macOS · Troubleshooting
Use macOS Recovery to Repair or Reinstall macOS
macOS Recovery is a built-in set of utilities for reinstalling macOS, restoring from a Time Machine backup, repairing a damaged disk, and resetting a forgotten password — all accessible without needing a working copy of macOS already running.
How to open macOS Recovery
- Shut down your Mac completely, then start it back up.
- Apple silicon: hold the power button until 'Loading startup options' appears, then click Options. Intel: hold Command-R immediately at startup.
- Select your preferred language, then choose a utility from the macOS Utilities window.
- Follow the on-screen steps for reinstalling macOS, restoring a backup, or repairing the disk.
What you should know
- On Apple silicon Macs, hold the power button at startup until 'Loading startup options' appears, then choose Options.
- On Intel Macs, hold Command-R immediately at startup until the Apple logo or a spinning globe appears.
- Recovery includes Disk Utility for repairing or erasing disks, a Reinstall macOS option, and a Restore from Time Machine Backup option.
- A password reset utility is available from Recovery's Utilities menu for a forgotten login password.
Reinstalling macOS from Recovery does not normally erase your files, but running Disk Utility's Erase function does — read each option carefully before confirming, since some Recovery actions are destructive and others aren't.
Why it matters
macOS Recovery is the safety net that makes serious troubleshooting possible even when the Mac won't start up normally — without it, a corrupted system install could mean a trip to a repair shop instead of a self-service fix at home. Disk Utility's First Aid tool inside Recovery can catch and repair disk errors that cause crashes or won't-boot situations before they get worse. Because Recovery works independently of your normal startup disk, it's also the standard path for erasing a Mac properly before selling it, or reinstalling macOS entirely after a serious software problem.
Best practices
- Keep a current Time Machine backup so Recovery's 'Restore from Time Machine Backup' option is actually usable if you ever need it.
- Run Disk Utility's First Aid from Recovery at the first sign of repeated freezes or crashes, before assuming a full reinstall is necessary.
- Know your Apple Account password before relying on Recovery, since reinstalling macOS or turning off Find My both require authentication.
- Stay on stable power (or a charged battery) throughout any Recovery-based repair or reinstall, since interrupting it can leave the Mac in a worse state.
Common problems and fixes
- Mac won't boot into Recovery Mode at all.
- On Apple silicon Macs, force a shutdown and try again, holding the power button specifically until 'Loading startup options' appears; on Intel Macs, try Internet Recovery with Option-Command-R if standard Command-R doesn't work.
- Disk Utility in Recovery shows the startup disk as greyed out or unavailable.
- Select the disk's parent container (not just the volume) in Disk Utility's sidebar, and if it still won't mount, this can indicate a hardware-level drive failure needing professional repair.
- Reinstalling macOS from Recovery gets stuck or fails partway through.
- Confirm a stable internet connection (reinstalling downloads macOS fresh in most cases), keep the Mac plugged in, and retry — a flaky Wi-Fi connection is the most common cause of a stalled reinstall.
Tips and tricks
- Use Disk Utility's First Aid from Recovery periodically if you notice recurring beachballs or crashes, even before things get bad enough to need a reinstall.
- On Apple silicon Macs, Recovery also offers a 'Revert to previous macOS' style path in some situations if a fresh install is preferred over an in-place repair — check the available options in the Utilities window.
Frequently asked questions
Will using macOS Recovery erase my files?
Reinstalling macOS through Recovery typically preserves your files, but using Disk Utility's Erase option inside Recovery does wipe the disk — read each option's description carefully before proceeding.
Can I reset a forgotten login password from Recovery?
Yes, macOS Utilities in Recovery includes a password reset option, though it may require Apple Account verification depending on your account setup.
What's the difference between local Recovery and Internet Recovery?
Local Recovery uses a hidden recovery partition already on your disk, while Internet Recovery downloads a fresh copy directly from Apple's servers — useful if local recovery data is missing or damaged.
Related settings
- Erase & Reset MacErase All Content and Settings lets you wipe your Mac back to factory defaults — useful for major troubleshooting, or before selling, trading in, or giving away your device.
- Time Machine BackupTime Machine automatically backs up your entire Mac — apps, accounts, preferences, and files — to an external or network drive, so you can restore individual files or your whole system if something goes wrong.
- Activation Lock (Find My Mac)Activation Lock automatically protects your Mac the moment Find My Mac is turned on, requiring your Apple Account password or device passcode before anyone can turn off Find My, erase the Mac, or reactivate it after an erase — making a lost or stolen Mac far less useful to whoever has it.
More Troubleshooting guides for macOS
- Safe ModeSafe Mode starts your Mac with only essential system software and drivers loaded, skipping login items, most fonts, and system caches. It's a diagnostic first step used to determine whether a startup problem is caused by third-party software or a deeper system issue.
- Analytics & ImprovementsAnalytics & Improvements controls whether your Mac automatically sends crash reports and usage analytics to Apple, and optionally to third-party app developers, to help them find and fix bugs. It's separate from location services and general privacy settings, focused specifically on diagnostic and usage data.
- Activity MonitorActivity Monitor is macOS's built-in tool for seeing exactly what's using your Mac's CPU, memory, energy, disk, and network resources in real time, broken down by individual app and process. It's the first place to look when the Mac feels slow, hot, or the fan is running loudly.
- Disk Utility First AidRun Disk Utility's First Aid tool to check a disk or volume for directory and file system errors and attempt automatic repair.
- Apple DiagnosticsUse Apple Diagnostics, launched at startup, to test your Mac's hardware components including memory, logic board, and battery for underlying issues.
- Console: View System LogsUse the Console app to view real-time and historical system logs, crash reports, and diagnostic messages generated by macOS and installed apps.