Fix Mac Safe Mode Start

Welcome to the ultimate guide on resolving Mac’s Safe Mode start-up issues. Unleash the power of your Mac as we delve into troubleshooting techniques to fix this common problem. Get ready to bid farewell to Safe Mode woes and reclaim the smooth functioning of your beloved device.

Use Terminal to fix Safe Mode issues

Use Terminal to Fix Safe Mode Issues

If your Mac is experiencing problems with Safe Mode start, you can use Terminal to resolve the issue quickly. Follow these steps:

1. Start your Mac and immediately press and hold the Option key until the startup options window appears.

2. Use the arrow keys to select your startup disk, then press Enter.

3. Once your Mac starts up, open Terminal from the Utilities folder.

4. In Terminal, enter the following command: sudo nvram boot-args=”-x” and press Enter.

5. You will be prompted to enter your administrator password. Type it in and press Enter.

6. Restart your Mac by going to the Apple menu and selecting Restart.

7. After the restart, your Mac should boot into Safe Mode without any issues.

Using Terminal to fix Safe Mode problems can help resolve various startup related issues, such as crashes, black or white screens, and system malfunctions. By following these steps, you can easily troubleshoot and resolve these problems, ensuring a smooth startup process for your Mac.

Check for hardware issues

Check for Hardware Issues

If your Mac is experiencing issues starting in Safe Mode, it’s important to rule out any potential hardware problems. Here are some steps you can take to check for hardware issues:

1. Restart your Mac and hold the Option key during the booting process. This will bring up the startup options window.

2. Use the arrow keys to select Startup Disk and press Enter.

3. If your Mac still fails to start in Safe Mode, try Resetting the SMC (System Management Controller). This can help resolve power-related issues.

4. Another troubleshooting step is to run a hardware diagnostic test on your Mac. Restart your Mac and hold the D key during startup to access the Apple Hardware Test or Apple Diagnostics.

Remember, hardware issues can cause a variety of problems, including crashes, black/white screens, or a Mac that won’t boot. By performing these checks, you can identify and address any underlying hardware problems that may be affecting your Mac’s Safe Mode startup.

For more detailed instructions and additional solutions, refer to our article on fixing Mac Safe Mode startup issues.

Try Safe Mode with networking

1. Start your Mac and immediately press and hold the Shift key.
2. Release the Shift key when you see the Apple logo and progress bar.
3. Safe Mode disables unnecessary apps and kernel extensions, allowing your Mac to perform system checks and fix any issues.
4. Once in Safe Mode, you can troubleshoot problems with startup items, security settings, or system files that may be causing the issue.
5. If your Mac is stuck on a white or black screen, or won’t boot normally, Safe Mode can help identify the problem.
6. To exit Safe Mode, simply restart your Mac normally without pressing any keys.
7. If Safe Mode doesn’t resolve the issue, you can try other fixes like resetting the SMC or performing a factory reset.
8. For more detailed instructions and solutions, refer to our articles on fixing Mac startup problems.

Remember, Safe Mode is a useful troubleshooting tool, but it’s not meant to be used as a regular way of using your Mac.


-- This AppleScript code can be saved as an application to create a tool for starting a Mac in Safe Mode.

-- Display a dialog to inform the user about starting in Safe Mode
display dialog "To start your Mac in Safe Mode, follow these steps:\n\n1. Shut down your Mac.\n2. Press the power button to turn on your Mac.\n3. Immediately press and hold the Shift key.\n4. Release the Shift key when you see the login window.\n\nDo you want to start in Safe Mode now?" buttons {"Start in Safe Mode", "Cancel"} default button 2 with icon note
set buttonResponse to button returned of result

if buttonResponse is "Start in Safe Mode" then
-- Execute the terminal command to start in Safe Mode
do shell script "sudo nvram boot-args='-x'" with administrator privileges
-- Display a dialog to inform the user that the command has been executed
display dialog "Your Mac will now restart in Safe Mode. Please wait for the restart process to complete." buttons {"OK"} default button 1 with icon note
end if

Please note that this code snippet is an example using AppleScript and requires administrative privileges to execute the terminal command. It’s important to use such tools with caution and ensure you understand the implications of running commands with administrative access.

It’s worth mentioning that this code snippet does not directly start the Mac in Safe Mode but guides the user on how to start it manually. Programmatically initiating Safe Mode is not possible due to security restrictions in macOS.

Use Disk Utility to repair disk permissions

1. Start by booting your Mac in Safe Mode. This helps isolate any software issues that may be causing the problem.

2. Once in Safe Mode, open Disk Utility. You can find it by searching in Spotlight or navigating to “Applications” > “Utilities” > “Disk Utility”.

3. In Disk Utility, select your Mac’s startup disk from the left sidebar.

4. Click on the “First Aid” tab, then click “Repair Disk Permissions”. This will scan your disk and fix any permissions issues that may be causing the startup problem.

5. Wait for the process to complete. Disk Utility will display a progress bar as it repairs the permissions.

6. Once finished, restart your Mac normally and see if the issue is resolved.

Repairing disk permissions can often resolve startup issues and improve overall system performance. If the problem persists, you may need to explore other troubleshooting steps or seek further assistance from Apple support.

Contact Apple Support for further assistance

To reach Apple Support:

1. Visit the Apple Support website.
2. Click on “Contact Support” at the bottom of the page.
3. Select your Mac model and the issue you are experiencing.
4. Choose the contact option that works best for you, such as phone, chat, or email.

Apple Support will guide you through the troubleshooting process and help you resolve the problem quickly. They can provide step-by-step instructions to get your Mac out of Safe Mode and back to normal operation.

Remember, contacting Apple Support is the most reliable way to resolve complex issues and ensure that your Mac is functioning optimally. Don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance.

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