Check SIP Status with csrutil status

Find out whether System Integrity Protection is enabled on your Mac — a read-only check that works from a normal session.

macOSrecoverysipcsrutilHigh risk

Run `csrutil status` in Terminal; 'System Integrity Protection status: Enabled' confirms SIP is active.

01Command

Command

$ csrutil status

02What it does

System Integrity Protection prevents code injection into Apple's system processes and write access to system paths. csrutil status reports the current configuration without any risk, and it works from a regular admin session — only *changing* SIP requires booting into Recovery. The output can also show custom flags like 'Debugging Restrictions: disabled' left behind by earlier tinkering.

03Risk

RiskHigh risk

RequirementsBuilt-in on macOS. Changing SIP requires booting into Recovery — checking does not.

!Warning: Never run csrutil disable just to make an app work; SIP protects the core of the OS and disabling it weakens every other protection.

04Undo

✓No undo needed — this command does not change persistent state.

05Sources

csrutil — configure System Integrity Protection (macOS)
SS64 · technical · 2026-09-17
Evidence: Documents csrutil status for checking SIP configuration and notes that changes require Recovery mode.
About System Integrity Protection on your Mac
Apple · vendor-doc · 2026-09-17
Evidence: Apple explains SIP protection scope and that csrutil is run from the recoveryOS environment.

Last verified: 2026-09-17 · Category: Security & Privacy

06Related solutions

Read and Clear NVRAM Firmware Variables

macOSnvramrecoveryboot

Inspect boot-args and other firmware settings stored in non-volatile RAM from the Terminal.

Low risk ✓ 2026-09-17