Mac Internet Recovery mode lets you reinstall your default macOS and troubleshoot issues, seamlessly improving your device's performance.

However, what can you do if your Internet Recovery on Mac is not working? Should you bite the bullet and invest in a new device, or is there a way to fix this problem? Let's take a look.

Table of Content
    1. Check Your Internet Connection
    2. Check Your Keyboard
    3. Use a Bootable Installer
    4. Reset PRAM/NVRAM
    5. Reset the SMC (Intel-based Mac only)

Differences Between Internet Recovery and Recovery Mode on Mac

Before we get into fixing the issue of your Mac Internet Recovery not working, it's a good idea to learn a bit more about this mode and see how it differs from the classic Recovery mode.

internet recovery mode vs recovery mode

Let's start with the basics. Your hard disk, the heart and soul of your Mac, is divided into several different partitions. All those partitions exist together on the hard disk but are logically separated. One of them is the recovery partition.

The recovery partition contains all the necessary data that makes it possible for you to reinstall your macOS, recover it from your Time Machine, repair or erase your hard disk, and more. When using the Recovery mode, you can easily reboot your Mac and install the latest version of the macOS compatible with your device.

However, the partition containing recovery data can get altered, or you can lose access to it. In that case, you must use the Mac Internet Recovery mode.

Whereas the traditional Recovery mode uses built-in systems, the Internet Recovery mode connects to Apple's servers to collect the required information and reinstall your macOS. Moreover, instead of reinstalling the newest version of the macOS, it reinstalls the default OS that came with your device when you first purchased it.

In a nutshell, the Internet Recovery mode is a backup plan for troubleshooting your Mac when it's misbehaving and restoring it to its original systems.

Why Is Internet Recovery on Mac Not Working?

Even though the Mac Internet Recovery mode was developed as a backup plan to troubleshoot your device, it's possible to encounter issues with it. If your MacBook Internet Recovery is not working, there could be several different reasons behind it.

Reason Explanation
Internet connection issues An unstable internet connection could prevent your device from accessing Apple's servers and downloading your default macOS;
Keyboard issues You'll need to use keyboard shortcuts to enter the Internet Recovery mode. If your keyboard doesn't work, you won't be able to enter the Internet Recovery mode;
Corrupted Recovery partition The Internet Recovery mode requires your recovery partition to be in good condition if it's to help you download and install your default OS version;
Incompatible OS Not all Macs have Internet Recovery mode. If you're using an older device with an OS that predates Sierra, you won't be able to use Internet Recovery.

The Correct Steps for Entering Mac Internet Recovery

If your Mac Internet Recovery fails a few times in a row, there may be nothing particularly wrong with your internet connection, hard drive partition, or your macOS version. You could just be trying to enter the Internet Recovery mode incorrectly.

It can be a bit finicky to enter the Internet Recovery mode as you'll need to follow all the steps precisely. You can't skip any steps or perform them in a random order.

Therefore, if you're having problems with macOS Internet Recovery not working, make sure you're following these exact steps:

  • Step 1: Click on the Apple logo and hit Restart;
  • Step 2: Immediately press and hold the Option + Command + R buttons (before you see the Apple logo pop up);
  • Step 3: Hold the buttons until you see "Starting Internet Recovery, this may take a while";
    mac booting in internet recovery mode
  • Step 4: If you're using Wi-Fi, choose your network from the dropdown menu (not needed if you're connected via an ethernet cable);
    connect to network
  • Step 5: Wait for the download of the recovery system to complete;
    waiting for connecting to wifi
  • Step 6: After the download is complete, you'll have the OS C Utilities window pop up;
  • Step 7: Select Reinstall OS and wait for the process to complete.
    select reinstall os

If your Internet Recovery Mac is taking forever, don't worry. The Internet Recovery mode could take a while to download and reinstall your default macOS, so have some patience and don't interrupt the process.

How To Deal With Internet Recovery on Mac Not Working

If you have followed all the aforementioned steps to a T, and your Internet Recovery mode is still not working, there are a few options you could try to fix the issue.

Option 1: Check Your Internet Connection

As the name of this mode suggests, the Internet Recovery mode requires a stable internet connection to work. The files containing the default macOS version for your device are heavy, and the poorer your connection is, the longer it will take to download them.

