How to put your Mac into Safe mode, what Apple claims it does, and what evidence there is of its benefits. Includes an assessment of free space it may create.
Safe mode
Anything can happen, but so long as you have a recent backup you should be able fix the problems and get back up and running again. Here’s how.
Safe mode is claimed to do 3 things: block 3rd party extensions, clear caches, and check your startup disk. But what disk checks does it really make, and how are they different?
Step by step through all the features, some undocumented by Apple. Two different Recovery Assistants, Repair Assistant, Erase Mac, Startup Security Utility, change settings and more.
How to control Login and Background items in System Settings, how to identify those you might not recognise, and how to use sfltool for advanced diagnostics and reset.
What disk checks are made in Safe mode? How are they different from those run during normal startup? If Disk Utility is to be our only APFS repair tool, shouldn’t have more and better features?
Claimed to block 3rd-party extensions and customisations from loading, check the startup disk, and to clear some system caches. When and why should you use it?
You’ve just installed an update or upgrade and your Mac just isn’t right. How to tackle everything from a boot loop to a downgrade.
How much free disk space could you recover if your Mac is short of space and you need more to upgrade to Sonoma? Should you try flushing its caches in Safe mode?
What does Safe mode do to all those service caches managed by CacheDelete? Does it still check your boot disk too?
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