Start Your Mac in Safe Mode
Safe Mode, also known as Safe boot, is a stripped down version of the OS X operating system. It can allow you to get into your computer and troubleshoot, or save documents, when your normal operating system won't boot up. It's very simple to start your Mac in Safe Mode, either using your keyboard or by entering a command in Terminal.
Steps
Using the Keyboard
- Power down your Mac. You will need to boot from a powered down Mac in order to enter Safe Mode/Safe Boot.
- Turn on the Mac.
- Press and hold the Shift key as soon as you hear the startup sound. If you are hearing impaired, look for when the screen turns gray.
- Hold Shift until the Apple logo appears. You can release the key once you see the logo.
- Wait for OS X to boot in Safe Mode. This may take a little longer than normal, as your Mac is checking the directory structure integrity.
- Log in. You will still need to log in with your username and password. You will see the words "Safe Mode" displayed in the upper-right corner of the login screen.
- Safe Mode will force the log in screen. If you have "Automatic Log In" turned on you will still be required to enter your password while booting into Safe Mode.
- If you can't remember your password, Reset-a-Lost-Admin-Password-on-Mac-OS-X.
- Reboot to return to normal operation. When you're done with Safe Mode, reboot your Mac as you normally would and your computer will boot as normal.
Using the Terminal
- Open the Terminal. You can find this in your Utilities folder.
- Type .sudo nvram boot-args="-x" and press Return. Enter your password when prompted.
- Reboot your computer. Your computer will automatically boot into Safe Mode.
- Log in. You will still need to log in with your username and password. You will see the words "Safe Mode" displayed in the upper-right corner of the login screen.
- Safe Mode will force the log in screen. If you have "Automatic Log In" turned on you will still be required to enter your password while booting into Safe Mode.
- Open the Terminal in Safe Mode if you want to revert to a normal boot.
- Type .sudo nvram boot-args="" and press Return. Enter your password when prompted.
- Reboot your computer. Your computer will go back to booting normally.
Tips
- Be advised some of your programs may not work in this operating environment, but you can get to all of your files.
- 10.4 and earlier: Safe Mode will disable your Airport card.
- You will again be able to access all of your regular programs when you log into your Mac using the normal log in which will require a restart.
- The only way to exit Safe Mode is to restart the computer.
