Mac Boot Loop With Files Visible in Recovery: Stop Repairing and Copy the Data First
If Recovery Mode can still see your user files, the immediate problem is not “how do I recover deleted data?” It is “how do I get a safe copy before I keep repairing a Mac that will not boot?” Leaving the Mac alone until the correct cable arrives is safer than continuing to run repairs.
The user in this boot-loop case had already run Disk Utility repairs, could still see the files from Recovery Mode, had a Time Machine backup, and was waiting for a Thunderbolt cable to transfer data.
Copy Before You Troubleshoot the Boot Loop Again
Because the files are visible, prioritize the irreplaceable folders first. Avoid reinstalling macOS, erasing the disk, or repeatedly running First Aid until you have a separate copy of anything newer than the Time Machine backup.
For an Intel Mac, Apple documents Target Disk Mode: connect the two Macs with the appropriate cable, start the source Intel Mac while holding T, then copy files from the mounted disk on the working Mac.
If It Is an Apple Silicon Mac, Use Share Disk Instead
A 2020 Mac could be Intel or Apple silicon, so do not assume the startup method from the year alone. On Apple silicon, Apple uses Share Disk from macOS Recovery rather than classic Target Disk Mode. Select the volume, start sharing, connect from the other Mac, and transfer the important files.
Transfer Checklist:
- If the disk appears and files open: copy the newest, most important files first.
- If only the Time Machine backup is needed: Apple supports restoring individual items or a complete Mac from that backup.
- If the disk stops appearing or begins disconnecting: stop repeated repair attempts and reassess the storage condition before continuing.
Since a backup already exists and the live files are still visible, recovery software is not the first tool to reach for here. Preserve the readable copy first; diagnose the boot loop after the data is safe.