How to Boot into Safe Mode on macOS and Windows: A Comprehensive Guide

Safe Mode is a diagnostic startup mode that allows you to start your computer with a limited set of drivers and software. This can be incredibly useful for troubleshooting problems, identifying conflicting software, and resolving system errors. When your computer is acting up, booting into Safe Mode can help you determine whether the issue stems from core system files or third-party applications. This guide provides comprehensive instructions on how to boot into Safe Mode on both macOS and Windows operating systems.

## What is Safe Mode?

Safe Mode starts your computer with only the essential drivers and services required to run the operating system. This means that many non-essential programs, such as third-party applications, drivers, and startup items, are disabled. By loading only the bare minimum, Safe Mode isolates the operating system from potential conflicts or corruptions caused by external factors.

**Benefits of Using Safe Mode:**

* **Troubleshooting:** Helps identify whether problems are caused by the operating system or third-party software.
* **Driver Issues:** Allows you to remove or update faulty drivers that are causing instability.
* **Malware Removal:** Makes it easier to remove malware or viruses that may be preventing normal operation.
* **System Repair:** Provides a stable environment to run system repair tools like System Restore (Windows) or Disk Utility (macOS).
* **Software Conflicts:** Determines if newly installed software is causing issues.

## Booting into Safe Mode on macOS

There are two primary methods for booting into Safe Mode on a Mac:

1. **Using the Shift Key (Standard Safe Mode)**
2. **Using Terminal (Advanced Options)**

Let’s delve into each method with detailed steps.

### 1. Using the Shift Key (Standard Safe Mode)

This is the easiest and most common method to boot a Mac into Safe Mode. It works on most versions of macOS, including macOS Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, and older versions.

**Steps:**

1. **Shut Down Your Mac:** Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then select “Shut Down…”. Wait for your Mac to completely power off.
2. **Power On and Immediately Press Shift:** Press the power button to turn on your Mac. Immediately after hearing the startup chime (or seeing the Apple logo on newer Macs), press and hold the **Shift** key on your keyboard.
3. **Release Shift When the Login Window Appears:** Continue holding the Shift key until you see the login window. This may take a little longer than a normal boot because macOS is performing a disk check and disabling unnecessary extensions.
4. **Log In:** At the login window, you may see the words “Safe Boot” in red in the upper-right corner of the screen. This confirms that you have successfully booted into Safe Mode. Log in to your account. You might be asked to log in twice – this is normal in Safe Mode.
5. **Troubleshoot:** Once logged in, you can begin troubleshooting the issue you were experiencing. Remember that Safe Mode disables many features, so your Mac might not function as expected. For example, Wi-Fi might be disabled, graphics might be rendered at a lower resolution, and some applications might not work correctly.

**What to Do in Safe Mode:**

* **Run Disk Utility:** A common first step is to run Disk Utility to repair any potential disk errors. Open Disk Utility (Applications > Utilities), select your startup disk in the sidebar, and click “First Aid”. Follow the on-screen instructions.
* **Remove Problematic Software:** If you suspect a particular application is causing problems, try uninstalling it. You can drag the application from the Applications folder to the Trash, or use an uninstaller if the application provides one.
* **Delete Login Items:** Login items are applications that automatically start when you log in to your account. Sometimes, these applications can cause issues. To remove login items, go to System Preferences (or System Settings) > Users & Groups, select your account, click the “Login Items” tab, select the items you want to remove, and click the minus (-) button.
* **Test the Issue:** After making changes, restart your Mac normally (without holding Shift) to see if the problem is resolved.

### 2. Using Terminal (Advanced Options)

This method is useful if you need to specify certain boot options or if the Shift key method isn’t working. It requires using the Terminal application, which is a command-line interface.

**Steps:**

1. **Open Terminal:** Open the Terminal application. You can find it in Applications > Utilities.
2. **Enter the Boot-Args Command:** Type the following command into Terminal and press Enter:

bash
sudo nvram boot-args=”-x”

This command sets the boot arguments to boot into Safe Mode. You’ll be prompted to enter your administrator password.
3. **Restart Your Mac:** Click the Apple menu and select “Restart…”.

Your Mac will now boot into Safe Mode. To revert back to normal booting, you need to clear the boot arguments.

**Reverting to Normal Boot (After Using Terminal Method):**

1. **Open Terminal:** Open the Terminal application again.
2. **Clear the Boot-Args:** Type the following command into Terminal and press Enter:

bash
sudo nvram boot-args=

You’ll be prompted to enter your administrator password.
3. **Restart Your Mac:** Click the Apple menu and select “Restart…”.

