Apple Device Support flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Recovery mode (Apple silicon)

A startup environment reached by holding the power button until startup options appear, allowing reinstall of macOS, Disk Utility access, and restoration from Time Machine.

Safe mode (macOS)

A diagnostic startup that loads only essential kernel extensions and disables login items, used to isolate software conflicts; entered by holding Shift during startup selection.

NVRAM reset

A startup-key procedure (Option-Command-P-R) that clears stored firmware settings such as startup disk and display resolution; applies only to Intel-based Macs.

SMC reset

A procedure on Intel Macs that resets the System Management Controller to resolve power, battery, and thermal issues; Apple silicon Macs have no equivalent reset.

Target Disk Mode

A startup mode (hold T) that makes a Mac's disk appear as an external volume to another Mac connected by cable, used for migration or data recovery.

FileVault

macOS full-disk encryption that protects the startup volume; the recovery key can be escrowed to an Apple ID, an institutional key, or displayed for safekeeping.

Migration Assistant

A macOS utility that transfers user accounts, applications, and settings from another Mac, a Time Machine backup, or a Windows PC over cable or network.

Unified logging

macOS logging system accessed via Console or the log command in Terminal; log collect gathers diagnostic data into an archive for support analysis.

DFU mode

A device state requiring a computer running Finder or iTunes that allows a full firmware restore of an iPhone or iPad, used when Recovery mode fails.

Force restart (iPhone)

A hardware restart sequence that does not erase data; on Face ID models it is volume up, volume down, then holding the side button until the Apple logo appears.

Guided Access

An accessibility feature that restricts a device to a single app and can disable touch areas or hardware buttons; toggled by triple-clicking the side or home button.

Supervised device

An iPhone or iPad enrolled through Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager, enabling additional restrictions, update deferral, and stronger MDM control.

Activation Lock

A security feature that binds an iPhone or iPad to the owner's Apple ID, preventing reactivation after erase until the credentials are entered or MDM clears it.

iCloud Backup

An automatic backup of device data that runs when the device is connected to power, locked, and on Wi-Fi; managed in Settings under the Apple ID pane.

Screen Time restrictions

Settings that limit app installs, in-app purchases, content ratings, and web access on a device; can be enforced locally or through a management profile.

Recovery mode (iOS)

A device state reached by a button sequence that connects to a computer for update or restore, without the deeper firmware reload used in DFU mode.

Unified memory

Memory architecture in Apple silicon Macs shared between CPU and GPU; it is soldered and cannot be upgraded after purchase.

Thunderbolt 4

A USB-C connector standard requiring at least 32 Gbps bandwidth and supporting up to two 4K displays or one 8K display through a single port.

MagSafe 3

A magnetic charging connector on recent Mac laptops that detaches on strain; the same machines can also charge over USB-C.

Apple Diagnostics

A built-in hardware test that returns reference codes identifying faulty components; launched from Startup Options on Apple silicon or by holding D on Intel.

Battery cycle count

A measure of full charge-discharge cycles; Apple considers a battery consumed when Maximum Capacity falls to 80 percent under normal conditions.

Continuity

A set of features like Handoff and Universal Clipboard that require Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled and the same Apple ID with two-factor authentication on both devices.

Apple Pencil compatibility

Pencil models pair with specific iPads: Pencil 1 uses Lightning pairing, Pencil 2 charges magnetically, and Pencil Pro works only with select newer iPads.

Bluetooth pairing (macOS)

Accessories are paired in System Settings under Bluetooth; Apple input devices pair automatically when connected with a Lightning or USB-C cable.

Private Wi-Fi Address

A feature that randomizes the MAC address per network to reduce tracking; it can be set to Fixed, Rotating, or Off for each joined network.

iCloud Private Relay

An iCloud+ feature that encrypts DNS queries and Safari traffic through two relays; it is not a VPN and does not cover all app traffic.

Lockdown Mode

An optional high-security mode that limits message attachments, some web technologies, and wired connections to reduce the attack surface for targeted threats.

802.1X authentication

An enterprise Wi-Fi standard that authenticates devices against a RADIUS server using certificates or credentials distributed through configuration profiles.

Two-factor authentication

An Apple ID security requirement that verifies sign-ins with a six-digit code on a trusted device or phone number, plus a recovery key or contact option.

Lost Mode

A Find My feature that remotely locks a missing device, displays a contact message on screen, and tracks its location while Find My is enabled.

macOS firewall

A settings pane controlling incoming connections; Stealth Mode additionally prevents the Mac from responding to unsolicited network probes.

Per-app VPN

A managed configuration that routes traffic from specified apps through a VPN tunnel rather than all device traffic; it requires an MDM-delivered profile.