User level: Level 1 (4 points)When I try to use any key combination (like CMD - R or Option, but others also don't work) on startup, I don't get into any menu. I only have two keyboards, and neither of them work. It simply throws me into the login screen, like I wasn't even holding them down.
Posted on Oct 14, 2026 12:34 PM
User level: Level 9 (78,350 points)Oct 15, 2026 8:59 AM in response to thecapitaloffranceisparis
Different Intel Macs do behave a bit differently on the timing of the special startup key presses as well. I find it most reliable to immediately press the special startup keys immediately after hearing the startup chime. Some Macs may not recognize the special startup keys if pressed too early, and of course waiting too long also prevents them from being recognized.
If your Mac is a USB-C Apple laptop with Intel CPU, then it is possible you may have a bad key since the 2016-2019 models used the dreaded butterfly keyboards which are known to have lots of keyboard failures (many times intermittent failures). Try using a wired USB keyboard if this the case.
User level: Level 10 (85,896 points)Oct 14, 2026 1:05 PM in response to thecapitaloffranceisparis
You might try some of the other combos in this list.
Mac startup key combinations - Apple Support
Note that it separates options for Intel Macs and Apple Silicon Macs.
User level: Level 10 (148,617 points)Oct 14, 2026 6:59 PM in response to thecapitaloffranceisparis
On the old Mac Pro towers, we learned that a USB keyboard connected to a USB port directly on the chassis, not on a docking device of any kind, was recognized far more often that a keyboard on Bluetooth, or connected to a hub in a display or an external hub.
The most commonly used alphabetic and numeric characters and almost all of the modifier keys are the same on most keyboards.
User level: Level 1 (4 points)Oct 14, 2026 1:52 PM in response to Allan Jones
Only Verbose Mode and Safe Mode seem to work (same timing)
Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256376266