Your Mac will now boot normally.

**Troubleshooting macOS Safe Mode:**

* **Mac Won’t Boot into Safe Mode:** If your Mac won’t boot into Safe Mode using the Shift key, try again. Make sure you are holding the Shift key immediately after pressing the power button. If that doesn’t work, try the Terminal method.
* **Safe Mode Doesn’t Fix the Problem:** If Safe Mode doesn’t resolve the issue, the problem might be with hardware or a more deeply rooted software problem. Consider running Apple Diagnostics or contacting Apple Support.
* **Graphics Issues in Safe Mode:** Graphics rendering might be different in Safe Mode. This is normal, as Safe Mode uses a basic graphics driver.

## Booting into Safe Mode on Windows

There are several ways to boot into Safe Mode on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Here are the most common and reliable methods:

1. **From Settings (Recommended for Accessing Safe Mode Within Windows)**
2. **Using System Configuration (msconfig)**
3. **Interrupting Normal Startup (When Windows Won’t Start)**
4. **From the Sign-in Screen**

### 1. From Settings (Recommended for Accessing Safe Mode Within Windows)

This method is the most straightforward when you can still access the Windows settings menu.

**Steps (Windows 10):**

1. **Open Settings:** Click the Start button, then click the gear icon to open the Settings app.
2. **Go to Update & Security:** In the Settings app, click on “Update & Security”.
3. **Select Recovery:** In the left sidebar, click on “Recovery”.
4. **Advanced Startup:** Under “Advanced startup”, click the “Restart now” button. This will restart your computer into the Advanced Startup Options menu.
5. **Choose an Option:** After your computer restarts, you will see the “Choose an option” screen. Click on “Troubleshoot”.
6. **Advanced Options:** On the “Troubleshoot” screen, click on “Advanced options”.
7. **Startup Settings:** On the “Advanced options” screen, click on “Startup Settings”.
8. **Restart:** Click the “Restart” button. Your computer will restart again and display the Startup Settings menu.
9. **Select Safe Mode:** In the Startup Settings menu, press the number key that corresponds to the Safe Mode option you want. Typically:
* **4 or F4:** Enable Safe Mode
* **5 or F5:** Enable Safe Mode with Networking (allows internet access)
* **6 or F6:** Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Your computer will now boot into Safe Mode.

**Steps (Windows 11):**

The process is very similar to Windows 10:

1. **Open Settings:** Right-click the Start button and select “Settings”.
2. **Go to System:** In the Settings app, click on “System”.
3. **Select Recovery:** In the right pane, click on “Recovery”.
4. **Advanced Startup:** Next to “Advanced startup”, click the “Restart now” button. This will restart your computer into the Advanced Startup Options menu.
5. **Choose an Option:** After your computer restarts, you will see the “Choose an option” screen. Click on “Troubleshoot”.
6. **Advanced Options:** On the “Troubleshoot” screen, click on “Advanced options”.
7. **Startup Settings:** On the “Advanced options” screen, click on “Startup Settings”.
8. **Restart:** Click the “Restart” button. Your computer will restart again and display the Startup Settings menu.
9. **Select Safe Mode:** In the Startup Settings menu, press the number key that corresponds to the Safe Mode option you want. Typically:
* **4 or F4:** Enable Safe Mode
* **5 or F5:** Enable Safe Mode with Networking (allows internet access)
* **6 or F6:** Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Your computer will now boot into Safe Mode.

### 2. Using System Configuration (msconfig)

The System Configuration tool (msconfig) provides another way to boot into Safe Mode, even if you can’t access the Settings app easily.

**Steps:**

1. **Open System Configuration:** Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type `msconfig` and press Enter.
2. **Go to the Boot Tab:** In the System Configuration window, click on the “Boot” tab.
3. **Safe Boot:** Under “Boot options”, check the “Safe boot” box.
4. **Select Safe Mode Type:** Choose the type of Safe Mode you want to boot into:
* **Minimal:** Standard Safe Mode.
* **Alternate Shell:** Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
* **Network:** Safe Mode with Networking.
5. **Apply and Restart:** Click “Apply” and then “OK”. You will be prompted to restart your computer. Click “Restart”.

Your computer will now boot into Safe Mode.

**To Return to Normal Boot (After Using msconfig):**

### 3. Interrupting Normal Startup (When Windows Won’t Start)

If Windows is unable to start normally, it might automatically enter the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). If not, you can force it to do so by interrupting the startup process.

