A 13.3-inch MacBook Air that will not start, stops at the Apple logo, shows a flashing question mark or restarts in a loop needs the recovery tools, and the way you reach them depends on whether it has an Intel processor or an Apple M1 chip. Recovery is a small copy of macOS that runs from a hidden part of the disk or from Apple's servers, and it has the tools to check the disk, restore from a backup and reinstall macOS.
The checks in more detail
Before using it, charge the Mac for a while, because a flat battery stops many start-ups, and disconnect all accessories. To find your chip, a working Mac shows it in the Apple menu under About This Mac; if it will not start, the model year on the underside and the logo on the box help. On an M1 MacBook Air, shut it down, then press and hold the power button until the screen says that it is loading start-up options. Choose Options and click Continue to enter recovery.
On an Intel model, restart it and immediately hold Command and R until you see an Apple logo or a spinning globe; Option, Command and R loads the latest compatible macOS from the internet. In recovery, open Disk Utility and run First Aid on the start-up disk, starting with the data volume and the main volume; it repairs minor errors. If Disk Utility finds the disk is failing, back up what you can. If First Aid does not help, choose Reinstall macOS in recovery, which installs a fresh system without removing your files, then restart.
Safe mode is a useful test: on an M1, hold the power button to the start-up options, select the disk, hold Shift and choose Continue in Safe Mode; on an Intel Mac hold Shift as it starts. If a safe start works, a login item or an extension is the cause. On Intel, reset NVRAM with Option, Command, P and R held for twenty seconds. If recovery will not load or the disk is not listed, the storage or the logic board may have failed, and an Apple Store or authorized provider can diagnose it. Quote the serial number.
Differential
Likely causes of “Apple MacBook Air 13-inch is stuck at startup, automatic repair or recovery”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A low battery
What separates it The Mac will not start or restarts
How to confirm Charge it and try again
- 2
Disk errors
What separates it A flashing question mark or a loop
How to confirm Run First Aid in Disk Utility
- 3
A damaged system
What separates it It stops at the Apple logo
How to confirm Reinstall macOS from recovery
- 4
A login item or an extension
What separates it It starts in Safe Mode but not normally
How to confirm Remove the item or extension
- 5
A failed disk or board
What separates it Recovery will not load or no disk is listed
How to confirm Apple service
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the Mac is Intel or M1
- What it shows when it starts
- Whether Disk Utility lists the disk
- When the problem began
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedCharge the Mac
ReversibleAnd remove accessories.
Enter recovery
ReversiblePower button or Command and R.
Run First Aid
ReversibleIn Disk Utility.
Try Safe Mode
ReversibleTo test.
Reinstall macOS
ReversibleKeeps your files.
Contact Apple
ReversibleIf recovery will not load.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Two chips
- M1 and Intel use different keys for recovery.
- Disk Utility
- First Aid repairs minor disk errors.
- Reinstall
- It installs a fresh system and keeps your files.
- Safe Mode
- It finds a login item or an extension problem.
- Backups
- Keep a Time Machine backup before any repair.
- Apple help
- Quote the serial number.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Keep a backup before any repair
- !Do not erase the disk without a backup
- !Contact Apple if recovery will not load
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
How do I start my MacBook Air in recovery?+
Hold the power button on an M1, or Command and R on an Intel model.
Will a reinstall delete my files?+
No, a normal reinstall keeps them.
What does Safe Mode do?+
It starts with only essential software.
What does NVRAM reset do?+
It clears some start-up settings on an Intel model.
What if the disk is not listed?+
The storage may have failed.
Who can fix hardware?+
Apple or an authorized provider.