How to Start a MacBook in Safe Mode (Apple Silicon and Intel)

When your Mac freezes at startup, crashes repeatedly or behaves strangely after installing something new, MacBook Safe Mode is one of the most useful troubleshooting tools you have. It starts macOS with only the essentials, which helps you figure out whether the problem is caused by software you installed or by something deeper. Here's how it works and how to start it on both Apple silicon and Intel MacBooks.

What Safe Mode does

When you start up in Safe Mode, macOS:

• Checks your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues
• Loads only the essential system extensions
• Prevents login items and startup apps from opening automatically
• Disables fonts you installed yourself
• Clears some system caches

Because of this, Safe Mode is often slower and some features may not work normally. That's expected.

Step 1: Find out which Mac you have

Choose Apple menu > About This Mac. If you see "Chip" followed by Apple M1, M2, M3 or M4, you have Apple silicon. If you see "Processor" followed by an Intel name, you have an Intel Mac. The steps are different.

Start Safe Mode on Apple silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4)

1. Shut down your MacBook and wait a few seconds.
2. Press and hold the power button (Touch ID) until "Loading startup options" appears.
3. Select your startup disk, usually called Macintosh HD.
4. Press and hold the Shift key, then click "Continue in Safe Mode".
5. Release Shift and log in. You may be asked to log in twice.

Start Safe Mode on an Intel MacBook

1. Turn on or restart your Mac.
2. Immediately press and hold the Shift key.
3. Release Shift when you see the login window.
4. Log in. You may be asked to log in twice.

How to tell you're in Safe Mode

On the login window, "Safe Boot" appears in the menu bar at the top right. You can also check in System Information: choose Apple menu, hold Option, click System Information, then select Software. The Boot Mode line will say "Safe" instead of "Normal".

What your results mean

• The problem disappears in Safe Mode. A login item, third-party extension, font or cache is likely to blame. Restart normally and check System Settings > General > Login Items (or System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items on older versions), and remove recently installed apps one at a time.
• Sometimes simply starting in Safe Mode fixes it. Restart normally and see if the issue returns.
• The problem continues in Safe Mode. It may be a deeper macOS issue or a hardware fault. Running Apple Diagnostics is a good next step.
• The Mac won't even reach Safe Mode. See our guide on what to do when a MacBook won't turn on.

How to leave Safe Mode

Just restart your MacBook normally, without holding any keys. If it keeps starting in Safe Mode, check that the Shift key isn't stuck.

Still having problems? Get MacBook repair in Ottawa

If Safe Mode doesn't solve it, the issue may need a macOS reinstallation or a hardware repair. Fix Revolution diagnoses software and hardware problems, from macOS reinstalls to board-level repair. We pick up and drop off your MacBook anywhere in Ottawa and Gatineau, and most repairs take 1–2 business days. Back up your data first if you can. To get started, get a free quote or call 613-265-4349.

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