5 Best Ways To Start Mac In Safe Mode

Hello there, dear reader! It’s a beautiful day to troubleshoot some Macs, isn’t it? I bet you’re here because you’re trying to figure out how to boot your Mac in Safe Mode. And guess what? You’re in the right place.

Over the years, I’ve spent more than a few nights wrestling with tech issues, slowly untangling them until everything shines again. Booting Mac in Safe Mode? Been there, done that. Safe Mode is an essential tool when it comes to troubleshooting. It loads macOS in a simplified mode, running only necessary software. Here are my favorite methods for getting there.

1. The Classic Method

Nothing beats the classic, right? As soon as you power your Mac, press and hold the Shift key. Release it when you see the Apple logo. Congratulations, you’re in Safe Mode!

Note: If your Mac is protected by a firmware password, this method won’t work unless you turn off the firmware password first.

The Classic Method

Related:


2. Apple Diagnostics

Apple Diagnostics tests your Mac for hardware issues. It’s simple to use and can often pinpoint the problem you’re facing. Here are the steps:

  1. First, make sure your Mac is disconnected from all external devices except the keyboard, mouse, display, Ethernet connection (if applicable), and connection to AC power.
  2. Restart your Mac.
  3. Immediately after you hear the startup sound, press and hold the ‘D’ key.
  4. Release the ‘D’ key when you see a screen asking you to choose your language.
  5. Select your language and your Mac will run a diagnostics test, looking for any hardware issues.

3. The Recovery Mode Way

Recovery Mode provides access to various tools for troubleshooting and problem-solving. To boot into Recovery Mode, restart your Mac and instantly press and hold the Command (⌘) and R keys. Once you’re in Recovery Mode, you can run Disk Utility, reinstall macOS, and perform other tasks.

For an in-depth walkthrough, consider reading this article.

The Recovery Mode Way

4. Terminal to the Rescue

Terminal, although it might look intimidating, is actually a potent tool. Here’s a step-by-step guide to using Terminal for booting your Mac in Safe Mode:

  1. First, you have to open Terminal. Click on Finder > Go > Utilities > Terminal.
  2. When Terminal is open, type nvram boot-args="-x" and press Enter.
  3. Now, just restart your Mac. It will automatically boot in Safe Mode.

Remember, to exit Safe Mode, go back to Terminal and type nvram boot-args="", then press Enter.


5. The Verbose Mode

Verbose Mode can be a bit of an adventure. It allows you to see what’s happening behind the scenes during your Mac’s startup process.

  1. Restart your Mac.
  2. As soon as your Mac begins to restart, press and hold the Command (⌘) + V keys.
  3. Release the keys when you see a lot of white text appear on your screen. Your Mac is now booting in Verbose Mode.

Photo of author

Benjamin Johnson

Hey there, I'm Ben, the tech-savvy Founder and CEO of WinFixo.com. I've dedicated my life to helping fellow Windows users optimize their PCs for peak performance. Join me on this journey as we unlock the full potential of your Windows devices together!

Leave a Comment