What the symbol indicates
A flashing question-mark folder indicates an unavailable startup disk or no working operating system on it. It does not prove that a new SSD is required. Note whether it remains indefinitely or appears briefly before normal startup.
What happened beforehand?
Mention system installation, a drop, liquid exposure or disconnection of an external startup drive. If booting externally, inspect its power and cable. Do not disassemble the Mac based solely on a similar error photograph online.
Protect data before formatting
Without a backup, do not select erase simply because the button is available in Recovery. Establish whether the drive is detected and assess its condition first. Repeated unsuccessful writes may complicate the situation.
Agree the repair scope
Discuss data priorities and actions already attempted. System repair, drive replacement and file recovery are different services. Our workshop does not recover data from physically damaged drives, so that must not be assumed to be included.
Official manufacturer guidance ↗
Need help?
Describe the symptoms and share the model. We agree on the work and price before repair.
