Start up your Mac in macOS Recovery

Why it happens

Recovery is a small separate system built into your Mac. It gives you Disk Utility, a way to reinstall macOS and other repair tools, even when macOS itself won't start. Apple silicon Macs open it from the power button, while Intel Macs use a key combination at startup.

How to fix it

1. First check which kind of Mac you have. Choose Apple menu > About This Mac: a Chip line means Apple silicon, a Processor line means Intel.

   Apple menu›About This Mac

2. Apple silicon: choose Apple menu > Shut Down and wait until the screen is completely dark. Then press and hold the power button (the Touch ID button on a MacBook) and keep holding until Loading startup options appears.

3. Click Options, then Continue. If asked, choose a user you know the password for and type that password. The Recovery window opens.

4. Intel Mac: press the power button, or restart, and straight away press and hold Command and R together. Let go when you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe, and type a password if asked.

5. In Recovery you can pick Disk Utility, Reinstall macOS, restore from Time Machine or open Safari for help. When you're done, choose Restart from the Apple menu to go back to normal.

Still not fixed?

1. Nothing happens when you hold the power button? Make sure the Mac is fully shut down, not asleep. Then hold the button for at least 10 seconds and let go only when Loading startup options appears.

2. On an Intel Mac with a wireless keyboard, the keys may not register in time. Use a wired keyboard, or press Command-R the moment you press the power button.

3. Intel Mac shows a spinning globe, or a globe with a warning sign or error 2003F? That's Recovery loading over the internet, and it needs a working connection. Pick a Wi-Fi network from the menu, or plug in an Ethernet cable, and try again.

4. On an Apple silicon Mac, if normal Recovery won't load, try its backup copy. With the Mac shut down, press and release the power button, then quickly press and hold it again until the startup options appear.

5. If none of this gets you into Recovery, the Mac may need its startup software restored using another Mac, or a hardware repair. Contact Apple Support or an Apple Authorized Service Provider.