Start up from macOS Recovery
Summary: In this article, we'll share the step-by-step process for using macOS native tools such as Disk Utility, Time Machine and macOS Recovery to repair and restore macOS Catalina 10.15 start-up disk. Additionally, we speak about availing the free trial version of Stellar Data Recovery Professional software which fully supports macOS Catalina.
Determine whether you're using a Mac with Apple silicon, then follow the appropriate steps:
Apple silicon
- Place your MacBook Air/Pro, iMac, or Mac mini to a place where you have robust Wi-Fi network connectivity or use a wired ethernet connection to start the Internet recovery process. Hopefully, this time if you use a fast internet connection, you could perform the Internet recovery successfully. If the issue persists, then read on.
- Macrumors member. I upgraded to Big Sur first; then used Cmd + R (instead of Cmd + Option + R) and it allowed me to perform a clean install. Reactions: Wizec and AppleRobert.
Turn on your Mac and continue to press and hold the power button until you see the startup options window. Click the gear icon labeled Options, then click Continue.
Intel processor
Make sure that your Mac has a connection to the internet. Then turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold Command (⌘)-R until you see an Apple logo or other image.
If you're asked to select a user you know the password for, select the user, click Next, then enter their administrator password.
Reinstall macOS
Select Reinstall macOS from the utilities window in macOS Recovery, then click Continue and follow the onscreen instructions.
Follow these guidelines during installation:
- If the installer asks to unlock your disk, enter the password you use to log in to your Mac.
- If the installer doesn't see your disk, or it says that it can't install on your computer or volume, you might need to erase your disk first.
- If the installer offers you the choice between installing on Macintosh HD or Macintosh HD - Data, choose Macintosh HD.
- Allow installation to complete without putting your Mac to sleep or closing its lid. Your Mac might restart and show a progress bar several times, and the screen might be empty for minutes at a time.
After installation is complete, your Mac might restart to a setup assistant. If you're selling, trading in, or giving away your Mac, press Command-Q to quit the assistant without completing setup. Then click Shut Down. When the new owner starts up the Mac, they can use their own information to complete setup.
Other macOS installation options
When you install macOS from Recovery, you get the current version of the most recently installed macOS, with some exceptions:
- On an Intel-based Mac: If you use Shift-Option-Command-R during startup, you're offered the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available. If you use Option-Command-R during startup, in most cases you're offered the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac. Otherwise you're offered the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.
- If the Mac logic board was just replaced, you may be offered only the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac. If you just erased your entire startup disk, you may be offered only the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.
You can also use these methods to install macOS, if the macOS is compatible with your Mac:
- Use the App Store to download and install the latest macOS.
- Use the App Store or a web browser to download and install an earlier macOS.
- Use a USB flash drive or other secondary volume to create a bootable installer.
Jul 05, 2021 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions
There are many issues that people may encounter while installing the macOS update. One of the common problems is that the recovery server could not be contacted. When trying to install macOS High Sierra, Mojave, or Catalina, there is an error message popping up: The recovery server could not be contacted.
If your macOS update is also stopped by this error, you will find this post helpful. From this post, you will learn why the recovery server could not be contacted and how to fix it.
What Does It Mean When the Recovery Server Could Not Be Contacted?
When installing a macOS update with a macOS installer, your Mac needs to reach the Apple server. When it says 'the recovery server could not be contacted, it means that your Mac failed to build a connection with the Apple server.
There are multiple culprits behind this issue.
- Your Mac is disconnected from the network. A stable network connection is required for your Mac to successfully contact the Apple server.
- The date and time on your Mac are not properly synced with the Apple recovery server.
- The Apple server is overloaded with too many users trying to installing the new update at the same time. Whenever there is a macOS update recently released, the Apple server usually experiences a busy time.
Solution 1: Check Network Connection on Mac
Firstly, you need to check if your Mac is connected to a proper internet connection. If your Mac is on a wired internet connection, you can re-plug the Ethernet cable to check.
If your Mac is using a Wi-Fi, you can access the Wi-Fi option from the top right corner of your screen to check it is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network.
The faster the internet, the quicker you can access the Apple recovery server.
Solution 2: Sync your Mac' Date and Time to Apple Recovery Server
If your Mac's date and times are not synced to the Apple recovery server. You can update these settings by utilizing these steps;
Macos Catalina Internet Recovery Tool
Step 1: First of all, close the error. This will open the macOS Utilities window.
Step 2: Next, you are required to choose the option 'Utilities' on the top menu bar.
Step 3: You will see the option 'Terminal', double click on it.
Step 4: Then type the following command line: 'ntpdate -u time.apple.com' and press enter.
Step 5: The above step might take some time. Once the process is completed, you can try reinstalling the macOS update again. Hopefully, your problem will be solved.
Also if the 'ntpdate -u time.apple.com' command-line failed to fix the recovery server could not be contacted on your Mac, you can try the following command.
Macos Catalina Internet Recovery
- Open Terminal.
- Enter date. And hit Enter key. This will show the date of your Mac.
- If the date and time are wrong, you should enter the current time with the following command line: date mmddhhssyy. For example, if it is July 20, 09:00 am, 2020, you should enter: date 0720090020 (July 20, 09:00 am, 2020,).
- After that, quit Terminal and click Reinstall macOS to run the Catalina/Mojave installer again.
Solution 3: Install the Full Version of Mojave/Catalina Installer
Some users found that when they try to install a macOS update with the update installer from App Store, it just showed the error message 'the recovery server could not be contacted. However, after downloading a full version of the macOS installer, the installer can run without any error. Here is how you can get a full version of the macOS Catalina update.
Step 1Run Terminal.
Step 2For example, to download the full version of the macOS Catalina 10.15.3 Installer Application, enter the command line as below.
- softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 10.15.3
Step 3The installer will be downloaded in the Application folder.
Step 4Run the installer to install the macOS without the recovery server error.
How To Download Macos Catalina From Internet Recovery
Solution 4: Erase Your Disk and Reinstall macOS
In case you have utilized all the above methods and have not received any good results. Only then, you can erase your hard disk and reinstall macOS. You can enter the recovery mode to erase the hard disk. After that, reinstalling macOS can solve your problem. Follow the steps properly erase your hard disk and reinstall macOS;
Step 1Firstly, you need to restart your Mac.
Step 2When the Mac is starting, you need to press and hold CDM + R keys to enter the recovery mode.
Step 3In the Recovery mode, click Disk Utility and erase the Macintosh HD volume. This will delete all your data on your Mac so make sure you have backed up your important data.
Step 4After erasing your disk, you can reinstall macOS. This time, you won't see the recovery server could not be contacted error.
If you have important data missing after the macOS update, you can get it back by using Recoverit Data Recovery software. The program is designed to recover photos, documents, videos, emails, etc. from the Mac computer after the data are deleted mistakenly or lost because of macOS reinstallation, factory reset, or virus.
Lost data can be recovered in 3 simple steps by Recoverit: select the drive of lost data, scan the drive, recover the files.
Mac Os Catalina Internet Recovery Mode
Download the free trial version of Recoverit Data Recovery to scan and find your needed files.
Conclusion
Many users complained about the recovery server could not be contacted error. Every error is solvable, only if you apply proper solutions. And to tackle the incidents that may happen in the macOS update, you need to back up your data before implementing any of the steps. In case your data is lost, you can recover it using Recoverit Data Recovery.
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