How to check if SIP is enabled on Mac

Integrity Protection (SIP) protects some important Mac OS system folders fromModifications

extraction and removal on Mac, even if you have "root" access.SIP is enabled by default in all modern versions of Mac OS, but it still doesn't hurt to do it from time to timeCheck the SIP status on your Mac.

There are two ways to check if the system is active - through the command line and using the System Information tool.

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Below we describe both ways to check the SIP status on a Mac.

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How to check statusSystem integrity protectionthroughTerminal

1. Run the Terminal program from the utility folder.

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2. Enter the following command and press return (enter):

csrutil status

3. You will see one of the following messages:

  • If the SIP system is active - System Integrity Protection status: enabled.
  • If the SIP system is disabled - System Integrity Protection status: disabled.

If the SIP system is active, then nothing needs to be done. If it is disabled, it should be turned on.

How to check the status of the System Integrity Protection (SIP) in System Information

  1. Open the utility folder.
  2. Run the System Information program.
  3. In the list on the left, select software.
  4. Locate the System Integrity Protection item in the window, and the status of system activity will be displayed next to it.

What folders does it protect?systemintegrity protection?

The System Integrity Protection system ensures the security of the following system folders:

/ System
/sbin
/bin
/usr (except /usr/local)
/Applications (standard programs only)

Almost all folders protected by the SIP system are hidden from the user by default, but it is possible to access them.

These folders are protected from editing,delete, move, etc. even with root access. Sometimes the SIP system is called rootless. You can change the files of these folders only by turning off the system, which requires an administrator password and “boot” access.

With the SIP system you will not be able to accidentally orintentionally delete important Mac OS system files. We do not recommend shutting down the system for no good reason. In which case it will need to be activated again immediately.

Recall that the SIP system is active by default duringall modern versions of Mac OS. Among them: macOS Mojave, macOS High Sierra, MacOS Sierra and Mac OS X El Capitan. Most likely, this will not change in future versions of the system. In older versions, the system is not supported at all, i.e. and its status cannot be verified.