unable to enter boot manager after hold down Option Key at startup

Question

Level 1

4 points

unable to enter boot manager after hold down Option Key at startup

I need to format and reinstall Macbook Air 2014 11-inch, already have a bootable USB of Big Sur.

But it seems that holding down option key at startup didn't do anything, macbook still continue booting to login screen.

checked the USB drive works in other mac

checked the keyboard by keyboard checker, option key works fine

so each recommendation to reset SMC and PRAM didn't work at all since nothing happened when I hold down those buttons.

please help

MacBook Air 11″, macOS 11.7

Posted on Mar 16, 2025 1:41 AM

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Answer 1

dhanidezig Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 16, 2025 7:32 AM in response to D.I. Johnson

yes I'm pretty sure

coz those buttons works fine in macOS, but seems not working when I tried all possible options like:

option (both left and right)
command + R
SMC Reset
PRAM Reset

yes I need an external keyboard to test this, but I have to wait till tomorrow.

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Answer 2

dhanidezig Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 16, 2025 7:31 PM in response to D.I. Johnson

I have tried with external USB keyboard, the same result I got.

I checked the recovery partition is missing, is that possible that causing this issue?

I can’t select the startup drive either.

now I am trying to reinstall within the OS by copying Big Sur installer from bootable USB drive. I can see all USB bootable drives anyway.

I hope this will help, we’ll see

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Answer 3

Mar 16, 2025 7:26 AM in response to dhanidezig

Are you certain that the keyboard works properly?

Press and hold the option key as soon as you hear the startup chime.

If that doesn’t work then you might try again with the other option key or with a USB keyboard plugged into the laptop.

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Answer 4

Mar 16, 2025 7:41 AM in response to dhanidezig

Successfully booting into the boot manager often comes down to timing. Pressing and holding the option key at the same time you press the power button may or may not work. I have always had my best success if I press it immediately when I hear the chime.

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Answer 5

HWTech

Level 9

63,542 points

Mar 17, 2025 7:22 PM in response to dhanidezig

So when you hold down the Option key immediately after hearing the Startup Chime (timing can be critical as @WheelieNick mentions since holding it too soon or too late can cause the key press to be ignored).....you don't see the Apple boot picker menu?

If you don't see the Apple boot picker menu & the system just boots normally, then there is some sort of hardware issue.

If you see the Apple boot picker menu, do you see an option called something like "Install Big Sur"?

How did you create the bootable USB stick?

Have you tried using another USB stick?

If the Mac is unable to boot from the external drive, then it will sometimes just boot right into the default boot drive which is typically the internal drive.

Try disconnecting all other external devices from the laptop & connect the USB stick directly to the laptop. Try using the other USB port as well. The USB port on the right side is part of the Logic Board, while the port on the left is on a separate I/O Board.