How To Use Mac Recovery Mode – Guide
Macs are renowned for their reliability, but even they can experience issues. From unresponsive systems to malware and accidental file deletions, problems can arise that require a clean-up of the machine - whether you’re selling it or just bought a used one.
Mac recovery mode is a powerful tool that many users may not be aware of. Here’s how to access it, use it, and exit when you’re finished.
What is Mac recovery mode
Mac users can access Recovery Mode, a special feature of macOS that provides native tools to restore from a Time Machine backup, get online help, reinstall the operating system or erase a hard drive. The recovery image and macOS installer are stored on a dedicated disk partition.
If your computer won’t boot up, recovery mode can help you diagnose disk issues, reinstall the previous macOS version, or get online assistance.
Mac users can now access four new features when they enter recovery mode: the ability to reinstall macOS, repair disk and partition issues, restore from a Time Machine backup, and browse the web with Safari.
Restoring your Mac data from a Time Machine backup is easy: simply copy all of your files, operating system and settings to an external hard drive, then erase the current drive.
Disk Utility is a quick and easy way to troubleshoot drive issues on the recovery screen, eliminating the need for a full reinstall.
Reinstalling macOS is a great way to give your computer a fresh start. To do so, make sure to back up any important files you have stored on the device before wiping the current operating system and its data, and replacing it with a clean version.
Safari now offers a convenient way to troubleshoot internet connection and other computer issues: get online help.
When to use recovery mode on macOS
OS X 10.7 Lion introduced the Recovery Mode tool, which contains the latest version of macOS installed on your computer and can be used to troubleshoot any issues. It is only necessary to use if you need to repair or reinstall your operating system.
If you’re looking to sell or trade in your Apple device, it’s important to make sure all of your data is wiped clean. Fortunately, the Recovery Mode feature on Mac computers allows users to erase their data and Apple ID before passing it on.
If your computer won’t start up, troubleshoot the issue.
Disk Utility can be used to fix disk issues, but if it fails to do so, the problems may require further attention.
Users of macOS should revert to an earlier version of the operating system.
To resolve sluggish performance, a clean installation of macOS is recommended.
Fixing online connection issues.
To restore your Mac from a Time Machine backup, follow these steps.
How to Use recovery mode on macOS
Shut down your Mac, then restart it while holding down the Command and ‘R’ keys to enter recovery mode.
Release the Command and ‘R’ keys when you see the Apple logo or spinning globe, then enter a Mac password if prompted to proceed.
Once the initialization is complete, macOS Recovery Mode offers four services: Restore from Time Machine Backup, Reinstall macOS, Get Online Help and Disk Utility. Additional utilities such as Network Utility, Startup Security Utility and Terminal can be found in the Utilities menu.
Exit recovery mode by selecting the Restart or Shutdown option from the Apple menu. You can also choose a different boot disk before restarting.
Mac users can access recovery mode by pressing certain key combinations at startup. Command + R will reinstall the most recent version of macOS that was on the Mac before any issues arose. Option/Alt + Command + R will upgrade to the latest version compatible with the Mac, while Shift + Option + Command + R will install the version of macOS that originally came with it or a compatible version if it is no longer available for download.
What to do if you are unable to boot into macOS recovery mode
If macOS Recovery fails, you can force your Mac to boot into Internet recovery mode by pressing and holding the Option / Alt + Command + R or Shift + Option + Command + R keys at startup. This will be indicated by a spinning globe instead of the usual Apple logo. If this doesn’t work, try booting with an external Mac bootable disk or installer.
When to use Internet Recovery
Internet Recovery is a helpful tool for Mac users whose drives are partitioned with Boot Camp Assistant or modified, or who are using RAID volumes that don’t support the Recovery HD partition.
If the partition is created successfully, it may still be inaccessible in recovery mode due to system errors or damage to the drive.
If your Mac’s recovery partition is working, you won’t be able to access Internet Recovery. This means you’ll only be able to reinstall the original version of macOS that came with your device – not the most up-to-date version.
Internet Recovery allows you to reinstall your computer’s operating system using code embedded in the device. By entering this mode, a request is sent to Apple servers for the necessary codes and image needed for reinstallation.
Booting from Internet recovery mode takes longer than the usual partition-based recovery, so make sure your Mac is fully charged and your Internet connection is reliable before attempting it.
Final note
We hope you found our guide on how to use Mac Recovery Mode helpful. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Show your support by sharing this article with your friends and family.
