Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
If your Mac shows a blank screen and a cursor after a macOS update, first check whether the update may still be running. Apple says the screen can go blank during an update and progress may pause for a long time; a cursor alone does not show whether the Mac is frozen. If the Mac remains stuck, try one forced shutdown and restart. If that does not help, use macOS Recovery to repair the startup disk and, if needed, reinstall macOS.
Check whether the update is still progressing
During startup or an update, a Mac may show an Apple logo or progress bar, pause for a long time, or alternate between a progress screen and a blank screen. Apple recommends allowing the installation to continue; it suggests starting an installation in the evening so it can run overnight if needed, but does not set a universal maximum wait time. See Apple’s guidance on macOS installation progress.
If you see signs that the update is continuing, give it time rather than interrupting it. The cursor by itself does not establish whether the update is progressing or stuck. Apple’s general blank-screen guidance does not identify a visible cursor as a particular diagnosis or cause.
Force a shutdown and restart once
If the Mac appears to be on but remains stuck on a blank screen, hold the power button for up to 10 seconds, until the Mac turns off. Then press the power button to start it again. On a laptop with Touch ID, press and hold the Touch ID button as the power button. These are Apple’s initial steps for a Mac that turns on but shows a blank screen: Apple’s blank-screen troubleshooting guide.
#1 Best Overall
- AN AMAZING MAC AT A SURPRISING PRICE — With an incredibly portable and durable aluminum design, up to 16 hours of battery life,* and the A18 Pro chip, MacBook Neo is ready to go wherever school takes you.
- FOUR STUNNING COLORS. ONE DURABLE DESIGN — Choose from four beautiful colors — Silver, Blush, Citrus, or Indigo — each with a color-coordinated keyboard. And MacBook Neo is made with a durable recycled aluminum enclosure that helps it reach 60 percent recycled content by weight — the most ever in any Apple product.*
- FLY THROUGH EVERYDAY ASSIGNMENTS — Whether you’re cramming for finals, using Apple Intelligence* to summarize class notes, creating presentations, or even playing the latest Apple Arcade game,* MacBook Neo delivers the performance and AI capabilities you need to get things done.
- UP TO 16 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Neo delivers all day battery life, so you can power through from early morning classes to late night study sessions without worrying about plugging in.
- A VIBRANT 13-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Neo supports 1 billion colors, so photos and videos pop and text is crisp for easy reading.
Start macOS Recovery
The way to enter Recovery depends on whether your Mac has Apple silicon or an Intel processor. Shut the Mac down first, then use the method for your model.
Apple silicon
- Press and hold the power button until the startup options screen appears.
- Select Options, then select Continue.
Apple’s macOS Recovery instructions cover startup options and what to do if Recovery does not load.
Rank #2
- AN AMAZING MAC AT A SURPRISING PRICE — With an incredibly portable and durable aluminum design, up to 16 hours of battery life,* and the A18 Pro chip, MacBook Neo is ready to go wherever school takes you.
- FOUR STUNNING COLORS. ONE DURABLE DESIGN — Choose from four beautiful colors — Silver, Blush, Citrus, or Indigo — each with a color-coordinated keyboard. And MacBook Neo is made with a durable recycled aluminum enclosure that helps it reach 60 percent recycled content by weight — the most ever in any Apple product.*
- FLY THROUGH EVERYDAY ASSIGNMENTS — Whether you’re cramming for finals, using Apple Intelligence* to summarize class notes, creating presentations, or even playing the latest Apple Arcade game,* MacBook Neo delivers the performance and AI capabilities you need to get things done.
- UP TO 16 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Neo delivers all day battery life, so you can power through from early morning classes to late night study sessions without worrying about plugging in.
- A VIBRANT 13-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Neo supports 1 billion colors, so photos and videos pop and text is crisp for easy reading.
Intel
- Turn on the Mac and immediately press and hold Command-R.
- Release the keys when you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe.
If the key combination is not recognized, Apple suggests waiting briefly for an external keyboard to be recognized, connecting a wireless keyboard if possible, or trying a wired keyboard or the Mac’s built-in keyboard. The Command-R startup method is for Intel Macs, not Apple silicon. See Apple’s startup key combinations.
