Booting a Mac in Safe Mode: Guide – Guide
To access Mac’s built-in boot options, users must shut down or restart their device and press the appropriate key combination before the gray startup screen appears. This will allow them to test hardware, boot in safe mode, reinstall macOS and perform other system tasks.
What is safe mode
Safe Mode is a troubleshooting tool for macOS that can help identify and fix issues preventing the operating system from working properly. By booting into Safe Mode, users can diagnose problems and take steps to resolve them.
Macs can be booted into a mode that only loads the essential system components, allowing users to test if it’s the entire system or a specific program causing issues.
By limiting the number of programs that launch when your computer starts up, you can more easily identify and fix any issues.
Safe mode can help you get your computer back on track when issues arise due to corrupted data or applications, damaged fonts and preference files, or software installation problems.
Mac users can use Apple’s Disk Utility to troubleshoot startup issues, such as applications not launching or causing the computer to freeze, crash or shut down.
What happens when your Mac is in safe mode
When you boot your Mac in Safe Mode, it performs certain tasks to help troubleshoot issues. These include disabling non-essential system extensions and fonts, clearing caches, and running a disk check.
Macs require kernel extensions to operate, and these are loaded when the device is powered on.
The software scans the boot drive, searching for and attempting to fix any issues.
Stops programs from launching automatically when a computer is turned on or logged in.
Apple has disabled user-installed fonts from third parties, as well as those found in System / Library / Fonts.
This action clears out all font caches, including the kernel cache and other system files, and moves them to the trash.
The dynamic loader cache, which can cause the blue screen to freeze during startup, is removed by this update.
Mac users may find certain features, such as DVD Player, iMovie, modems, AirPort cards and Quartz Extreme unavailable or limited depending on their macOS version. Additionally, network file sharing may be affected.
How to Start your Mac in safe mode
For those looking to boot their computer in Safe Mode, here’s what to do: Reboot your device and press the F8 key repeatedly until the Advanced Boot Options menu appears. Select Safe Mode from the list of options and hit Enter. Your computer will now start up in Safe Mode.
Restart your Mac to get it up and running again.
Press and hold the Shift key as soon as you hear the beep to display the Apple logo on your screen.
To access a Mac with FileVault encryption, press and hold the Shift key while booting up. Upon reaching the login window, release the Shift key to unlock the boot disk and sign in twice - once to unlock the disk and again to connect to Finder.
How to Tell if your Mac is in safe mode
To determine if your Mac is in Safe Mode, use the System Information application (or System Profiler on some versions of OS X). This app provides a summary of information about the Mac’s software, hardware, network and more.
Click the Apple menu and select About this Mac to open System Information, which provides an overview of your Mac’s model, memory, processor, serial number and macOS version.
The System Report button provides additional information.
The Boot mode in the Software section of System information now reads “Safe” instead of the usual “Normal”.
When in Safe Mode, the login window will display a Safe Boot label at the top right.
What to do when your Mac won’t turn on or start up in safe mode
When your Mac won’t start up, there are a few steps to take. Check the power source, reset the SMC and NVRAM, and make sure all cables are securely connected. If these don’t work, try booting in Safe Mode or reinstalling macOS.
Check for any power-related issues, such as fan or hard drive sounds, at startup. Additionally, look out for lights like the sleep indicator light, Caps Lock key or backlit keyboard (if applicable).
Ensure your device is receiving power by checking the power cord is undamaged and plugged into a functioning outlet.
Ensure the right power cord and adapter are in use, and if an external monitor is connected, check it for any display issues. Increase brightness from the keyboard to complete setup.
If you’re having trouble starting up your computer, check for other potential issues such as a newly installed hard drive or memory. Ensure the components are compatible and installed correctly. If necessary, remove and test with the original disk or memory.
For help with your Apple product, reach out to Apple Support or visit an authorized Apple Store or Service Provider.
You can configure your Mac to start in safe mode without a keyboard or the Shift key, as long as you have remote access. To do this, simply adjust the settings on your Mac.
Log into your Mac using SSH and open Terminal remotely to access the command line. Enter the command “sudo nvram boot-args = ‘-x’” to enable single user mode.
The command “verbose mode” can be used to start an alternative process.
To enable verbose mode on Mac computers, users can enter the command “sudo nvram boot-args="-x -v” in the terminal.
To return to normal startup, users can enter a Terminal command.
This command resets the boot arguments in a Mac’s non-volatile RAM, allowing the computer to start up normally.
Final note
If you’re having trouble with your Mac, booting it in Safe Mode may be the answer. Our guide explains how to do it – and if you have any questions, we’re here to help. Share the love and pass it on to your friends!
