The list of keys usable on a Mac when starting

Option (⌥) Or Alt : Allows you to start from the start -up manager, in order to select another disc or start -up volume available.

Key combinations usable on a mac when starting

Discover the Mac features and tools to which you can access by maintaining one or more keys stuck when starting your computer.

On a mac with Apple chip

1. Turn on your mac and hold the power button stuck during start -ups.
2. Release the power button when the start -up options appear. The latter displays your start -up discs and a gear -shaped icon entitled Options.
3. This window allows you to start the computer from another disk, to start it in safe mode, to access the macOS recovery feature, etc. Learn more about these options.

On an Intel processor mac

If your Mac is not with an Apple chip, you have an intel processor mac.

Tips for using these keys combinations

• Press all the keys of the combination simultaneously, not one after the other.
• If a key combination does not work during restart, start by turning off your Mac. If you cannot turn off the Mac, keep your power button pressed for 10 seconds, until it goes out. Then turn on your Mac by pressing its power button, then press the combination keys and hold them down.
• You may have to wait a few seconds before pressing the keys, while your Mac detects the keyboard when starting. On some keyboards, an indicator flashes briefly during the start -up, indicating that the keyboard has been detected and is ready to use.
• If you use a wireless keyboard, connect it to your Mac, if possible. You can also use the integrated keyboard or a wired keyboard. If you use a keyboard designed for PC, like a keyboard with a Windows logo, try to use a Mac keyboard instead.
• Some key combinations do not work when an internal program password is configured on your Mac. Disable the password of the internal program beforehand.
• If you use Boot Camp to start from Microsoft Windows, configure the starting disk preferences then, turn off or restart your computer, then try again.

Stop combinations for an Intel processor mac

Order (⌘) + R : allows you to start from the integrated macOS recovery system. You can also use the options option + command + R or maj + option + command + R to start from the macOS recovery functionality on the Internet. macOS recovery functionality installs different macOS versions according to the combination of keys used at startup.

Option (⌥) Or Alt : Allows you to start from the start -up manager, in order to select another disc or start -up volume available.

Option + command + P + R : allows you to reset nvram or pram memory.

Maj (⇧): Allows you to start in safe mode.

D: Allows you to start from the Apple Diagnostics utility you can also press option + D to start from this utility on the Internet.

NOT : Allows you to start from a Netboot server, if your Mac supports network start -up volumes. To use the default starting image stored on the server, keep the Option + N key keys.

Command + S: Allows you to start in single user mode. This command is deactivated in MacOS Mojave or subsequent version.

T: Allows you to start in target disk mode.

Command + V: Allows you to start in detailed mode.

Ejection (⏏), F12, mouse button Or trackpad : Enjects a removable support, such as an optical disk.

The list of keys usable on a Mac when starting

If you are the proud owner of a Mac, I imagine that you know that in the event of a technical problem, it is possible when the computer starts to zero certain memories (pram, nvram) or to leave on A recovery mode.

But each time, these keyboard shortcuts to start the Mac are a hassle to find. This is why I will review them all here and you will only have this page to bookmarker for the next time.

To use these shortcuts, you must first turn off the computer completely, then turn it back on, and immediately as soon as you have pressed the ignition button, keep the following keys:

Shift (Maj) : Allows you to start the Mac in “Safe” mode. That is to say in basic mode, without all the applications that you could have installed at startup. This lets you know if your concern is caused by one of your applications or by a process specific to the macOS system.

Option (ALT) : Launches the Boot manager who will allow you to choose the disc on which you want to boot.

Command + R : Start in recovery mode (Recovery Mode). This will allow you to reset your Mac, reinstall macOS, restore a timemachine, or use the command line or the record utility to repair or format a hard drive.

Shift + Command + option + R : Also launches the recovery internet mode. It’s like the recovery mode described above except that everything is starting from the Internet. This allows you to reinstall macOS or other, even when the recovery partition is completely HS.

Command + S : Start the Mac on a shell that will allow you to launch a few command lines like FSCK (disk analysis).

Command + V : Verbose mode, which will display all diagnostic messages instead of the apple, when launching. This will allow you to isolate a possible problem during the boot.

Command + option + P + R : Resets nvram and pram. These are small memory modules containing certain parameters related to your Mac. Sometimes resetting them allows you to set a few problems related to the equipment (display problem, sound, network, etc.)). To make it work, keep these keys at start-up then after 20 seconds, release them. Normally, the Mac should reboot once before starting normally.

Shift + Control + Option + Power : Allows you to reset the SMC (System Management Controller). This controller manages the battery, the fan speed, standby … etc. So if you have problems with power supply, battery, or fan, you can try it. To do this, turn off your Mac, then press shift + control + option in the left part of the keyboard, and press the power button at the same time. Keep these keys and the power button sunk for 10 seconds. Release all the keys and press the power button again to turn on your Mac. If you have an iMac, just disconnect the power cable for 15 seconds, reconnect it, wait 5 seconds, then start the computer.

COOK C : Allows you to start from a CD, DVD or a USB key on which there is a functional macOS.

Touch t : Start in “Target Disk” mode. It is a mode that allows the computer to behave like an external hard drive. It is practical to connect to your Mac, another Mac with a cable, in order to recover data as if you had connected a disc on.

Eject key, mouse button or F12 button : Allows you to force a CD or a DVD of the reader.

X key: Obliges the system to boot on the starter disc.

Touch D: Start the computer in diagnostic mode.

Option + D: Same as above in the internet version, which allows you to circumvent the internal storage system of the computer.

Button n : Allows you to boot from a netboot compatible server (network boot)

Option + N: Allows you to boot on a default image, from a netboot compatible server

If I forgot, do not hesitate to tell me. THANKS !

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