To use any of these key combinations, press and hold the keys immediately after pressing the power button to turn on your Mac, or after your Mac begins to restart. Keep holding until the described behavior occurs.
- Command (⌘)-R: Start up from the built-in macOS Recovery system. Or use Option-Command-R or Shift-Option-Command-R to start up from macOS Recovery over the Internet. macOS Recovery installs different versions of macOS, depending on the key combination you use while starting up. If your Mac is using a firmware password, you're prompted to enter the password.
- Option (⌥) or Alt: Start up to Startup Manager, which allows you to choose other available startup disks or volumes. If your Mac is using a firmware password, you're prompted to enter the password.
- Option-Command-P-R:Reset NVRAM or PRAM. If your Mac is using a firmware password, it ignores this key combination or starts up from macOS Recovery.
- Shift (⇧): Start up in safe mode. Disabled when using a firmware password.
- D: Start up to the Apple Diagnostics utility. Or use Option-Dto start up to this utility over the Internet. Disabled when using a firmware password.
- N: Start up from a NetBoot server, if your Mac supports network startup volumes. To use the default boot image on the server, hold down Option-N instead. Disabled when using a firmware password.
- Command-S: Start up in single-user mode. Disabled in macOS Mojave or later, or when using a firmware password.
- T: Start up in target disk mode. Disabled when using a firmware password.
- Command-V: Start up in verbose mode. Disabled when using a firmware password.
- Eject (⏏) or F12 or mouse button or trackpad button: Eject removable media, such as an optical disc. Disabled when using a firmware password.
Repair a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac. Disk Utility can fix certain disk problems—for example, multiple apps quit unexpectedly, a file is corrupted, an external device doesn't work properly, or your computer won't start up. Disk Utility can't detect or repair all problems that a disk may have. Launch the Disk Utility app on your Mac. To launch instantly, open Spotlight search, type Disk Utility, and hit Enter. You can also launch the Disk Utility tool from the Launchpad - Other as well.
If a key combination doesn't work
If a key combination doesn't work at startup, one of these these solutions might help:
- Be sure to press and hold all keys in the combination together, not one at a time.
- Shut down your Mac. Then press the power button to turn on your Mac. Then press and hold the keys as your Mac starts up.
- Wait a few seconds before pressing the keys, to give your Mac more time to recognize the keyboard as it starts up. Some keyboards have a light that flashes briefly at startup, indicating that the keyboard is recognized and ready for use.
- If you're using a wireless keyboard, plug it into your Mac, if possible. Or use your built-in keyboard or a wired keyboard. If you're using a keyboard made for a PC, such as a keyboard with a Windows logo, try a keyboard made for Mac.
- If you're using Boot Camp to start up from Microsoft Windows, set Startup Disk preferences to start up from macOS instead. Then shut down or restart and try again.
Free Mac Disk Utility
Room design mac. Remember that some key combinations are disabled when your Mac is using a firmware password.
Learn more
- Learn what to do if your Mac doesn't turn on.
- Learn about Mac keyboard shortcuts that you can use after your Mac has started up.
If you experience these issues on Mac, your disk may need recovery:
- multiple apps quitting unexpectedly
- corrupted files and access errors
- external devices work improperly
- your computer won't start up
How do you know if your disk needs repair
If you can still turn your Mac on, check the startup disk with an app called CleanMyMac X. Open its Maintenance module and run 'Verify Startup Disk'. If you get the 'Disk needs repair' error, your disk needs immediate attention.
Don't worry, it doesn't necessarily mean you have to replace it right away, there's still a chance to fix it. Play warcraft on mac.
We'll go over how to perform hard disk repair on Mac using software solutions. That's only possible if your disk can be saved by means of Mac's native app, Disk Utility. If it fails, the only alternative is backing up your data and getting a new disk.
Hard drive recovery using Disk Utility
- Print this article or open it on any other device. You'll lose access to it after you restart your Mac later.
- Click on the Apple menu (top left corner), choose Restart.
- When your Mac restarts, press Command + R and hold the keys until the Apple logo appears.
- Select Disk Utility and click Continue.
- In the sidebar, choose the disk you think needs repair.
- Find First Aid and click on it.
Note, that if you are using FileVault to encrypt your disk, you must mount the disk first. To do it, click Mount at the top of the Disk Utility window. Then, enter your Mac account password in the dialog that appears.
At this point, there are two options.
Case 1. Disk Utility might tell you right away that your current startup disk is on the very edge of failing. This means you need to promptly back up all your files and take your beloved Mac to the repair shop. That's about all you can do.
How to back up your Mac
If you've never used Time Machine, you'll need to configure it first:
- Connect external storage (AirPort Time Capsule, USB flash drive, portable hard drive, or else).
- Go to System Preferences and click on Time Machine.
- Click the Select Backup Disk button in the center of the window.
- Choose the storage device you wish to back up your files to and click Use Disk.
That's it! Your first backup will be started automatically in a couple of minutes. More detailed backup information is specified next to the Select Disk button. We recommend connecting your Mac to a power cable before starting the backup.
If your Time Machine is already configured, you probably know what to do:
- Click on the Time Machine status menu at the top right corner of the screen
- Choose Back Up Now
Can't see Time Machine among status menus? Then, open System Preferences > Time Machine and select the 'Show Time Machine in menu bar' checkbox.
Case 2. If Disk Utility offers you to run diagnostics, simply click Run.
If it reports that the disk has been repaired, you're free to close it all and live a happy life from now on. But, unfortunately, there can be other troublesome issues.
Apple Disk Utility Download
For example, Disk Utility may inform you that the underlying task reported failure. In this case, you can try to repair the disk again. If that fails, use our guide above to back up your files and then completely reformat the disk. You'll need to remove all the info from it, reinstall the operating system and restore the data afterward.
If you continue having issues with your disk and neither recovery option works, it may be physically damaged. Which means you should take it to your local Mac service, they will be happy to assist you at this point.
How to protect a disk from failure and keep Mac healthy
With the proper software tools, you can monitor your Mac's well-being and keep it speedy and sound for years.
There are two essentials to a good-working Mac: a clean drive and a fast system. Both are covered by CleanMyMac X. It removes useless files from the drive, monitors your Mac's performance, and keeps your macOS running smoothly.
That's about it with DIY Mac hard disk recovery. Hope this article helps, stay tuned!