Various macOS Startup Modes Explained

1. What are the different ways to boot up a Mac?
2. What does Command's do on a Mac at startup?
3. How do I choose my startup disk Mac?
4. What are the levels of Mac OS?
5. How do I manage startup programs on Mac?
6. How do you get to the boot menu on an imac?
7. What is command R on Mac?
8. Does a Mac have a BIOS?
9. How do I restore factory settings on my MacBook air?
10. How do I choose my operating system on startup?
11. Can I boot my iMac from an external SSD?
12. How do you clean your startup disk on a Mac?

What are the different ways to boot up a Mac?

Mac startup key combinations

1. Command (⌘)-R: Start up from the built-in macOS Recovery system. ...
2. Option (⌥) or Alt: Start up to Startup Manager, which allows you to choose other available startup disks or volumes. ...
3. Option-Command-P-R: Reset NVRAM or PRAM. ...
4. Shift (⇧): Start up in safe mode. ...
5. D:

What does Command's do on a Mac at startup?

Holding down Command + S during startup will boot your Mac into Single User Mode. This is a terminal interface that allows you to login and interact with your computer via text input only.

How do I choose my startup disk Mac?

Change your startup disk for every startup

On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Startup Disk. If the lock at the bottom left is locked , click it to unlock the preference pane. Click the icon of the disk you want to use, then click Restart.

What are the levels of Mac OS?

Meet Catalina: Apple's newest MacOS

• MacOS 10.14: Mojave- 2018.
• MacOS 10.13: High Sierra- 2017.
• MacOS 10.12: Sierra- 2016.
• OS X 10.11: El Capitan- 2015.
• OS X 10.10: Yosemite-2014.
• OS X 10.9 Mavericks-2013.
• OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion- 2012.
• OS X 10.7 Lion- 2011.

How do I manage startup programs on Mac?

How to change startup programs manually?

1. Open System Preferences.
2. Go to Users & Groups.
3. Choose your nickname on the left.
4. Choose Login items tab.
5. Check startup programs you want to remove.
6. Press the “–” sign below.
7. You're done.
8. If you need to add an item back, press “+” and choose the app you'd like add.

How do you get to the boot menu on an imac?

Use these steps to choose a startup disk with Startup Manager:

1. Turn on or restart your Mac.
2. Immediately press and hold the Option key. ...
3. Use your mouse or trackpad, or left and right arrow keys to select the volume you want to use.
4. Double-click or press the Return key to start up your Mac from the volume you selected.

What is command R on Mac?

Command-R restores the latest macOS that was installed on your Mac without upgrading to a later version. Option-Command-R upgrades to the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac. Shift-Option-Command-R restores the macOS that came with your Mac or the version closest to it that is still available.

Does a Mac have a BIOS?

Although MacBooks aren't technically outfitted with BIOS, they are supported by a similar boot firmware used by Sun and Apple called Open Firmware. ... Like the BIOS on PC machines, Open Firmware is accessed on startup and provides you with an interface for technical diagnostics and debugging your computer.

How do I restore factory settings on my MacBook air?

How to reset a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro

1. Hold down the Command and R keys on the keyboard and turn on the Mac. ...
2. Select your language and continue.
3. Choose Disk Utility and click continue.
4. Choose your startup disk (named Macintosh HD by default) from the sidebar and click the Erase button.

How do I choose my operating system on startup?

To Choose Default OS in System Configuration (msconfig)

1. Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog, type msconfig into Run, and click/tap on OK to open System Configuration.
2. Click/tap on the Boot tab, select the OS (ex: Windows 10) you want as the "default OS", click/tap on Set as default, and click/tap on OK. (

Can I boot my iMac from an external SSD?

A more cost effective and less intrusive method is to use an external solid state drive instead, like the Samsung T5. Booting from a solid state drive like the Samsung T5 should give you a boost in performance, especially if you are running an older iMac with a 5,400 RPM hard drive.

How do you clean your startup disk on a Mac?

To remove app cache files and clean up a startup disk, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to Finder > Go > Go to Folder.
2. Type in ~/Library/Caches.
3. Go into each folder (or just the ones taking up the most space) and delete the files inside.
4. Now do the same for /Library/Caches (without the ~)