Written by
Jenny Zeng
Summary: In this post from iBoysoft, we provide 4 methods to try when a Mac won't turn on or boot after the macOS Sequoia update. To secure your data from the unbootable Mac, run data recovery software in macOS Recovery.
Some Mac users have noticed that their Macs won't boot up after the macOS Sequoia update. They may get stuck on a loading screen or the progress bar with an Apple logo, be unable to go past the login screen, or experience a reboot cycle with the error "Your computer restarted because of a problem." Some can also go through the login screen but then get stuck on the screen with only a wallpaper.
If you have a similar experience, this article is for you. We'll show you what to do when a MacBook or desktop Mac won't turn on or boot after installing macOS Sequoia.
What to do if Mac won't boot after macOS Sequoia update?
Before fixing the boot issue on macOS Sequoia, we should sort out a few things to make the troubleshooting more efficient. The solutions below apply to situations where the Mac can power on but won't boot properly. If by "Mac won't turn on after the macOS Sequoia update," you mean your Mac isn't powering on at all, you should do the following first:
- Check if your Mac is well-charged. Ensure the power cable or adapter is functioning and firmly connected to your Mac and the socket with the power switched on. If your MacBook won't turn on after the Sequoia update, wait for some time to allow the battery to charge.
- Unplug unnecessary external peripherals. External displays or external drives with disk issues may prevent your Mac from turning on after an update.
- Perform a power cycle. A power cycle is the process of turning a Mac off completely and then turning it back on. This is done to reset the system and clear out any issues that may build up over time.
Here's how to perform a power cycle to fix Mac Mini, iMac, Mac Pro, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air not turning on after updating to macOS Sequoia:
- If you have a MacBook with a removable battery, press and hold the power button for 10 seconds, then power it on.
- If you have a desktop Mac like iMac or Mac mini, unplug the power cable and leave it for 10 seconds, then hold the power button to shut it down. After that, plug the power cable back and start your Mac.
Hopefully, your Mac can now power on, in which case, the fans may be running and the keyboard backlight may illuminate. Now, keep reading the following sections if your Mac won't boot after the macOS Sequoia update.
Solution 1: Reset the Dock preferences in Recovery Mode
If your Mac gets to the login screen but can't boot up correctly after you enter the password, try resetting the Dock preferences in macOS Recovery. It has helped many users who found themselves stuck on a wallpaper without desktop items and the Dock.
- Boot into macOS Recovery Mode.
- Open Disk Utility.
- If the Macintosh HD - Data volume is grayed out or unmounted, select it and click the Mount button in the toolbar.
- You may be asked to enter your password if the volume is encrypted.
- Quit Disk Utility.
- Tap Utilities > Terminal from the menu bar.
- Type the following command after replacing your_username with your actual user name and hit Enter to browse to the Preferences folder.cd "/Volumes/Macintosh HD - Data/Users/your_username/Library/Preferences/"
- Run the command below to rename the Dock's preference file. The system will generate a new com.apple.Dock.plist file the next time your Mac is rebooted.mv com.apple.Dock.plist com.apple.Dock.plist.old
- Reboot your Mac and try logging in again.
Solution 2: Reset NVRAM
NVRAM, shortened for Non-Volatile Random Access Memory, is a type of memory that retains data when your Mac is turned off. If it's corrupted, you may have issues booting up your Mac. This won't be a problem for Apple Silicon Macs because they automatically reset it at boot. But Intel-based Macs need a manual reset. To do this:
- Shut down your Mac.
- Press the power button, then immediately press and hold Command-Option-P-R.
- Release the keys when you hear a second startup chime.
Solution 3: Reinstall macOS
If your Mac doesn't turn on or boot normally after the Sequoia update, reinstalling macOS can be helpful. Chances are that there are corrupted system files on your Mac and replacing them with the good ones is the solution. We recommend you try reinstalling macOS without erasing data first.
Simply boot into Recovery Mode, then select the "Reinstall macOS Sequoia" option and click Continue to complete the installation.
Solution 4: Erase your Mac and reinstall macOS
The last resort to fix MacBook not turning on after the macOS Sequoia update is to erase your Mac before reinstalling macOS. This returns your Mac to a clean state but also erases all data and settings on the internal hard drive. If you don't have a backup of the important files already, you must first recover the inaccessible data from Recovery Mode before proceeding.
This guide details how to run data recovery in macOS Recovery Mode to get back files when a Mac can't boot up in both written and video forms. Follow it to recover data from the Mac that won't turn on after the macOS Sequoia update.
Once you've secured the data, take the following steps to erase your Mac and reinstall macOS:
- Enter macOS Recovery Mode.
- Select "Disk Utility" and click Continue.
- Tap View > Show All Devices to reveal all disks and volumes on your Mac.
- Select the physical disk at the top and click Erase.
- Name your drive Macintosh HD.
- Choose APFS as the format.
- Keep the scheme GUID Partition Map.
- Click Erase.
- Exit Disk Utility and click "Reinstall macOS."
- Follow the instructions on the screen to finish the installation.
If the install fails, create a macOS Sequoia bootable USB and boot from it to install macOS Sequoia.
These are the methods to try when your Mac won't turn on after the Sequoia update. If they are useful, share them with your friends!
Why isn't my Mac turning on after macOS Sequoia update?
Many reasons can render your Mac not turning on after the macOS Sequoia update. It could be power connection issues, macOS Sequoia bugs, file system corruption, faulty system files, or update failures. It's hard to tell which one is the culprit, but you should be able to resolve the issue with the aforementioned solutions.
Share this guide with others whose MacBook Air or MacBook Pro won't boot after macOS Sequoia update!
