully attempting to start up from macOS Recovery over the Internet. Your Mac might not be able to connect to the Internet, or it might be using a network configuration that doesn't work with macOS Recovery. Try these solutions:
Use Command-R at startup to attempt to use the built-in macOS Recovery system instead of macOS Recovery over the Internet.
Connect to the Internet using Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi, or vice versa.
Connect to the Internet from a different network.
Try again later, because the issue might be temporary.
Lock icon
If your Mac is using a firmware password, the lock icon appears when you try to start up from another disk or volume, such as an external drive or macOS Recovery. Enter the firmware password to continue.
System lock PIN code
Your Mac asks for a PIN code when it has been remotely locked using Find My. Enter the four-digit or six-digit passcode to continue.
Login window
At the login window, enter your user account password to log in to your Mac. If FileVault is turned on, this also unlocks your disk. You might see a default desktop picture in the background, which might change to your chosen desktop picture when you select your account.
Thunderbolt, USB, or FireWire symbol
A large Thunderbolt , USB , or FireWire symbol onscreen means that your Mac is in target disk mode.
Learn more
Learn what to do if your Mac doesn't turn on or finish starting up.
Learn about Mac startup sounds and POST RAM error codes.
When starting up from Windows using Boot Camp, your Mac doesn't show an Apple logo or the other screens in this article.