So, before trying anything else, check your internet connection. In general, it's best to connect your Mac via an ethernet cable. A cable connection will always be faster and more reliable than WiFi.

Option 2: Check Your Keyboard

A stable internet connection is one part of the equation, and a functioning keyboard is the other. To enter the Internet Recovery mode, you'll need to use your keyboard – the Option, Command, and R buttons. If any one of those buttons isn't working, you'll also have problems with your Apple Internet Recovery not working.

So, you'll want to clean your keyboard and check whether everything is functioning properly. You might even want to send your Mac for professional cleaning if you notice any of your keys frequently getting stuck or becoming unresponsive.

Option 3: Use a Bootable Installer

If both your keyboard and your internet connection seem to be working fine, you might be able to fix the issue of your Mac Internet Recovery mode not working with a bootable installer. All you'll need is a reliable external drive and some time.

First, you'll need to format the external hard drive on Mac:

  • Step 1: Connect the external drive to your Mac;
  • Step 2: Go to Finder > Go > Utilities > Disk Utility;
  • Step 3: Go to View > Show All Devices and locate your external drive;
    disk utility show all devices
  • Step 4: Click on the drive and click Erase;
  • Step 5: For format, choose macOS Extended, and for the scheme, choose GUID Partition Map;
  • Step 6: Create the name for your external drive;
  • Step 7: Click Erase > Done.

Once you've properly formatted the external drive, you can create the bootable installer. You'll need to enter some commands in the Terminal, which will vary based on your operating system. You can use one of the following commands:

macOS version Command
macOS Sonoma sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sonoma.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
Ventura sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Ventura.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
Monterey sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Monterey.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
Big Sur sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
Catalina sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Catalina.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
Mojave sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Mojave.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
High Sierra sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
El Capitan sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app

Just remember, instead of MyVolume, use the name of your external drive.

To create a bootable installer, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Go to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal;
  • Step 2: Use the command compatible with your macOS;
  • Step 3: Tap Return, input your password, then tap Return again;
  • Step 4: Press Y, then press Return;
  • Step 5: Click Ok.

Once the Terminal has completed the process, you can use the bootable installer to fix your iMac, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air Internet Recovery not working issue:

  • Step 1: Connect your Mac to the internet and plug in your bootable installer;
  • Step 2: Restart your device and immediately press and hold the Option/Alt button;
  • Step 3: When the bootable volumes pop up, release the Option/Alt button;
  • Step 4: Choose your bootable installed and press Return;
  • Step 5: Click Install macOS > Continue.

Though the process seems somewhat complicated, all you have to do is follow the steps, and you'll be ready.

Option 4: Reset PRAM/NVRAM

reset pram nvram

If the bootable installer doesn't work, you can try resetting your PRAM/NVRAM. PRAM and NVRAM store small amounts of data used by the start-up disk. They can become full and cause glitches, such as your MacBook Pro Internet Recovery not working.

To reset PRAM/NVRAM, you'll have to follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Turn off your device;
  • Step 2: Press the Power button;
  • Step 3: Immediately press and hold Command + Option + P + R buttons;
  • Step 4: Hold the buttons for around 20 seconds, then release them.

Your Mac will start up as normal, but your PRAM/NVRAM will now be reset.

Option 5: Reset the SMC (Intel-based Mac only)

One more option you can try when your Internet Recovery on Mac doesn't work is resetting your SMC. This option is only available if you have an Intel processor.

The SMC, or System Management Controller, controls most power functions on your Intel-based device. Resetting it will differ from one device to the next.

With iMac or Mac Mini, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Shut down the device;
  • Step 2: Unplug the power cable;
  • Step 3: Wait about 20 seconds, then plug the cable back in;
  • Step 4: Wait another 5 to 10 seconds, then turn on your device.

With MacBook Pro and MacBook Air that don't have a removable battery and the T2 security chip, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Shut down the device;
  • Step 2: Press and hold the Shift + Control + Option + Power buttons for around 10 seconds;
  • Step 3: Release the buttons and turn on your device.

With a MacBook with a T2 chip, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Shut down the device;
  • Step 2: Press and hold the Power button for around 10 seconds;
  • Step 3: Release the Power button;
  • Step 4: Wait a few seconds, then turn on your device.

