How to Disable System Integrity Protection (SIP) on Mac
Step-by-step guide for macOS El Capitan and later
What is System Integrity Protection (SIP)?
System Integrity Protection — also known as rootless — is a macOS security feature introduced in OS X El Capitan. It prevents potentially malicious software from modifying protected files and folders on your Mac, even if you have root-level access.
While SIP is effective for the vast majority of Mac users, some advanced users — especially those running cracked apps or applying patches — need to disable it temporarily.
How to Disable SIP on Mac
Follow these exact steps to turn off System Integrity Protection:
- Restart your Mac — Go to Apple menu → Restart
- Before macOS starts up, hold down Command (⌘) + R and keep it held until you see an Apple logo and progress bar
- Release the keys — your Mac will boot into Recovery Mode
- From the top menu, click Utilities → Terminal
- In Terminal, type the following command exactly and press Return:
Terminal will display a confirmation message that SIP has been disabled. Then:
- Click the Apple menu () → Restart
- Your Mac will restart with SIP disabled
How to Check SIP Status
To verify whether SIP is currently enabled or disabled, open Terminal (without rebooting) and type:
You will see one of these messages:
How to Re-Enable SIP (Recommended)
After you are done, always re-enable SIP to keep your Mac secure. Follow the same steps above, but this time type:
Restart your Mac and SIP will be active again.
When Do You Need to Disable SIP?
- Installing cracked or patched Mac applications
- Applying CORE KG or Special K patches
- Running certain system-level tools and tweaks
- Modifying system directories that SIP protects