Verbose Mode

A macOS startup mode that displays detailed system messages during boot instead of the Apple logo, useful for diagnosing startup hangs.

What to Know

Verbose Mode exposes the detailed startup process normally hidden behind the Apple logo, showing exactly which system components are loading, which drivers are initializing, and where boot failures occur. When Macs fail to boot or hang during startup, Verbose Mode provides essential diagnostic information that reveals the specific component or process causing the failure. This transforms vague “won’t start” issues into actionable diagnostic data showing precisely where the boot process fails.

Common Scenarios

Enterprise IT: Corporate IT instructs users to boot into Verbose Mode when Macs hang during startup, capturing photos or videos of the verbose output that shows exactly which process is failing. This enables targeted troubleshooting rather than generic “boot issues” help desk tickets.

MSP: MSPs guide clients through Verbose Mode boots during remote troubleshooting calls, using the verbose output to diagnose startup failures and determine if the issue is driver-related, filesystem corruption, or hardware failure.

Education: School IT uses Verbose Mode to diagnose lab Macs that hang during startup, identifying problematic LaunchDaemons, kernel extensions, or filesystem issues that standard boot modes don’t reveal.

In Addigy

Verbose Mode must be activated locally during boot, but Addigy can deploy user-facing guides and documentation explaining how to enable it for troubleshooting. After diagnosing boot issues via Verbose Mode and resolving them, Addigy management resumes normally once macOS starts successfully.