Recovery

19 useful Mac startup keyboard shortcuts you should know

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 28, 2021

For those of you who have wondered about the many ways you can start up your Mac, here's a list of the Mac startup keyboard shortcuts you can invoke to access handy macOS features, which are only available at boot time.

Most of the time, your Mac just works—until it refuses to start up properly due to an unforeseen system error, a misbehaving app, a broken system component, and whatnot. Beyond system errors, different people have different needs when it comes to starting up their computers.

For example, you could be a pro user who dual boots between macOS and Windows on a daily basis. Others might be wondering about booting a Mac from a disk other than their designated startup disk. Or perhaps you're looking to isolate the cause of a software issue in the macOS Safe Mode or boot straight into Recovery OS as the last option?

How to restore an iPhone or iPad with Recovery Mode

Anthony Bouchard ∙ Updated September 20, 2018

When you experience problems with an iOS device, you may need to restore it in iTunes, but sometimes, things can go wrong that make it harder to restore your device in a regular fashion as you'd expect.

In this tutorial, we'll be walking you through how to put your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad into Recovery Mode so that you can more easily restore it to a fresh copy of the latest iOS firmware in the unlikely chance of an iOS or iTunes malfunction.

How to place Apple TV in recovery mode

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 20, 2018

If your Apple TV won't start up properly, or you are a developer who wants to install a tvOS beta, you must first put your set-top box in recovery (DFU) mode. As is the case with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices, entering DFU mode makes a malfunctioning Apple TV discoverable in desktop iTunes so you can restore it to factory settings, downgrade to an earlier version of the software or side-load a beta firmware onto it.

The method to put an Apple TV into DFU mode differs from that for other iOS devices. In this post, you'll learn how to put an Apple TV into recovery mode so you can restore it to factory settings if it's acting up.

How to restore your Mac from a Time Machine backup in Recovery Mode

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 20, 2020

Suppose a software update or an app you installed has corrupted system files and as a result your Mac refuses to start up properly, what do you do?

Those who have planned ahead and created a bootable USB install disk for El Capitan can do a clean install of macOS, and then restore their Mac from the most recent Time Machine backup.

But there's a better way to deal with such situations. In this tutorial, we'll educate you on booting into macOS' Recovery Mode and using the built-in recovery tools to restore your Mac from a Time Machine backup.

Using Safari in macOS Recovery Mode

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 20, 2020

The macOS built-in Recovery Mode is great for bringing your Mac back to working order. Invoked at boot time, it gives you more access to the system than you get in regular boot up.

The tools at your disposal in Recovery Mode let you repair disk errors with Disk Utility, reinstall macOS, restore your Mac from a Time Machine backup, set a firmware password, choose a startup disk, use Terminal and more.

Recovery Mode also includes a stripped-down version of Safari: use it to go online and search for solutions to your problems if the startup disk is corrupted and you cannot get past the macOS login screen.

In this tutorial, we'll teach you how to enter macOS Recovery or Internet Recovery Mode and use Safari to browse the web when your Mac won't start up properly.

Installing or reinstalling macOS in Recovery Mode

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 20, 2020

Before selling your Mac, it's always a good idea to wipe its startup disk clean and then erase your computer and reinstall macOS. And should your computer exhibit issues preventing it from starting up properly, reinstalling macOS will bring it to perfect working order.

Reinstalling macOS is a piece of cake provided you have created a USB install disk for El Capitan to begin with. As you may have guessed, not many people take that extra step.

In helping take the pain out of reinstalling macOS, Apple has included so-called Recovery Mode in macOS. Invoked at boot time, Recovery Mode helps you check your connected disks for errors, get help online and reinstall macOS.

This tutorial covers entering Recovery Mode and taking advantage of it to erase, install or reinstall the latest version of macOS that was previously found on your Mac.

How to repair Mac disk errors in macOS Recovery Mode

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 20, 2020

macOS on your Mac includes a disk-repairing app, called Disk Utility, which you can use to scan your connected drives for errors, erase a disk, repair disk permissions, check the disk's structure for physical errors and more.

But what can you do, if anything, should your Mac experience issues preventing it from starting up properly? Not to worry, our friends, because macOS lets you launch a standalone version of Disk Utility from your Mac's built in recovery partition.

In other words, macOS' Recovery Mode gives you a chance to repair a malfunctioning startup disk that prevents your Mac from booting properly.

How to start up your Mac in Internet Recovery Mode

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 29, 2021

In addition to the startup volume, which holds a bootable copy of the operating system along with your applications and data, your Mac's disk contains a hidden recovery partition that you can boot from in order to reinstall macOS, perform a quick check of connected disks and more.

But what if the built-in recovery partition gets damaged, for instance? Enter Internet Recovery Mode (or macOS Recovery over the Internet), an Internet-based version of Recovery Mode found on Macs, which loads recovery tools from Apple's servers.

With Internet Recovery Mode, you can reinstall macOS and troubleshoot issues in the unfortunate scenario of your Mac's startup disk having become corrupted or completely unreadable.

In this tutorial, you'll learn everything about Internet Recovery Mode on Intel-based Macs and Macs with Apple silicon. You'll also see how to use it to your advantage if your disk encounters an issue or the startup drive has been replaced or erased.

How to start your Mac in Recovery Mode

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 11, 2022

Starting your Intel or Apple silicon Mac in Recovery Mode provides the tools you need to solve various problems. It is typically your last chance to repair the startup disk, reinstall macOS or restore from a backup after a fatal failure that prevents your Mac from starting up properly. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to enter Recovery Mode at boot time and use the built-in recovery tools to bring your Mac in perfect working condition.

Apple now lets you restore deleted iCloud files, contacts, calendars, and reminders

Sébastien Page ∙ August 13, 2015

Apple quietly added on Thursday a new feature to iCloud.com that lets you restore deleted files, contacts, calendars, and reminders. Available from the Settings tab of iCloud.com, this feature archives your deleted iCloud files for 30 days, as well as versions of your contacts, calendars, and reminders at various intervals, making it an easy back up plan in case something goes wrong.

How to Downgrade iOS 5.0.1 to iOS 4.3.3 For Untethered Jailbreak

Jeff Benjamin ∙ December 8, 2011

If you absolutely must have an untethered jailbreak at this very moment, there is always the option of downgrading back to iOS 4.3.3.

Assuming you saved your SHSH blobs for the last firmware susceptible to an untethered jailbreak, you can follow this video tutorial and downgrade to iOS 4.3.3 in about 10-15 minutes. Inside we show you how, step-by-step...

How to Fix the iPhone’s Dreaded Recovery Loop and Downgrade Back to iOS 4.3.3

Jeff Benjamin ∙ September 21, 2011

If you're the type of person who likes to sell your current iPhone and use the funds to upgrade to the latest and greatest iPhone, then you've been there before. Restoring your iPhone to stock, and cleaning it up, is essential if you want to ensure you get top dollar for your device.

Thankfully, Cody already covered quite a few bases in his article, here. But what if you're still having issues downgrading your iPhone, or getting it back to stock after jailbreaking? I know a lot of you have personally told me about your struggles with the iPhone's dreaded recovery loop.

If you're having issues downgrading your iPhone back to iOS 4.3.3, issues with iTunes Error (1), and/or you're stuck in the recovery loop, and can't get out, this video tutorial should fix what ails you...