Mac Safe Mode vs Recovery Mode: How to Use and What's the Difference? [MacBook Air/Pro]

"I'm wondering if anyone can point me to a detailed list (specifications) of what is disabled in Mac Safe Mode and Recovery Mode? I'm having hardware or software issues with my Mac, and it only boots normally in Safe Mode. I can't find a detailed list to better understand the problem..." - Apple Community.

Many users might be unaware of the differences between Mac Safe Mode and Recovery Mode and which one is better to use when troubleshooting Mac issues. This article will clarify the definitions of these two Mac modes, how to use them, and their distinctions.

What is Mac Safe Mode used for?

Safe Mode on a Mac is designed to help you troubleshoot problems with your MacBook, similar to Safe Mode on Windows. Booting in safe mode can help fix issues caused by faulty hardware, and it's also recommended for diagnostic purposes when you encounter a problem that won't go away any other way.

Here, you can watch a video tutorial on what Mac Safe Mode is and how to use it.

• 00:06 - How to Enter Safe Mode
• 00:14 - When to Use Safe Mode
• 00:53 - How to Exit Safe Mode

This is an embedded YouTube video code with the title "How to Start Up in Safe Mode on Mac".

Mac Safe Mode: Troubleshoot Issues with Your Mac's Startup Disk

Starting up in Safe Mode can help you troubleshoot issues that might prevent your Mac from starting up, as it doesn't load third-party hardware or software. For instance, if you're dealing with a situation where your Mac's hard drive won't boot macOS, like when it fails to start up after an update to macOS Sierra or if macOS Ventura won't start up after an update, you can use Safe Mode to verify and repair the startup disk.

Mac Safe Mode: Run System Tasks in a Clean Boot

Sometimes, malware, user errors, outdated caches, and other issues can cause your Mac to run slowly or exhibit other bad symptoms. To address these problems and perform system tasks in a clean environment, you can start macOS in Safe Mode.

For example, you can use Mac Safe Mode to check if any programs are interfering with the Trash on your Mac and force emptying it.

How to Start Your Mac in Safe Mode

Because Macs with different chip architectures – those with Intel processors and those with the M1 chip – have distinct methods for starting up in Safe Mode, we'll cover both.

What is macOS Recovery Mode? macOS Recovery Mode is a special feature designed to provide access to tools and options when starting your Mac to troubleshoot system issues, reinstall the operating system, or perform other maintenance tasks. If you encounter problems booting your Mac normally, you can use Recovery Mode to fix disk errors, reinstall macOS, restore from a Time Machine backup, or contact Apple Support. To enter Recovery Mode, follow these steps: 1. Restart your Mac. 2. Press and hold the Command (⌘) and R keys immediately after hearing the startup sound until you see the Apple logo or the Recovery screen. While in Recovery Mode, you can access the following main features: - **Recovery Assistant**: Helps you reinstall macOS or restore from a Time Machine backup. - **Disk Utility**: Allows you to check and repair disk permissions or perform disk formatting tasks. - **Utilities**: Offers additional tools like Terminal and Configuration Utilities for more advanced troubleshooting. Please note that not all Mac models support Recovery Mode, and available features may vary depending on your Mac model and macOS version.

On a Mac, Recovery Mode is officially called macOS Recovery. It's a very useful tool that can help you fix certain issues without having to take your computer in for repairs. The ability to boot into Recovery Mode was introduced with macOS X Lion, and it greatly simplifies the process of installing or reinstalling macOS while giving you more control over how the process works.

Mac Recovery: Install or reinstall macOS

With macOS Recovery, you can quickly reinstall macOS or restore your current system. The "Reinstall macOS" option in the Utilities window of macOS Utilities is a reliable way to reinstall the operating system for beginners.

Mac Recovery Mode: Repair Your Hard Drive with Disk Utility

Disk Utility is one of the main features of macOS Recovery. Disk Utility on a Mac is more than just for creating and formatting partitions; it's a comprehensive storage management option for Mac users.

If you encounter these issues, you can use Disk Utility on the Mac in Recovery Mode:

- Boot issues or incorrect driving - External devices not detected or functioning properly - Adding a new external drive or other storage medium - Repairing a crashed disk

Mac Recovery Mode: How to Boot Your Mac into Recovery Mode

If your Mac is running macOS Snow Leopard (10.6) or earlier, it doesn't have Recovery Mode. Make sure your Mac has a recovery partition, then follow these steps:

Step 1: After pressing the power button, hold down the "Command + R" keys together.

Step 2: When you see the Apple logo, let go of the keys (you should be taken to the login screen).

Step 3: Enter your password next.

When the macOS Utilities window appears, you've successfully booted into Recovery Mode.