**Steps:**

1. **Power On Your Computer:** Press the power button to turn on your computer. As soon as you see the Windows logo (or any indication that Windows is starting), press and hold the power button until your computer shuts down.
2. **Repeat the Process:** Repeat step 1 two more times. On the third attempt, Windows should automatically boot into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
3. **Choose an Option:** In the WinRE, you will see the “Choose an option” screen. Click on “Troubleshoot”.
4. **Advanced Options:** On the “Troubleshoot” screen, click on “Advanced options”.
5. **Startup Settings:** On the “Advanced options” screen, click on “Startup Settings”.
6. **Restart:** Click the “Restart” button. Your computer will restart again and display the Startup Settings menu.
7. **Select Safe Mode:** In the Startup Settings menu, press the number key that corresponds to the Safe Mode option you want. Typically:
* **4 or F4:** Enable Safe Mode
* **5 or F5:** Enable Safe Mode with Networking (allows internet access)
* **6 or F6:** Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Your computer will now boot into Safe Mode.

### 4. From the Sign-in Screen

If you can get to the sign-in screen but Windows is not behaving correctly, you can access Safe Mode this way:

**Steps:**

1. **At the Sign-in Screen:** On the Windows sign-in screen, hold down the **Shift** key on your keyboard.
2. **Click the Power Button:** While holding Shift, click the power button icon (usually in the lower-right corner of the screen).
3. **Select Restart:** Choose “Restart” from the power options menu (still holding Shift).
4. **Choose an Option:** Your computer will restart into the “Choose an option” screen. Click on “Troubleshoot”.
5. **Advanced Options:** On the “Troubleshoot” screen, click on “Advanced options”.
6. **Startup Settings:** On the “Advanced options” screen, click on “Startup Settings”.
7. **Restart:** Click the “Restart” button. Your computer will restart again and display the Startup Settings menu.
8. **Select Safe Mode:** In the Startup Settings menu, press the number key that corresponds to the Safe Mode option you want. Typically:
* **4 or F4:** Enable Safe Mode
* **5 or F5:** Enable Safe Mode with Networking (allows internet access)
* **6 or F6:** Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Your computer will now boot into Safe Mode.

**What to Do in Safe Mode (Windows):**

* **Run System Restore:** If you suspect that a recent software installation or driver update is causing the problem, run System Restore to revert your system to a previous state. Search for “Create a restore point” and open the System Properties window, then click “System Restore…”
* **Uninstall Problematic Software:** If you recently installed a new application and suspect it’s causing issues, uninstall it from Safe Mode. Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
* **Update or Roll Back Drivers:** Faulty drivers can cause various problems. Use Device Manager to update drivers or roll back to previous versions. Search for “Device Manager” in the Start menu.
* **Run Malware Scans:** Safe Mode can help with malware removal, as it prevents many malicious programs from running. Run a full system scan with your antivirus software.

**Troubleshooting Windows Safe Mode:**

* **Windows Won’t Boot into Safe Mode:** If none of the above methods work, the issue might be more serious. Consider using a Windows installation disc or USB drive to repair your system.
* **Safe Mode Doesn’t Fix the Problem:** If Safe Mode doesn’t resolve the issue, the problem might be related to hardware or a corrupted Windows installation. Consider running hardware diagnostics or reinstalling Windows.
* **Black Screen in Safe Mode:** A black screen in Safe Mode could indicate a graphics driver issue. Try booting into Safe Mode with Networking and updating your graphics driver.

## Common Issues and Considerations

* **Data Backup:** Before making any significant changes to your system, it’s always a good idea to back up your important data. This will protect you in case something goes wrong.
* **Administrator Privileges:** Many troubleshooting steps in Safe Mode require administrator privileges. Make sure you are logged in with an account that has administrator rights.
* **Third-Party Antivirus:** Some third-party antivirus programs can interfere with the Safe Mode boot process. Consider temporarily disabling your antivirus software if you’re having trouble booting into Safe Mode.
* **Hardware Issues:** Safe Mode is primarily designed to troubleshoot software issues. If you suspect a hardware problem (e.g., failing hard drive, faulty RAM), Safe Mode might not be able to help.

## Conclusion

Booting into Safe Mode is a valuable skill for anyone who owns a computer. It can help you diagnose and resolve a wide range of problems, from software conflicts to driver issues. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to boot into Safe Mode on both macOS and Windows, and effectively troubleshoot any issues you might be experiencing. Remember to back up your data before making any significant changes, and consult with a professional if you’re unsure about any of the steps involved.

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How to Boot into Safe Mode on macOS and Windows: A Comprehensive Guide

How to Boot into Safe Mode on macOS and Windows: A Comprehensive Guide