TL;DR
To fix white screen on Mac:
- Force restart the Mac.
- Unplug all external devices and restart your Mac.
- Start in Safe Mode to troubleshoot the white screen issue.
- Reset NVRAM/PRAM to resolve display problems.
Tried and Tested ✅: The methods and steps mentioned in this article have been tried and tested firsthand by Ojash Yadav on his MacBook Pro M3 and rechecked for errors on Hashir’s MacBook Air M2.
Seeing your Mac stuck on a white screen is frustrating, but don’t worry—there are simple fixes. In this guide, you’ll find quick and easy solutions to restore your Mac.
How to Fix a White Screen on Mac
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I’ve got some quick and easy fixes to help you to fix the white screen on your Mac. Check out the following section to see what works for you:
1. Force Restart Your MacBook
A force restart can often solve the white screen issue. Here’s how to force restart your Mac:
- Press and hold the Power button until your MacBook turns off completely.
- Wait at least 10 seconds before you press the Power button again to turn your MacBook on.
- If everything goes well, your MacBook will restart, and you’ll see the Apple logo on the screen.
2. Disconnect All Peripherals
Peripherals like external hard drives, printers, or USB hubs can sometimes cause display issues on your MacBook.
- Gently unplug all USB devices from your MacBook, including your power cord, keyboard, and any other connected accessories.
- If you’re using an external monitor, switch back to your MacBook’s internal display before disconnecting it.
- Once everything is unplugged, restart your MacBook.
3. Boot in Safe Mode
Safe Mode helps identify and fix issues by only loading essential system components. Here are the steps to boot your Mac in Safe Mode:
Remember, in Safe Mode, your Mac might run slower than usual, and some features might not work. This is normal, as it’s running with limited functionality.
- Shut down your MacBook by selecting Shut Down from the Apple menu.
- If your Mac is unresponsive or frozen, force restart it by pressing and holding the Power button until it turns off.
- Press the Power button to turn your MacBook on.
- Immediately press and hold the Shift ⇧ key as soon as you see the Apple logo. Continue holding the Shift ⇧ key until you see the login window.
- Release the Shift ⇧ key and log in to your MacBook. You will see Safe Boot in the top-right corner of the screen, indicating that your MacBook has started up in Safe Mode.
- Once your MacBook has booted up in Safe Mode, check to see if the white screen issue has been resolved.
- If your MacBook starts up successfully in Safe Mode, a third-party app may be causing the white screen issue. You can disable or uninstall any recently installed apps to resolve the issue.
Once you have finished troubleshooting in Safe Mode, restart your MacBook normally by selecting Restart from the Apple menu.
4. Reset NVRAM or PRAM
Corrupted system settings can cause display issues, and resetting NVRAM/PRAM often fixes them. To reset NVRAM or PRAM on your Mac, follow these steps:
- Shut down your MacBook.
- Press the Power button and immediately hold down the Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + P + R keys.
- Hold these keys for about 20 seconds until you hear the startup sound twice.
- Release the keys and let your MacBook start up normally.
5. Repair Startup Disk in Recovery Mode
A damaged startup disk can cause problems, and Recovery Mode lets you repair it with Disk Utility. Here’s how to boot your Mac into Recovery Mode:
- Restart your Mac and hold the Command ⌘ + R keys until the Apple logo appears.
- Once you’re in Recovery mode, select Disk Utility from the list.
- Select your startup disk from the left sidebar and click First Aid.
- Click Run to begin the verification process. If any issues are detected, Disk Utility will attempt to repair them automatically.
- If Disk Utility cannot repair your disk, you may need to erase your startup disk and reinstall macOS.
- Once the verification and repair process is complete, you can quit Disk Utility and restart your Mac.
6. Reset the SMC
Resetting the System Management Controller can resolve low-level hardware issues like the white screen. Here’s a step-by-step guide to resetting the SMC on your Mac:
Resetting the SMC is not possible on Macs with an M1 chip.
- Shut down your MacBook.
- Hold the Shift ⇧ + Control ^ + Option ⌥ keys and the Power button simultaneously for about 10 seconds.
- Release all the keys and the Power button at the same time.
- Press the Power button to turn on your MacBook.
- Check to see if the white screen issue has been resolved.
An SMC reset is a more extreme troubleshooting step, and it’s recommended to try other methods first before resorting to resetting the SMC.
7. Check the Display Connections
Loose or damaged display connections may cause a white screen, so check and reconnect them if needed. Follow these steps:
Fixing a hardware issue on a Mac is tricky and requires a certain level of expertise. You should only do it if you have the skills to handle it.
- Shut down your MacBook.
- Disconnect all cables and external devices from your MacBook.
- Remove the battery from your MacBook (if possible).
- Open your MacBook and locate the display connector.
- Disconnect and reconnect the display connector.
- Reconnect the battery (if you removed it) and other cables and external devices.
- Turn on your MacBook to see if the white screen issue has been resolved.
⚠️ Last Resort: Reinstall macOS
If all other methods fail, reinstalling macOS might be your last option. It’s a big step, so back up your data first. To proceed, restart your Mac while holding Command (⌘) + R, then follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall the operating system.
Here is my detailed guide on how to re-install macOS
Get Rid of White Screen on Your Mac
Now that you have resolved the issue of a white screen on Mac, it’s time to take your device’s performance to the next level. Here are some quick and effective ways to keep your Mac running smoothly:
- Speed up your slow Mac by locating and deleting unwanted files and applications.
- Install an antivirus program and run a virus scan on your Mac to keep it super-secure.
- Improve your Mac’s speed by fixing errors like WindowServer Mac high CPU usage.
