User profile for user: pici
pici Author
User level: Level 1
36 points

Can't safe boot an M1 Macbook Pro

Is there an alternative way to safe boot other than the power button for a silicon laptop?

I have a laptop suffering from the display "cablegate" issue and can only use it with an external display.

The display I'm using is a Thunderbolt display, and when I try to safe boot with the power button the display is powered up but still black, meaning I can detect the backlight around the edges, but I never get to the available boot volume, or more accurately, I get nowhere.

Of course, this also means I can't run diagnostics, startup from another disk or volume (fortunately not an issue as the drive isn't partitioned), or restore the operating system (Sequoia). Because all those options have been attached to the power button and removed from the keyboard.


MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 15.7

Posted on Sep 2, 2026 11:21 PM

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User profile for user: HWTech
HWTech
Community+ 2026
User level: Level 9
76,058 points

Posted on Sep 3, 2026 10:34 AM

Unfortunately no.


You can try to use Clamshell Mode which may force some of the video to the external display, but you will need to use an external wired USB keyboard & mouse to navigate (must also be connected to the power adapter & external display). Plus you will need to blindly enter the Startup Options by holding the power button for about 7-8 seconds after hearing the startup chime before releasing it (laptop must be fully powered down first). Then you can close the lid and hopefully use the external devices to see & navigate. Keep in mind holding the power button for 10 seconds will force the laptop to power off, so be careful with timing those 8 seconds.


FYI, I've seen cases where macOS will not show certain items on the external screen such as the notice of new options after a minor macOS update patch. There is no way that I have discovered to even move this message to the external screen. I was even unable to mirror the built-in Display to the external. Expect to encounter such issues at some point if the laptop's built-in display is completely non-functional. These Apple USB-C laptop have been a huge pain in this regard, but the Apple Silicon Macs are even worse here than the Intel Macs were.


You can provide Apple with product feedback here:

Product Feedback - Apple


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2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: HWTech
HWTech
Community+ 2026
User level: Level 9
76,058 points

Sep 3, 2026 10:34 AM in response to pici

Unfortunately no.


You can try to use Clamshell Mode which may force some of the video to the external display, but you will need to use an external wired USB keyboard & mouse to navigate (must also be connected to the power adapter & external display). Plus you will need to blindly enter the Startup Options by holding the power button for about 7-8 seconds after hearing the startup chime before releasing it (laptop must be fully powered down first). Then you can close the lid and hopefully use the external devices to see & navigate. Keep in mind holding the power button for 10 seconds will force the laptop to power off, so be careful with timing those 8 seconds.


FYI, I've seen cases where macOS will not show certain items on the external screen such as the notice of new options after a minor macOS update patch. There is no way that I have discovered to even move this message to the external screen. I was even unable to mirror the built-in Display to the external. Expect to encounter such issues at some point if the laptop's built-in display is completely non-functional. These Apple USB-C laptop have been a huge pain in this regard, but the Apple Silicon Macs are even worse here than the Intel Macs were.


You can provide Apple with product feedback here:

Product Feedback - Apple


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Can't safe boot an M1 Macbook Pro

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