Start up your Mac in single-user mode or verbose mode

If you're an advanced user who is comfortable with UNIX, you can use single-user mode or verbose mode to help isolate issues related to startup.

  1. Hold down one of these key combinations on your keyboard immediately after pressing the power button to turn on your Mac, or immediately after your Mac begins to restart:
    • Command-S: single-user mode
    • Command-V: verbose mode
  2. Continue holding the keys until you see white text on the screen.
    • If you're using FileVault, release the keys when you see the login window. Then log in to continue startup in single-user or verbose mode.
    • If you're using a firmware password, you must turn off the password before you can start up in single-user or verbose mode.
  3. You can now enter UNIX commands. To exit this mode and start up normally, type reboot, then press Return.

    When in single-user mode, the keyboard layout is U.S. English.
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