By default, your Mac starts up from its built-in hard disk, but a startup disk can be any storage device that contains an operating system compatible with your Mac. For example, if you install macOS on an internal or external drive, your Mac can recognise that drive as a startup disk. You can then follow the steps in this article to start up from it.
Use Startup Disk preferences
When you use Startup Disk preferences to select a startup disk, your Mac starts up from that disk until you choose a different one.
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Startup Disk.
- Click the lock and enter your administrator password.
- Select your startup disk, then restart your Mac.
Aug 24, 2015 How to change your default startup disk. To tell your Mac to automatically use a specific startup volume each time your restart or turn it on, open the System Preferences application in the Dock and click the Startup Disk pane. You will be presented with various disk icons, as shown in Jeff’s video walkthrough embedded below.
If you see a message stating that your security settings do not allow this Mac to use an external startup disk, check the External Boot setting in Startup Security Utility.
- When I turn on my Macbook (Pro from 2010), I get the flashing question mark. Restarting in Recovery Mode, I don't see any startup disk. I then put my old harddrive into the laptop and put the SSD which I installed a year ago into an external casing. The laptop just kept restarting with the old hard drive, didn't even reach the flashing question.
- You may also use a local utility to see what the reason for your disk being full: Apple Menu About This Mac Storage. It is available for different types of MacBook. How To Clear Startup Disk Using a Third-Party App. If you prefer some third-party apps to clean your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, we’ll recommend MacFly Pro.
- MacBook Air:: Cannot Delete Files As Start Up Disk Is Full And Not Opening Up Aug 27, 2014. My macbook air do not start up as I can not delite files and make more rooms for start updisk. View 1 Replies View Related MacBook Pro:: Will Not Start Up / It Flashes Apple And Stop Sign Jun 17, 2014.
Use Startup Manager
When you use Startup Manager to select a startup disk, your Mac will start up from that disk once, then return to using the disk selected in Startup Disk preferences. Motorola gm365 user manual.
- Press and hold the Option (Alt) key immediately after turning on or restarting your Mac.
- Release the Option key when you see the Startup Manager window.
If your Mac is protected by a firmware password, you can release the key when you're asked to enter the password. - Select your startup disk, then click the arrow under its icon or press Return.
If you press and hold the Control key during this step, your selection will be saved in Startup Disk preferences, so it will continue until you change it.
![Startup Startup](https://dmad.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/so-happy.jpg)
Powershell for mac. If your Mac is using OS X Lion 10.7.3 or later, you can also use this method to start up from your Time Machine backup disk. Startup Manager identifies your Time Machine backup as 'EFI Boot'.
If you can't select your startup disk or start up from it
If you can't see your disk in Startup Disk preferences or Startup Manager, or your Mac won't start up from it, check for these possibilities.
Check for a compatible operating system on the startup disk
Where Is My Startup Disk On Macbook Air Released
Make sure your startup disk is using a version of macOS that is compatible with your Mac. Fake webcam software mac. If in doubt, use the same Mac to re-install macOS on that disk.
Where Is My Startup Disk On Macbook Air Hard Drive
To start up from an external disk with macOS Catalina 10.15 or later, the disk must be connected via USB-A, USB-C or Thunderbolt, not FireWire.
Check the startup security settings
If you're using a Mac that has the Apple T2 Security Chip, check the settings in Startup Security Utility. These settings determine whether your Mac can start up from another disk.
Check for Option ROM firmware
If you're in Startup Manager and can't see a third-party startup disk, the startup disk could be using Option ROM firmware. To enhance system security, Mac computers with up-to-date software don’t show devices that use Option ROM firmware until you load their firmware. To do that, press Option-Shift-Command-Period while in Startup Manager. If your startup disk appears, do that every time you want to start up from it or from another disk connected to it.
![Where Is My Startup Disk On Macbook Air Where Is My Startup Disk On Macbook Air](https://www.pc-freak.net/images/Mac-OS-X-Disk-Utility-RepairDiskPermissions.png)
If you're using a firmware password, the ability to load Option ROM firmware is disabled as an additional security protection.