Finally, with a MacBook with a removable battery, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Shut down the device;
  • Step 2: Remove the battery;
  • Step 3: Press and hold the Power button for about 5 seconds;
  • Step 4: Put the battery back and turn on your device.

Following these steps will reset your SMC and hopefully eliminate the problem of your Internet Recovery on Mac not working.

Bonus Tip: How To Recover Your Data if Mac Is Not Bootable

If it's not just the Recovery Mode or Internet Recovery that don't work, but your Mac won't boot at all, there may be a bigger issue at play. You'll lose access to your data stored on your Mac computer. Fortunately, you can use Wondershare Recoverit to create a bootable USB and recover files from your Mac that won't boot.

Wondershare Recoverit
  • Recovers data from 2000+ storage media, including HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, SD cards, etc.
  • Enables recovery of data lost due to system crash, disk corruption, virus attack, and more.
  • Works with all popular file systems, such as NTFS, FAT, HFS+, and APFS, among others.
recoverit box recoverit logo

To use it and recover files from your crashed Mac, you'll first need to get a blank USB flash drive (with over 4GB of available storage) and a functioning computer. Then, download and install Recoverit on the functioning device and use it to create a bootable drive.

  • Step 1: Launch Recoverit and select System Crashed Computer > Start;
    select system crashed computer
  • Step 2: Insert your blank USB flash drive, select the OS version of your crashed Mac, and click Start;
    choose usb drive and macos version
  • Step 3: Recoverit will format your USB and start creating a bootable drive. Make sure not to remove the USB drive or interrupt the process in any way.
    create a bootable usb for mac

When you've created a bootable drive, you can use it to boot your crashed Mac:

  • Step 1: Insert the USB into your crashed Mac;
  • Step 2: When restarting your Mac, press and hold the Option key;
  • Step 3: Select Recoverit Bootable Media Drive.

From there, you can start recovering your files:

  • Step 1: Select the files or folders you want to copy;
  • Step 2: Connect a working hard drive with enough storage to your crashed Mac;
  • Step 3: Select the working hard drive for your destination and click Start Copy.

When the process is complete, you can disconnect your hard drive and access the files on it using your functioning computer.

Free Download
Free Download

In most instances, fixing the problem of Mac Internet Recovery not working is relatively easy. However, if you've tried all the options mentioned here and nothing's yielded results, the only thing left to do is recover any lost data with solutions like Recoverit and send your device for a professional repair.

FAQs

  • How do I force Internet Recovery on Mac?
    1. Shut down your Mac.
    2. To boot into Internet Recovery, hold Option/Alt + Command + R keys (Intel Macs) or hold the power button (Apple Silicon Macs).
    3. Turn on your Mac and keep holding the keys/buttons.
    4. Release keys/buttons when you see the spinning globe/startup options.
    5. Connect to Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
    6. Wait for the macOS Utilities window.
    7. Use available options to restore, reinstall, or erase your Mac.
  • Why is my Internet Recovery Mac not connecting to Wi-Fi?
    There are several reasons why your Internet Recovery Mac is not connecting to your Wi-Fi. Primarily, your Wi-Fi might not be working, so you might want to try and restart your router. Secondly, your connection might be unstable, or the network doesn't allow for large file downloads. You might overcome these issues by using an ethernet cable to connect to the internet instead of using Wi-Fi.
  • Is Internet Recovery the same as macOS recovery?
    Internet Recovery and macOS recovery are not the same. The traditional macOS recovery uses built-in systems to install the latest available version of macOS that's compatible with your device. The Internet Recovery mode connects to Apple's servers to download and install the default macOS version that your device originally came with.
  • Does the M1 Mac have Internet recovery?
    Yes, M1 and M2 Macs have Internet Recovery mode. The option isn't available only on older devices that pre-date the Sierra operating system.
  • Why is my Mac stuck on Internet Recovery?
    Your Mac could be stuck on Internet Recovery for a variety of reasons. The most common culprits are poor internet connection or a corrupted or otherwise altered recovery partition.
  • How do I reinstall Mac without Internet Recovery?
    If you don't want to use the Internet Recovery mode, you can reinstall your Mac using the traditional Recovery mode. The standard macOS Recovery will use the built-in systems to reinstall the latest available OS version on your device.
Eleanor Reed
Eleanor Reed Mar 06, 24
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