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Aside from running Disk Utility in Recovery Mode or basic troubleshooting tricks, you can try other solutions like checking system files, resetting PRAM/NVRAM, or resetting SMC to fix Mac boot issues. Check out the following article by Mytour for more details.
Fixing Mac Boot Failures
Method 6: Verifying System Files
Shut down your Mac, then restart it. During startup, press and hold Cmd + S to enter Single User Mode. Release the keys. A series of messages will appear on the screen.
Wait until the command line utility appears. Type fsck -fy and press Return. Wait a few minutes.
On the screen, you'll see one of these messages: 'The volume [your Mac's name] appears to be OK' or 'FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED'. If you see the first message, re-enter the command and press Return again.
If the second message appears, you can also re-enter the fsck -fy command and press Return, or use the up arrow key, then press Return.
If still unavailable, if your Mac doesn't start up, try the following methods below.
Method 7: Resetting PRAM / NVRAM
On modern Macs, the term NVRAM is actually used instead of PRAM as in older Mac models. Essentially, PRAM or NVRAM refers to special memory areas on Macs that store data even when the Mac is turned off, such as volume settings or screen resolution data.
Resetting PRAM / NVRAM doesn't affect the system, but rarely yields desired results.
To reset PRAM / NVRAM, during Mac startup, press and hold Command + Option (or Alt) + P + R until you hear the startup sound, then release the keys.
In some cases, if lucky, after resetting PRAM / NVRAM, your Mac will restart and function normally again.
Method 8: Resetting SMC
If you've exhausted all tricks and solutions with no luck, try resetting the SMC (System Management Controller) on your Mac and check if it boots. This is the last resort to troubleshoot issues on current macOS versions before resorting to data restoration and OS reinstall.
On a MacBook, press Shift + Ctrl + Option (or Alt), simultaneously plug in the power cord.
On a Mac desktop, unplug the power cord for about 15 seconds, then plug it back in, simultaneously press and hold the Power button for 5 seconds.
Method 9: Using Target Disk Mode
This step should be performed before reinstalling macOS and depends on how often you back up your Mac.
If you regularly back up your Mac with Time Machine, you can skip this step and proceed to the next solution. But if you're seeking alternative Mac backup solutions, follow the steps below:
To do this, you'll need another Mac. Then follow the steps below to access and use Target Disk Mode:
Step 1: Connect the two Macs using an Apple Thunderbolt cable (alternatively, on older Macs, you can use a FireWire cable).
Step 2: Next, power off your Mac (you can press and hold the Power button if needed).
Step 3: Next, restart your Mac, simultaneously during startup, press and hold the T key.
Step 4: Press and hold the T key until you hear the startup sound and see the Thunderbolt icon on the screen, then release it.
These steps boot your Mac into Target Disk Mode. While in Target Disk Mode, your Mac functions as an external hard drive. Now you can retrieve important files, data from your hard drive, or even copy the entire hard drive to another external drive.
Method 10: Reinstall macOS
In the article 'Mac Won't Boot', here's the troubleshooting method (Part 1). Mytour has guided you on how to boot your Mac into Recovery Mode. You can follow the steps to boot your Mac into this mode again to reinstall macOS, fixing the issue of Mac not booting.
After booting into Recovery Mode, click on Install to erase and reinstall macOS with the latest version, then follow the on-screen instructions.
Method 11: Take it to an authorized service center or Mac repair shop
The final solution for you is to take your device to reputable service centers or Mac repair shops, where experienced staff will assist you.
This article has just introduced you to some ways to fix Mac boot issues. Not only Mac, but there are also many reasons why a laptop won't boot when using Windows. You can explore the causes and solutions for laptop booting issues. Additionally, if you're unsure how to perform a clean macOS installation, you can refer to Mytour's article on How to Clean Install macOS for guidance.
