How to boot into Safe Mode on Mac

How to start a Mac in Safe Mode

Starting your Mac in Safe Mode is quite easy and safe. The steps are a little different for Intel and Apple silicon Macs. So check to see if your Mac is powered by Intel or Apple silicon before you proceed with the instructions below.

Start your Intel Mac in Safe Mode

Follow these steps to start your Intel Mac in Safe Mode:

1. Start your Mac. If it's already on, restart it.
2. Press and hold the Shift key while your Mac powers on.
3. The Apple logo will appear. When the login window appears, release the Shift key and log in.

Start your Apple Silicon Mac in Safe Mode

To boot your Apple silicon Mac in Safe Mode, follow the steps below:

1. Press and hold the power button until you see the boot options appear.
2. Choose your boot drive.
3. Press and hold the Shift key and click Continue in Safe Mode .
4. Release the Shift key .

How to confirm you are in Safe Mode

You will automatically see the red "Safe Boot" text at the top right of your Mac's screen when in Safe Mode. However, if you want to confirm that your Mac actually started up in Safe Mode, you can use the About This Mac function . To do this:

1. Click the Apple icon on the menu bar and select About This Mac from the drop-down list.

2. Click More Info in the window that appears. It will redirect you to the General section of System Settings .

3. Scroll down and click System Report .

4. Select Software on the left pane, then select Boot Mode on the right. It will display "Safe".

How to exit Safe Mode on Mac

Once you've completed Safe Mode and want to return your Mac to its normal state, simply boot and turn it back on as usual. Your Mac will start normally.

If a problem arises that you're not sure about, fixing it can be a little more complicated for the average user. In such cases, the article recommends that you take your Mac to a reputable Apple warranty center. Apple's expert technicians will be able to help you identify and fix the problem.