Published Apr 15, 2023, 11:45 AM EDT
Kelvin is a content writer with extensive tech experience. He studied project management with Deprimex Consulting and attended the Data Science Nigeria 2020 Bootcamp. Kelvin’s work experience includes technical content writing, organizing tech training for student associations, and working as the editor-in-chief of a university press. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Production Engineering as well as online course certificates from the University of Michigan and Coursera.
macOS Recovery is a helpful troubleshooting tool that solves various problems on Mac. You can reset an admin password, reinstall macOS, and restore a Time Machine backup from macOS Recovery. Unfortunately, errors can make it unable to boot your Mac into recovery mode and fix software and hardware issues.
Faulty keyboards and internet connection or problems with the startup disk are responsible for these errors. Regardless of the cause, there are several fixes you can try to resolve these errors and get your Mac back up and running again.
1. Use the Right Keyboard Command
When accessing macOS Recovery on your Mac, using the correct keyboard commands is essential. The keyboard command may not work if the keyboard is defective. In that case, you can replace the faulty keys or connect an external keyboard and re-try the same keyboard command.
The model of your Mac also matters a lot. If you use an older Mac model, the keyboard command for Recovery Mode is Command + R.
However, the process for booting into recovery mode differs for newer models like the M1 and M2 Apple silicon Macs.
Here are the steps to boot your Mac in macOS Recovery on an Apple silicon Mac:
- Shut down your Mac from the Apple menu. Wait for your Mac to shut down completely.
- Press and hold the power button until the disk icon and Options button appears on the screen.
- Select the Options button and click Continue.
- Select an admin user account and click Next.
- In the next window, enter the password for the admin user account and click Continue.
- Now, choose from one of the available options, depending on what you want to do.
If you don’t know your password to your admin account, you can select Forgot all passwords? button and reset your password.
2. Reset NVRAM/PRAM
NVRAM and PRAM is a small part of memory on your Mac that stores specific settings for easy access. They save settings like system volume, startup disk options, and time zone. When there is a problem with your Mac’s recovery mode, you can try resetting your NVRAM and PRAM to fix the problem. The steps to resetting both are the same on Intel Macs.
To reset NVRAM/PRAM on an Intel Mac:
- Shut down your Mac and wait for it to power off completely.
- Wait for a few seconds and press the power button.
- At startup, hold the Command + Option + P + R keys.
While NVRAM/PRAM exist on Apple silicon Macs, they work slightly differently from Intel Macs. The system automatically tests the NVRAM/PRAM at startup and resets it if needed. While there is no key combination to reset NVRAM/PRAM in Apple silicon Macs, you can allow the system to detect the problem. Simply shut down the Mac, wait for a few seconds after it has powered off, and restart the Mac.
3. Use Internet Recovery Mode
macOS Internet Recovery mode, available on Intel Macs, is similar to Recovery Mode. The difference is that instead of loading macOS boot options from your hard drive, it loads from Apple’s servers over the internet. You use Mac Internet Recovery mode to reinstall macOS and fix any issues on your Mac. It is also a great option to try when the recovery partition is damaged.
We have outlined how to access and use Internet Recovery mode on Intel Macs if you're interested to learn all about the process.
4. Fallback Recovery Mode
Apple designed fallback recoveryOS on Apple silicon Macs to replace Internet Recovery mode. This particular mode follows the same process as recoveryOS boot, but for resiliency, it boots to a second copy of recoveryOS.
Here’s how to enter fallback recoveryOS on an Apple silicon Mac:
- After you have shut down your Mac, double-press and hold the power button.
- Release the power button when Loading Startup Options appears on the screen.
- When the Options button appears, select it and click Continue.
- In the next window, enter your recovery and click Next.
This method uses your recovery key to access your hard drive in recovery mode.
5. Reinstall macOS With a Bootable Installer
Another option to fix the recovery partition on your Mac is to reinstall macOS from a bootable installer, a flash drive. You can download the macOS installer from the Mac App Store and store it on a USB flash drive.
When you need the macOS installer files, follow our guide on installing macOS from a USB drive.
6. Start Your Mac in Safe Mode
Safe mode is one of Mac’s boot mode options that you can easily access. Safe mode scans your Mac’s startup drive for issues and repairs automatically if any are found.
The process to boot your Mac into safe mode differs for Intel and Apple silicon Macs.
7. Reset the System Management Controller
The System Management Controller (SMC) is an essential component that aids the correct functioning of the Mac. It manages features like your Mac's temperature, battery, and fans. A bug in the SMC can also cause a glitch in the startup and boot features.
Resetting the SMC of your Mac may fix the issues if you're unable to boot into macOS Recovery. The SMC reset process on an Intel Mac differs depending on whether or not it has Apple's T2 security chip.
Apple silicon Macs do not have an SMC, but you can unplug your Mac from a power source, wait a few seconds to a minute, and restart it. This should automatically restore the issues you're trying to fix.
Get Ahead of Recovery Mode
Recovery mode is one of the ways to tackle issues on your Mac, but if you're encountering problems while trying to solve another issue, these troubleshooting steps can be a lifesaver.
Whether resetting your NVRAM and SMC or reinstalling macOS from a USB drive, these solutions are designed to diagnose and fix the issues you encounter when booting your Mac into recovery mode.