Repair the startup disk, then reinstall macOS if needed
- In Recovery, open Disk Utility and use it to repair the startup disk.
- Restart the Mac to check whether it starts normally.
- If it still shows a blank screen, start Recovery again and choose the option to reinstall macOS.
Back up your Mac first if you can. Apple says reinstalling macOS from Recovery does not remove apps or personal data, but a backup is still prudent before troubleshooting. If the installer asks you to choose between Macintosh HD and Macintosh HD – Data, select Macintosh HD. Follow Apple’s instructions for reinstalling macOS.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Rank #3
- BUILT FOR COLLEGE. AND BEYOND — MacBook Air with the M5 chip packs blazing speed and powerful AI capabilities into an incredibly portable design. And with up to 18 hours of battery life,* this thin and light powerhouse is ready to take on almost any major, just about anywhere.
- TEAR THROUGH TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS — With its faster CPU and unified memory, the M5 chip delivers even more performance and fluidity across apps, making multitasking and creative workflows smooth and responsive. A powerful Neural Engine and next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerators give you a powerful platform for AI.
- MAKE QUICK WORK OF YOUR TO-DO LIST — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly — whether it’s for school or everyday life. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Air delivers incredible battery life with amazing performance, so you can power through a full day of classes without worrying about plugging in.
- A BRILLIANT 13.6-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Air supports 1 billion colors, making photos and videos pop with rich contrast and sharp detail, and text appears supercrisp. So everything — from class presentations to movies to games — looks truly stunning.
During installation, the Mac may restart several times, and the screen may be empty for minutes at a time. Let the installation finish: do not put the Mac to sleep or close a laptop’s lid while it is installing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When to contact Apple or a service provider
Contact Apple Support or an Apple Authorized Service Provider if Recovery will not start, Disk Utility cannot repair the startup disk, or the blank screen continues after reinstalling macOS. Apple notes that a firmware revive or restore may rarely be needed to address persistent installation issues on Apple silicon or T2 Macs. Treat that as a support escalation rather than a routine step to try without guidance. See Apple’s blank-screen troubleshooting guide and Apple’s guidance for macOS update or upgrade errors.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- BUILT FOR COLLEGE. AND BEYOND — MacBook Air with the M5 chip packs blazing speed and powerful AI capabilities into an incredibly portable design. And with up to 18 hours of battery life,* this thin and light powerhouse is ready to take on almost any major, just about anywhere.
- TEAR THROUGH TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS — With its faster CPU and unified memory, the M5 chip delivers even more performance and fluidity across apps, making multitasking and creative workflows smooth and responsive. A powerful Neural Engine and next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerators give you a powerful platform for AI.
- MAKE QUICK WORK OF YOUR TO-DO LIST — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly — whether it’s for school or everyday life. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Air delivers incredible battery life with amazing performance, so you can power through a full day of classes without worrying about plugging in.
- A BRILLIANT 15.3-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Air supports 1 billion colors, making photos and videos pop with rich contrast and sharp detail, and text appears supercrisp. So everything — from class presentations to movies to games — looks truly stunning.
Rank #4
- BUILT FOR COLLEGE. AND BEYOND — MacBook Air with the M5 chip packs blazing speed and powerful AI capabilities into an incredibly portable design. And with up to 18 hours of battery life,* this thin and light powerhouse is ready to take on almost any major, just about anywhere.
- TEAR THROUGH TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS — With its faster CPU and unified memory, the M5 chip delivers even more performance and fluidity across apps, making multitasking and creative workflows smooth and responsive. A powerful Neural Engine and next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerators give you a powerful platform for AI.
- MAKE QUICK WORK OF YOUR TO-DO LIST — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly — whether it’s for school or everyday life. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Air delivers incredible battery life with amazing performance, so you can power through a full day of classes without worrying about plugging in.
- A BRILLIANT 13.6-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Air supports 1 billion colors, making photos and videos pop with rich contrast and sharp detail, and text appears supercrisp. So everything — from class presentations to movies to games — looks truly stunning.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
