MacBook Pro won’t show HD in Startup Options Screen

Troubleshooting a Silicon MacBook Pro: No Startup Options Drive Icon Display

If you’re using a newer Silicon MacBook Pro and encountering issues accessing the startup options screen, you’re not alone. Many users seek to reset their device or reinstall macOS but face hurdles when the expected drive icon doesn’t appear during startup.

Understanding the Startup Options Screen

When booting into macOS Recovery or Startup Options, holding the power button prompts your Mac to display available boot options. Typically, this screen showcases available startup disks as icons, allowing users to select the desired drive for troubleshooting or reinstallation.

Common Issue: Missing Drive Icon

Some users report that, instead of seeing the drive icon, only a spinning loader appears. This can be confusing, especially when attempting to access recovery modes or initiate OS reinstallation. In certain cases, even after Rebooting or initiating diagnostics, the drive icon may remain absent.

Diagnostic Insights

Running Apple Diagnostics can help identify hardware issues—however, a clean diagnostic report, indicating no errors, suggests the drive itself is functional. Thus, the problem may reside in how the system is detecting or presenting the storage device during startup.

Potential Causes and Solutions

1. Drive Not Fully Initialized or Recognized
   Sometimes, if the drive is in the process of mounting or initializing, the icon may not display immediately. Patience can be key; waiting a few moments after powering on might allow macOS to recognize the drive.

2. Secure Boot Settings
   Silicon Macs include secure boot configurations that can influence startup options. Ensure your firmware settings permit startup from external or internal drives as needed. Access these settings via Startup Security Utility.

3. Firmware or NVRAM Reset
   Resetting the NVRAM/PRAM can resolve recognition issues:

4. Shut down your Mac.
5. Turn it on and immediately press and hold Option + Command + P + R for about 20 seconds.

6. Release and observe if the symptoms improve.

7. Startup from External Media
   If internal drive detection remains problematic, try booting from a bootable macOS installer on an external USB drive. This can help in reinstalling the OS or diagnosing drive issues further.

8. Waiting Period
   Sometimes, especially on newer hardware, it can take a minute or two for the system to recognize and present the startup disk correctly. If no drive icon appears right away, give the system some time before attempting again.

When to Seek