If your Mac isn’t working properly when you turn it on, the best thing to do is to try to launch it in safe mode. This is helpful, as if your Mac runs well in safe mode, then you can rule out any hardware issues with your device. Using safe mode is effective in fixing common issues, such as Mac stuck on Apple logo or issues with viruses.
Before we start:
You may need to use safe mode if your Mac has been infected with a virus. However, even after successfully restarting your MacBook, it can be incredibly difficult to find and delete the virus effectively without using an antivirus. MacKeeper includes a powerful antivirus which will scan every nook and cranny of your Mac to locate and isolate any threats, so it’s a great way to bring your device back to its former self.
Here’s how to use MacKeeper’s Antivirus:
- Download and install MacKeeper.
- Select Antivirus from the side menu, and then hit Start Scan.
- MacKeeper will then scan your Mac for any viruses. If any are found, select the virus and click Quarantine to permanently erase it from your Mac.
MacKeeper can also help with removing apps and plugins, as well as clearing out junk files—all of which could create problems. Try it out today, with one free fix for each function.
In this article you will find the following:
When to use safe mode
Safe mode is useful when you need to troubleshoot an on your Mac, such as a virus or kernel panic on Mac. It also boots your Mac without connecting to the internet, meaning it’s safe to use your laptop if you’ve been affected by spyware.
The common reasons to use safe mode on a Mac include:
- You can’t connect to the internet when turning on your Mac
- Your Mac is freezing up or it’s running slowly because of system caches
- macOS won’t boot normally
- Your macOS is constantly crashing on its own
- You want to delete a problematic file or app on your Mac
A hint from our team: If booting into safe mode fixes your error, then you’ll know that there’s a file or app that’s causing your issue. You may also find that your Mac’s issue is caused by some hardware you’ve connected. If so, our experts suggest you to try entering safe mode without any other devices connected to your Mac, including a USB drive or a mouse.
What happens when you start a Mac in safe mode
When you reboot Mac in safe mode, it’ll start without launching any apps, connecting to the internet, or using Bluetooth. This means you can identify and fix your issue without your Mac freezing or crashing on you.
From our experience, safe mode should become the basic aid method when your computer shows the traces of poor performance, like you probably have a habit of checking the system disk state with the First Aid function in Disk Utility.
How to boot Mac in safe mode
If your Mac is slow to startup, keeps freezing, or has been infected with a computer virus, you should try booting into safe mode. Follow our step-by-step guidelines below to find out how.
1. Identify your Mac type
Depending on the processor your Mac uses, there are different ways to boot into safe mode. Typically, newer Macs use Apple Silicon chips, and older ones are Intel-based. To find out your Mac type:
- Click the Apple logo in the top left corner of your screen.
- Select About this Mac from the menu.
- Your Mac will show you have either an Apple or Intel chip in the Processor section.
A note from us:
Knowing the Mac type with the processor of your device is running on is crucial for the correct understanding of its safe booting characteristics. Meanwhile, another important thing to remember is making sure macOS is up to date, so check our helpful guide to add up to the optimal performance of your computer.
2. Launch MacBook in safe mode
Regardless of if you’re using an iMac or a MacBook, the process to boot into safe mode is exactly the same. After identifying your Mac type, follow our instructions below to boot into safe mode.
2.1 With Apple Silicon chips
To turn on Mac in safe mode on an Apple Silicon Mac:
- Turn off your Mac by clicking the Apple logo in the corner of your display, then select Shut Down.
- Press and hold the Power button until you see Loading Startup Options.
- Select your system disk.
- Hold down the Shift key, and then select Continue in Safe mode. Finally, log in to your Mac as usual.
2.2 On Intel-based Mac
To enter safe mode on Mac on an Intel-based Mac:
- Shut down or restart your Mac.
- Once your Mac restarts, press and hold down the Shift key.
- Once you see the login screen, you can stop holding down the Shift key. Then, log in to macOS and your Mac will be in safe mode.
3. Make sure your Mac is in safe mode
You’ll know that your Mac has opened in safe mode if you see Safe Boot on your Mac’s login screen. Alternatively, you can double-check your Mac’s boot status using the System Report function. Do the following:
- Click the Apple logo in the top left corner of your screen and select About This Mac from the menu.
- Go to the Overview tab, and click System Report.
- Select Software from the list on the left, and look at the Boot Mode section, where it’ll tell you if you’re in safe mode or normal mode.
Resolve your issues with MacKeeper
After booting your Mac into safe mode, you should be able to fix your Mac’s issue. Try to uninstall any apps you recently installed, or any suspicious files you recently downloaded. The best way to do this is to use MacKeeper, which includes a Smart Uninstaller to fully erase any useless or dodge apps.
MacKeeper also has a powerful Antivirus tool built in, which will help you with scanning for malware, viruses, or spyware through your computer. It’s constantly updated to detect the latest online threats, giving you peace of mind to surf the web without fear of being hacked.
Here’s how you can protect yourself using MacKeeper’s Antivirus:
- Download and install MacKeeper.
- From the side menu, click Antivirus and then press Launch Antivirus.
- To enable real-time protection, hit Next. We recommend this for maximum security.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to enable the real-time protection.
- Select Start Scan and MacKeeper will automatically scan your whole Mac for any viruses or unnecessary applications.
- If any viruses are discovered, click Quarantine, and they’ll be permanently deleted from your Mac.
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