Why can't I get my imac to start up in safe mode?
iMac 27″
Which exact iMac model do you have? Is it equipped with an Intel or Silicon (M-Series) CPU? How you start up your Mac in Safe Mode will be different for these CPU types.
Ref: How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support
Which exact iMac model do you have? Is it equipped with an Intel or Silicon (M-Series) CPU? How you start up your Mac in Safe Mode will be different for these CPU types.
Ref: How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support
An approximately ten year old hard disk drive suggests startup disk failure may be a likely cause.
Conclusively determining a hard disk drive is operating in a state of failure is not straightforward, but observing how things work in Safe Mode would certainly help with that determination. Follow Steps 1 through 3 in Use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support, under If you're using an Intel-based Mac. They are identical for wired or wireless keyboards (assuming of course they are Apple keyboards). Just be sure to keep the Shift key depressed continuously as it states, until the words Safe Boot appear in red at the upper right of the screen.
And,
"If you can't start up in safe mode, make sure that your Mac isn't using a firmware password."
Follow these instructions: Use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support
Which model iMac are you using?
Identify your iMac model - Apple Support
Which macOS version is it running?
windstormreigns wrote:
...and I can’t seem to start up in safe mode.
Per chance are you using a wireless keyboard with your iMac? If so, do you happen to have a wired keyboard handy that you can use to help getting your Mac booted up in Safe Mode?
Does your Mac start up in normally? Are you using Safe Mode to troubleshoot an issue with this Mac?
If you are unable to boot Safe Mode try EtreCheck. A description, download link and instructions for posting its report in a reply can be found here:
Try that, but if your Mac is operating so poorly you may not even be able to get it to run.
I have an imac 27" late 2013 with 1T hard drive, 3.2 ghz quad-core intel core i5, 32gb memory(1600 mhz ddr3) I upgraded to Catalina v. 10.15.7 and now things slowly open and I can’t seem to start up in safe mode.
I have an imac 27" late 2013 with 1T hard drive, 3.2 ghz quad-core intel core i5, 32gb memory(1600 mhz ddr3) I upgraded to Catalina v. 10.15.7 and now things slowly open and I can’t seem to start up in safe mode.
All this started when I upgraded to Catalina 10.15.7. Opening a program takes a few mins. Never took that long before. I only wanted to do safe mode to see if something was causing it. I am at the point I am just going to go back to an older OS.
I am using an apple keyboard that I can use as wireless or usb. I leave it as usb at all times.
Safe mode
