Your MacBook starts up, you see the login screen, but then nothing more happens. Or you type your password, a progress bar appears and it goes no further. Or the login screen keeps coming back. When your MacBook gets stuck on the login screen, it is usually something loaded at login, a full drive or a damaged part of macOS. This article explains step by step how to get back to your desktop.
Blue Apple repairs MacBooks in Amsterdam. If the steps below do not work, we help you further.
Step 1: patience and a restart
After a major update the first login can take long. Wait a quarter of an hour. If nothing happens, hold the power button for ten seconds, wait a moment and turn the MacBook on again.
Step 2: does the keyboard respond?
- If you cannot type in the password field, try an external keyboard.
- Is Caps Lock on? A password with the wrong capitals will not work.
- If you have forgotten your password, read forgot your Mac password.
Step 3: safe mode
Start up in safe mode. Then no login items or third-party extensions load. If logging in works there, the problem is an app that starts at login. See safe mode.
Step 4: turn off login items
Once logged in in safe mode, go to System Settings, General, Login Items. Turn off items that start at login, especially programs you installed recently, such as security software, VPNs and utilities. Then restart normally.
Step 5: is the drive full?
A nearly full drive can block login, because macOS needs space for temporary files. In safe mode, check System Settings, General, Storage. Free up space by moving or deleting large files. See removing apps.
Step 6: another user
If you have a second user on the Mac, try logging in with it. If that works, something in your user account is damaged. Your files are still in your own folder; you can save them from the other user.
Step 7: Recovery mode
If nothing helps, start up in Recovery mode:
- Run First Aid in Disk Utility. See Disk Utility and First Aid.
- Reinstall macOS. Your files and apps stay. See reinstalling macOS.
FileVault and the progress bar
If FileVault is on, your password first unlocks the drive. After that you sometimes see a second progress bar. On an Intel Mac that can take a while. If the bar stands still for long, the drive may be faltering. If possible, make a backup via Recovery mode or another user.
The login screen keeps coming back
You log in, the screen goes briefly blue or black and you are back at the login screen. That often points to a problem with your user account or an app that crashes immediately. Try safe mode and another user, as above.
When is it hardware?
If the MacBook also hangs in safe mode and after reinstalling macOS, or First Aid finds errors it cannot repair, the storage or memory may be faulty.
What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam
We test the storage and memory, check that macOS and your user account are in order and save your data. You hear beforehand what it costs. More on our page about MacBook repair in Amsterdam.
Frequently asked questions
Do I lose my files if I reinstall macOS?
No, reinstalling from Recovery mode keeps your files. Make a backup to be safe if you can.
Why does login take so long after an update?
macOS finishes the installation and rebuilds indexes. That only happens the first time.
My pointer moves but nothing else happens. What now?
Wait a few minutes. If nothing happens, try safe mode.
