Safe mode lets you determine if a particular issue was caused by software — if your device runs without trouble in safe mode, then a recently installed program might just be the culprit. This useful tool is not exclusive to Macs — in fact, we also have articles on how to start safe mode on Windows and how to launch safe mode on Android.
Depending on your Mac type, you can start your device in safe mode using one of two ways. Follow these steps to make sure your Mac boots correctly.
To begin the process, you need to know what type of Mac you have. You can do this by clicking on the “Apple” logo on your MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or any other Mac device and selecting “About this Mac.” This will open a window with the information you require.
If you see an item labeled “Chip” followed by a name (such as Apple M1 or Apple M2 Pro), then you should follow the instructions for devices with Apple Silicon. On the other hand, if you see an item called “Processor” followed by a name (such as “Intel Core i9”), then skip to the steps for Macs with Intel processors.
There is one simple way to tell if your Mac is in safe mode — if you’ve followed the process correctly, you should see “Safe boot” written in red letters in the menu bar. This means that you’re free to modify system settings and start looking for the root cause of your problems.
You can also check if your Mac is in safe mode using the “System information” app:
Mac safe mode is a great diagnostic tool, but it’s not a cure-all for every situation. If your problem still persists, you can try the following solutions to get your device back on track.
Instead of turning off all extra applications on startup, you can choose which specific processes you want to block. By selectively disabling applications and testing out different configurations, you will eventually be able to hone in on the problem. Here’s how you do it:
Can’t pinpoint the problem? Go back in time to when your machine worked. Time Machine is Mac’s built-in backup solution, being able to periodically take snapshots of your system and data. Here’s how you can restore your system from a Time Machine backup.
If you can’t remember when the issue first appeared or simply don’t have a Time Machine backup handy, you may need to go even further back in time — all the way to the beginning. A factory reset scrubs your device clean and restores it to a fresh state.
Be warned — a factory reset will wipe out all of the data, including documents, pictures, and games. Use it only as a last resort if every other method has failed. We highly recommend that you read our detailed article on how to factory reset a MacBook Air/Pro to perform the procedure correctly.
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To exit safe mode, you typically only need to restart your Mac. Keep in mind that your device may take longer than usual to shut down from safe mode — to make sure that nothing goes wrong, don’t interrupt the process or try to shut down the Mac manually via the power button.
Your Mac may not start in safe mode for a number of reasons, such as:
Your device may keep starting in Mac safe mode if your “Shift” key is stuck or if you accidentally hold it down during startup. Mac safe mode may also be activated automatically in response to a detected issue — typically third-party software that is preventing regular startup or causing critical problems. Resolving the issue should let your Mac once again boot normally.
If your device keeps starting in Mac safe mode without a clear cause, please contact Apple customer service or visit an authorized repair site.
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