In this video we take a look at how from an Apple Macintosh computer running on Intel hardware, you can boot into Startup Manager. The primary purpose of Startup Manager, is to allow you to choose an alternative boot option when you start your computer. So for example you can use Startup Manager to boot an operating system from a USB flash drive.
Note: Being able to choose from which drive your computer boots is very useful as it will allow you to:
- load a Linux distro,
- boot to Windows with a Boot Camp partition,
- boot Windows from a USB drive
- reinstall macOS using a USB thumb drive.
Note: While you can run Linux and Windows on an Apple Mac computer using Intel hardware. On newer M series hardware this is currently more difficult. So if you want to run Windows on a more modern Apple Mac computer you will need to user a Virtual Machine like Parallels or VMBox. If you want to use Linux you will have to use Asahi
Quick reference notes:
- Fully power down your Macintosh computer
- Once again power up your computer
- When you hear the startup chime, immediately press and hold the Option key on your keyboard
Note: If you are using a bluetooth keyboard, you will have to revert to a wired keyboard in order to initiate Startup Manager. This is because the bluetooth module in your computer will not initialise until after you the computer has finished checking that its not to enter Startup Manager.
- Keep holding down the Option key until you see a hard drive on your computer screen.
- The black screen with a hard drive is Startup Manager
Reference materials:
- Apple support article – Startup key combinations
- Mydoodads article – How to access Recovery Mode on an Apple Macintosh computer – Apple Silicon hardware (M1 Processor)
