- Apple silicon vs Intel: getting into Recovery
- What each Recovery utility does
- Repairing your disk with First Aid
- Reinstalling macOS without losing your files
- Startup Security Utility: Full or Reduced
- Safe mode, Share Disk and quitting Recovery
- When Recovery won't start
- My verdict on Mac Recovery Mode
- Frequently asked questions
To start Recovery Mode on a Mac with Apple silicon, shut it down, then press and hold the power button until you see Loading startup options, click Options and then Continue. On an Intel-based Mac, press the power button and immediately hold Command and R until you see an Apple logo or spinning globe.
Here's what most people don't know. If you're not sure which kind of Mac you have, Apple says you can safely try both sets of steps. And on an Intel Mac, the keys you hold change more than you'd think: Option-Command-R and Shift-Option-Command-R force Internet Recovery, and each combination also affects which version of macOS you're offered when you reinstall.
Apple silicon vs Intel: getting into Recovery
| Step | Mac with Apple silicon | Intel-based Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Start from | Mac fully turned off | Mac fully turned off |
| What to press | Press and hold the power button | Press the power button, then hold Command-R |
| Let go when you see | Loading startup options or the Options icon | An Apple logo or spinning globe |
| Next | Click Options, then Continue | Choose a network if asked |
| Other key options | None needed | Option-Command-R or Shift-Option-Command-R for Internet Recovery |
On either kind of Mac, if it won't shut down normally, hold the power button for up to 10 seconds until it turns off. Every Mac has a power button; on laptops with Touch ID, it's the Touch ID button. After that, select your startup disk, such as Macintosh HD, if asked, then pick a user you know the password for and enter it. You'll then see a window of utilities, with more, such as Terminal, in the menu bar.
If you need to pair a Bluetooth keyboard, trackpad or mouse on an Apple silicon Mac, press the power button three times, each press within 1 second of the last, and Bluetooth Setup Assistant opens. Press too fast and it won't register, because rapid presses are reserved for things like VoiceOver.
What each Recovery utility does
| Utility | What it's for, as of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Restore from Time Machine | Restores your data from a Time Machine backup, through Time Machine System Restore |
| Reinstall macOS | Puts macOS back on the Mac and needs an internet connection |
| Disk Utility | Repairs or erases your internal storage |
| Startup Security Utility | Sets the security policy for the Mac |
| Terminal | Changes settings from the command line |
| Share Disk | Shares a volume with another Mac over a USB, USB-C or Thunderbolt cable |
| Startup Disk | Sets which disk the Mac starts up from |
| Web Browser | Searches the web while you're in Recovery |
Repairing your disk with First Aid
- In the Recovery app, select Disk Utility and click Continue.
- Choose View, then Show All Devices.
- Select a volume in the sidebar, click the First Aid button, then Run, and follow the prompts.
- Click Done, then repeat for each volume on the device.
- Do the same for each container, and finally for the storage device itself.
If Disk Utility can't repair the disk, Apple's advice is to back up as much of your information as you can, then erase and reinstall macOS. If files are already missing, that's when data recovery tools come into it.
Reinstalling macOS without losing your files
Choosing Reinstall macOS keeps your files and user settings. Make sure you're online, and when asked to select a disk, pick your current macOS disk, which is usually the only one. Public Wi-Fi with a sign-in page, like in a coffee shop, library or hotel, or an enterprise network, might not work in Recovery, so a home network or cable is safer.
Erasing and reinstalling is a different job. It deletes your user accounts, network settings and every file and folder, and it may install an earlier version of macOS, which you'd then bring up to date with Software Update. Apple is clear that you shouldn't use Recovery to get a Mac ready to sell or give away. For that it points you to Erase Assistant, under General and then Transfer or Reset in System Settings, which also removes Activation Lock. I've covered that route in my guide to factory resetting a Mac.
Restoring from Time Machine has a rule too: only restore a backup to the Mac it came from. If you're moving to a new Mac, quit Recovery and use Migration Assistant in macOS instead.
Startup Security Utility: Full or Reduced
| Setting | What it allows |
|---|---|
| Full Security | Only your current OS, or signed operating system software Apple currently trusts. Needs a network connection when software is installed. |
| Reduced Security | Any version of signed operating system software Apple has ever trusted, with options for legacy kernel extensions |
You'll need an administrator account and password to change the policy, and the change only takes effect after a restart.
Safe mode, Share Disk and quitting Recovery
On an Apple silicon Mac, you start safe mode from the startup options screen: select your disk, hold Shift and click Continue in Safe Mode. Holding Option and clicking Always Use sets that disk as the default. If you're on a PC rather than a Mac, Safe Mode on Windows works differently.
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Share Disk turns a Mac in Recovery into a drive another Mac can read. Connect them with a cable, choose Utilities and then Share Disk, pick a volume and click Start Sharing. On the other Mac, open Finder, click Network, double-click the shared Mac, click Connect As and choose Guest. To leave Recovery, choose Restart or Shut Down from the Apple menu, or pick a different startup disk first.
When Recovery won't start
- On a Mac laptop, use the built-in keyboard, not an external one.
- With an external keyboard, wait a few seconds before pressing keys, plug in a wireless one if you can, and swap a PC keyboard for one made for Mac.
- A spinning globe with an exclamation point, or errors such as -2001F, -2002F or -2003F, usually mean a network problem. Try Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi, a different network, each key combination, or try again later.
- If the Mac is set to start up in Windows with Boot Camp, set it back to macOS, shut down and try again.
My verdict on Mac Recovery Mode
I'd treat Recovery as a repair kit, not a reset button. Start with First Aid, then Reinstall macOS, which keeps your files, and only erase when you've backed up what you can. Check whether you're on Apple silicon or Intel first, because the keys are completely different, and if you're not sure, Apple's fine with you trying both.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start Recovery Mode on a Mac with Apple silicon?
Shut it down, then press and hold the power button until you see Loading startup options. Click Options, then Continue.
What is the Recovery Mode shortcut on an Intel Mac?
Press the power button, then immediately hold Command and R until you see an Apple logo or spinning globe. Option-Command-R or Shift-Option-Command-R forces Internet Recovery.
Does reinstalling macOS from Recovery delete my files?
Reinstall macOS keeps your files and user settings. Erasing the disk in Disk Utility first is what deletes them.
Should I use Recovery to wipe a Mac before selling it?
No. Apple recommends Erase Assistant, under General and then Transfer or Reset in System Settings, which also removes Activation Lock.
Why does my Mac show a spinning globe with an exclamation point?
Internet Recovery didn't start, usually because of a network or internet problem. Try Ethernet, a different network, each key combination, or try again later.
