Startup Keys

Startup key combinations for Macs

Learn about the startup key combinations you can use with Intel-based Macs.

Products Affected

Mac Pro, Mac mini, MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac

Here are the modifier key symbols you may see in OS X menus:

Command key icon
apple logo

(Command key) - On some Apple keyboards, this key also has an Apple () logo

Control key icon

(Control key)

Option or Alt key icon

(Option key) - "Alt" may also appear on this key

Shift icon

(Shift key)

Caps lock icon

(Caps Lock) - Toggles Caps Lock on or off

Fn (Function key)

You can use the following startup key combinations with Intel-based Macs.

1 Available on Macs that ship with OS X Lion. Some CPUs require an EFI BootROM update to support this feature.