# Safe Mode ## Identification [[macOS Startup Security Utility|Startup Security Utility]] controls startup-disk and boot-security policy on supported Macs; a firmware password restricts alternate startup paths on older Intel Macs. `kextutil` and `kextunload` manage legacy kernel extensions; `find` and `stat` inspect filesystem objects; `unlock-keychain` opens a macOS Keychain. The uncertain command fragments are not promoted into executable instructions. ## Notebook evidence - [[Scanned_20260730-1659#PDF page 9 — Old MacBook Pro startup security and firmware commands|PDF page 9: Old MacBook Pro startup security and firmware commands]] — This page records recovery and security-control points on an older Intel-era MacBook Pro: firmware password, Startup Security Utility, Safe Mode, password reset, kernel-extension utilities, and Keychain unlocking. `kextutil` and `kextunload` belong to the pre-System-Extensions model of macOS kernel extension management; their presence helps date the troubleshooting vocabulary. ## Relationships and overlays The source places this record in an evidence cluster with [[Kernel Extension|Kernel Extension]] · [[MacBook Pro|MacBook Pro]] · [[macOS Firmware Password|macOS Firmware Password]] · [[macOS Keychain|macOS Keychain]] · [[macOS Startup Security Utility|macOS Startup Security Utility]]. The occurrence contributes to the notebook's larger model of [[Identity Continuity|identity continuity]], [[Device Sovereignty|device sovereignty]], and [[Continuity Architecture|continuity architecture]]. ## Evidentiary status and open leads Recover the Mac model/year and macOS version; separate valid historical commands from copied or obsolete fragments. ## Source - [[Scanned_20260730-1659|Scanned_20260730-1659]]