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macOS Startup Key Commands



One of the features of macOS is the ability to issue commands during the startup of the  macOS to perform specific operations or evoke different startup states. In order to issue the commands associated with the different key combinations, the key combinations must be pressed at the moment the startup chime sound is heard and the screen changes color from black to grey on system startup and held until the desired operation occurs.

  • Option - Display all bootable volumes (Startup Manager)
  • Shift - Perform Safe Boot (start up in Safe Mode)
  • C - Start from a bootable disc
  • T - Start in FireWire target disk mode
  • X - Force Mac OS X startup (if non-Mac OS X startup volumes are present)
  • Command-V - Start in Verbose Mode
  • Command-S - Start in Single User Mode
  • Mouse button - Force eject CD/DVD

More information about Mac OS X key commands are available on the Apple website:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1343

More Startup Key information:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201255

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