You press the power button to start up your Mac, expecting to see your desktop in a few moments. The Apple logo appears as usual, but then it’s suddenly replaced by a stark symbol: a circle with a slash through it (🚫). Your Mac stops booting, and you’re left wondering what’s gone wrong.
This is known as the prohibitory symbol, though many people refer to it as the “no entry” or “no bag” symbol.
Seeing this symbol means your Mac has successfully found its startup disk (your internal hard drive or SSD), but the version of macOS on it is either damaged, corrupted, or incompatible. In simple terms, your Mac knows where the operating system should be, but it can’t read or use it.
While this looks like a serious error, it’s most often a software problem that you can fix yourself using your Mac’s built-in recovery tools. This guide will walk you through the process, step by step.
The Critical First Step: Identify Your Mac Type
Before you begin, you need to know if you have a newer Mac with Apple Silicon or an older Intel-based Mac. The steps to access the recovery tools are different for each.
- Apple Silicon: If you have a Mac with an M1, M2, M3, or newer chip (generally sold from late 2020 onwards), you have Apple Silicon.
- Intel-based Mac: If your Mac is from before 2020, it likely has an Intel processor.
If you’re unsure, try the Apple Silicon method first. It won’t harm an Intel-based Mac if you try it.
The Solution: A 4-Step Guide to Fixing the “No Entry” Error
Follow these steps in order. We’ll start with the simplest fix and progress to a full reinstallation if needed.
Step 1: Start Up in macOS Recovery Mode
This is the essential first move. macOS Recovery is a special mode that loads a separate, hidden part of your drive containing tools to repair your main system.
How to Enter Recovery Mode:
- For an Apple Silicon Mac:
- Press and hold the power button until your Mac shuts down completely.
- Press and continue to hold the power button until you see a screen that says “Loading startup options.”
- A window will appear showing your startup disk and a gear icon labeled “Options.” Click on “Options,” then click “Continue.”
- For an Intel-based Mac:
- Press and hold the power button until your Mac shuts down.
- Press the power button again to turn it on, then immediately press and hold the Command (⌘) and R keys together.
- Keep holding both keys until you see the Apple logo or the macOS Utilities window.
Once you’ve successfully entered Recovery Mode, you will see a window titled “macOS Utilities.”
Step 2: Repair Your Disk with Disk Utility
The first thing to try is repairing any underlying file system errors that might be causing the problem.
- From the macOS Utilities window, select Disk Utility and click “Continue.”
- In the sidebar of Disk Utility, select the volume named “Macintosh HD” (or whatever your main startup disk is called).
- Click the “First Aid” button in the top toolbar.
- A dialog box will ask if you want to run First Aid. Click “Run.”
- Disk Utility will now scan for and attempt to fix any errors it finds. This may take several minutes.
- When the process is complete, quit Disk Utility and restart your Mac from the Apple menu in the top-left corner.
If your Mac now starts up normally, the problem is solved! If you still see the prohibitory symbol, it’s time for the next step.
Step 3: Reinstall macOS
If repairing the disk didn’t work, the core files of your operating system are likely damaged. The next step is to reinstall macOS.
Important Reassurance: Choosing this option from Recovery Mode will not erase your personal files, data, apps, or user settings. It only replaces the core macOS system files, leaving your personal data intact.
- Boot your Mac back into macOS Recovery Mode using the instructions from Step 1.
- From the macOS Utilities window, select Reinstall macOS and click “Continue.”
- Follow the on-screen instructions. You will need to agree to the software terms and select your “Macintosh HD” as the installation destination.
- Your Mac will need an active internet connection to download a fresh copy of macOS. This process can take a significant amount of time (30 minutes to over an hour), so ensure your MacBook is connected to a power source.
After the installation finishes, your Mac will restart. This is the most common and effective solution for the prohibitory symbol.
Step 4: Erase and Reinstall macOS (The Last Resort)
⚠️ WARNING: This final step will permanently erase all of your data, including all files, applications, and settings. Only proceed if you have a complete backup of your Mac or have accepted that your data will be lost.
If the standard reinstallation fails, it likely means the disk’s structure is too corrupted to be overwritten. A clean installation is the only remaining option.
- Boot into macOS Recovery Mode.
- Select Disk Utility.
- Select “Macintosh HD” and click the “Erase” button in the toolbar.
- Confirm the action to erase the disk.
- Once the erase is complete, quit Disk Utility to return to the main Utilities window.
- Now, select “Reinstall macOS” to perform a clean installation on your newly erased drive. If you have a Time Machine backup, you will be able to restore your data during the setup process.
Conclusion: Getting Your Mac Back on Track
Seeing the “no entry” symbol is stressful, but it’s a clear message from your Mac that its operating system needs repair. The most reliable fix is to boot into macOS Recovery, try repairing the disk with First Aid, and if that fails, proceed with reinstalling macOS.
This experience is also the single best reminder of the importance of maintaining regular backups of your important data. A good backup is the ultimate safety net for your digital life.
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