Tired of having problems with your Mac? Problems that can be solved only by simply starting it in safe mode. In this article we will not only explain how to boot and start Mac in safe mode step by step.
You will also learn what it is, what it is for and what functions are not available when we make a safe boot. The truth, is that using this tool helps you analyze the problems that the Mac presents in the foreground .
It is a pleasure, because opens up a panorama for the solution of setbacks , in addition, of not allowing the software to overheat, so it is a preventive measure.
Index:
What is the safe mode for MacOS?
Safe mode is a way to start the MacOS, to prevent the Mac from getting hot or the software components will be alone. The intention is to protect and diagnose the team.
This tool is also called “safe boot” and when we access its use several things happen:
- Among the many functions that it exerts, sets the veracity of the boot disk trying to repair the inconveniences of the directory if required , it can load some requested kernel ramifications.
- It overrides the naturalness of elements that make up the login start so that it does not open automatically, lightening the software, allowing a review of the sources that you have installed a point before the machine will present problems.
- Finally discard the cache files, kernel and other records saved on the Mac . All this allows you to identify in a safe way if the problem can be fixed from there, the diagnosis will help you to know more about your problem, to be able to identify the cause and thus solve it.
Steps to start safely in Apple MacOS operating system
The steps are easy to follow , you just have to be a bit rigorous to do the procedure well, remember that the failsafe mode is a scanning tool to identify certain Mac problems so it will also isolate important functions.
Many of those problems come from unwanted active files or programs , the Mac being in safe mode does not suspend the files or programs so it does not let them work and so you will have total control .
- Take into account that if the Mac is on you will have to restart it, go to the Apple menu and click on “Restart”. You will not have enough restarting it only once, the procedure It is correct to restart it twice to ensure and confirm the procedure. If on the contrary the Mac is turned off, turn it on and let it start booting.
- Position yourself on the keyboard and display the “Shift” key, wait until the machine starts to start and press the uppercase key without releasing it (it is very important that you do not release it). The other possibility is to use an adjacent keyboard via Bluetooth, the pressure must be right after listening to the boot sound or wait until the Apple logo appears . It is important that you wait with the “Shift” button pressed for about two minutes for the team to respond , when the login screen appears you will continue to the next step.
- At this point you already managed to hold the uppercase key without releasing it for two minutes or less , and your machine is in safe mode so you can release the key. As the user is locked you just have to sign in to your Apple account , here the procedure is how you regularly do it, select your account and enter the password to enter. Note that if on your Mac you have the “ FileVault”, function enabled before anything you must log in to unlock the boot disk because this will not allow the proper functioning of your Mac .
- When you’re ready, it’s time for diagnosis. Evaluate if at the beginning of the session you had problems with the boot or with some general functions , but it is most likely that some of the files or programs you have on your MacOs are damaged to the point of causing a problem serious. The moment of truth is, if the problem reaches such a point of overcoming the failsafe mode, you have a problem in the software or hardware.
- Take the opportunity and disable all the startup programs and files that you can , the ones you create are causing problems or the ones that take longer to respond. This way when you turn on your Mac in natural mode it will boot much faster. Being in this mode you have the control of removing applications such as antivirus packages or difficult to run programs will not be a problem. All you need is to arm yourself with courage and erase what no longer serves you or never served you.
- Finally exit the safe mode by restarting your Mac , go to the Apple menu and click on “Restart”, follow the steps that the machine will indicate and in two by three you will have your MacOs in normal mode again.
What functions are not available in Mac safe mode?
This mode works by restricting some functions that cause problems to the machine when logging in. Many of them are natural functions of a Mac that one would think should not cause problems.
- While in this mode the use of the video viewer is not available and neither is the DVD reader to watch movies .
- All App videos are closed , including a very popular one like iMovie , video capture.
- Intervenes with things that one downloads from the web including music and files that include some type of audio, so the secure mode does not allow playback of audio input or output devices .
- Also limits the use of connectors to other devices such as USB, FireWare and Thunderbolt , the intention is to avoid hyper-heating and the Mac must load new devices.
- Do not wait a Wi-Fi connection while in a fail-safe mode, it is very unlikely that it will be available. However, there are MacOs that do have connection possibilities but this is depending on what you have.
- Accessibility as a function of a Mac will be affected by the secure mode, so it is most likely that you can not use some of them such as “VoiceOver” .
- One of the most frequent to use as file or program sharing is completely disabled .
- There are tools that go further, the next level is a later safe mode also known as “OS X Leopard” who completely deactivates the graphic skills that a Mac has. So a menu bar is in a solid color even if we have configured it with a translucent capacity , in a personalized way.
- And finally in this particular tool, we find with the screen will flicker and it will look deformed while logging in so you should not be afraid . Remember that the latter only happens in a safe way; In normal mode it is a system problem.
My Mac does not boot in safe mode How to fix it?
There are options that can take you to a safe way, these are alternatives it is preferable to use the traditional way if it does not work you can access connecting to a computer and send terminal commands (codes) that allow this use.
- To access you need to enter the command line sent through codes, to do so open the terminal remotely or simply log on to the computer with the SSH tool.
- The terminal commands are encrypted, you can use several of them to access, one is the «sudo nvram boot-args =” -x “ instead if you also want to access in a mode You can do this in more detail using the «sudo nvram boot-args =” -x -v “ command.
- Once you have finished using the safe mode you can return to normal use by operating the «sudo nvram boot-args =» command.
It is recommended that if you do not feel qualified to access these types of commands you should go to a specialized technician, a professional is always better to trust you with our devices, also keep in mind that these commands are only for Mac that for some reason they cannot access the traditional secure mode , if you can access it naturally do it.
Solve the login problems with the safe mode, do not wait any longer and avoid overheating in your software. Recognize your computer problems and eliminate them, and leave your MacOs in the best performance after having cleaned it with the safe mode .