Apple Mac Startup Options

Startup shortcuts

Use these key combinations to change how your computer starts up. Press and hold the key or combination of keys immediately after starting your Mac until the expected function occurs or appears. For example, press and hold the Option key during startup until the Startup Manager appears.

Key or key combination What it does
Option or Alt Display all startup volumes (Startup Manager)
Shift Start up in Safe Mode
C Start from bootable media (DVD, CD, USB thumb drive)
T Start up in Target disk mode
N Start from a NetBoot server
X Force OS X startup (when non-OS X startup volumes are available)
D Use Apple Hardware Test
Command-R Use OS X Recovery (OS X Lion or later)
Command-Option-R Use Internet Recovery on supported computers
Command-V Start up in Verbose Mode
Command-S Start up in Single User Mode
Command-Option-P-R Reset NVRAM
Hold down the Media Eject (?) key, F12 key, or mouse or trackpad button Eject removable discs

Sleep, shut down, and log out shortcuts

Use these key combinations after your Mac has started up to sleep, shut down, log out of, or restart your computer.

Key or key combination What it does
Power button Tap to power on. Once powered on, tap the power button to wake or sleep your Mac.
Hold down the power button for 1.5 seconds Show the restart / sleep / shut down dialog
Hold down the power button for 5 seconds Force the Mac to power off
Control-Power button Show the restart / sleep / shut down dialog
Command-Control-power button Force the Mac to restart
Command-Option-Power button Put the computer to sleep
Command-Control-Power button Quit all apps (after giving you a chance to save changes to open documents), then restart the computer
Command-Option-Control-Power button Quit all apps (after giving you a chance to save changes to open documents), then shut down the computer
Shift-Control-Power button Put all displays to sleep
Command-Shift-Q Log Out
Command-Shift-Option-Q Log Out immediately