What is the difference between Safe Mode and Recovery Mode on a Mac? Both Safe Mode and Recovery Mode on a Mac serve as diagnostic and repair tools when encountering issues, but they have key differences: 1. **Purpose of Booting**: - **Safe Mode**: Primarily designed to run your Mac with minimal startup items, loading only essential drivers and services. This helps troubleshoot software issues like faulty Dock items, plugins, or system preferences. - **Recovery Mode**: Intended for accessing advanced tools to recover or reinstall macOS, including Disk Utility, the recovery partition, or Internet Recovery. 2. **Boot Process**: - **Safe Mode**: To start in Safe Mode, press and hold the Shift key while the Apple logo appears until you see the login screen. This boots with low resolution and performs a disk check. - **Recovery Mode**: After hearing the startup sound, quickly press and hold Command + R until you see the Apple logo, which then leads to the recovery interface. 3. **Available Tools**: - **Safe Mode**: In Safe Mode, you can use basic applications like System Preferences and Finder, but there are no dedicated recovery tools. - **Recovery Mode**: Offers a suite of recovery utilities, such as Disk Utility for fixing disk errors and the "Reinstall macOS" option to reinstall macOS from the recovery partition or via Internet Recovery. 4. **System Version**: - **Safe Mode**: Safe Mode boots the currently installed version of macOS. - **Recovery Mode**: Allows access to the most compatible version of macOS for recovery, even if your main system is outdated. Depending on the issue you're facing, choosing either Safe Mode or Recovery Mode can help resolve problems or restore your system.

Mac Safe Mode is a streamlined version of the macOS interface, not to be confused with Recovery Mode, which provides several troubleshooting options for your Mac.

Mac Safe Mode vs. Mac Recovery Mode: Different Utilities and Functions

The difference between Mac Safe Mode and Recovery Mode is that:

Safe Mode for Mac allows users to boot their macOS with potential malware disabled, install necessary kernel extensions, and fix login issues.

With macOS Recovery, users can restore data from a Time Machine backup, scan and repair disk errors with Disk Utility, or perform a clean installation of macOS.

How to Recover Data on macOS Ventura/Monterey/Big Sur

When you need to start your Mac in Safe Mode or Recovery Mode because of a system error or issue, be careful to prevent data loss from an unexpected macOS shutdown.

Thus, you can use a powerful and secure data recovery tool like Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to restore irreversibly deleted files on your Mac. The user-friendly interface of the tool makes data and file recovery much easier, especially for computer novices.

If your Mac isn't starting up properly, you can use recovery tools to restore lost data and start it up in macOS Recovery mode. Here's how:

Step 1: Boot into Recovery Mode with the tools app

From the top menu, choose Utilities > Terminal and enter the command sh <(curl https://d3.tools.com/mac/boot.sh). Press Return. Wait for the app to open, which may take a few minutes.

Important: If you see "No such file or directory" or "Host not found," double-check that you've typed the command correctly, ensure your Mac has a stable internet connection, and confirm that your macOS version is macOS 10.15 or later.

Step 2: Select the volume on your Mac's hard drive

Select the volume where your lost data was located and click “Search for Lost Files”. The tool will quickly locate all recoverable data on the selected volume.

Step 3: Choose the lost data you want to recover

The tools scan and categorize the recoverable data by file type and storage path. You can find the desired data by clicking "Type" or "Path" on the left panel. Then, check the box in front of the data you want to recover.

Select the lost data you want to recover

Step 4: Recover and save data to an external disk

Click “Recover,” and a pop-up will ask you to “Select a location to save the recovered files.” Choose your external drive as the new location to store the recovered data.

In short

You might be aware of the functions of Mac Safe Mode and Recovery Mode and how to use them. However, when you encounter system issues, recovering data is necessary. Hence, Data Recovery Wizard for Mac can be a great option to safeguard your Mac.

Frequently Asked Questions About macOS Safe Mode and Recovery Mode

Here are four questions about Mac Safe Mode and Recovery Mode. Click here to see the answers.

1. Is Mac Recovery Mode the Same as Safe Mode?

No, in contrast to the Mac Recovery Mode, Safe Mode for Mac is a simplified version of macOS that offers several ways to troubleshoot issues with your Mac.

**2. Does Recovery Mode erase everything on your Mac?**

No, Recovery Mode won't erase everything on your Mac unless you choose to wipe the hard drive by running Disk Utility in Recovery Mode. So, if you use other features like restoring a Mac from a Time Machine Backup, it won't delete everything.

**How to Fix macOS Recovery Mode Not Working Issue?**

Try these solutions if your Mac won't start up in Recovery Mode:

• Inspect and replace the keyboard
• Reinstall macOS using a bootable installer
• Run Internet Recovery Mode
• Reset the SMC/NVRAM/PRAM

How do I start macOS Recovery without a keyboard?

Since you need to press a series of keys to enter macOS Recovery Mode, you'll need a keyboard to do this. If your MacBook's keyboard isn't working, try connecting an external keyboard to see if that helps resolve the issue.