Find out how to restore an Apple Silicon Mac utilizing Configurator

Apple Configurator

There could also be occasions when you must restore your Mac to a earlier state – or to revive your Mac when it stops working for some purpose.

Apple’s machine provisioning and configuration app known as Configurator helps you to do exactly that.

Configurator is a part of Apple’s bigger enterprise choices and is designed to permit mass deployment of Apple units shortly and simply throughout giant and small groups.

The thought behind Configurator is you should utilize it to revive Apple units to some predetermined state with out having to reinstall an working system by hand onto each.

Configurator additionally helps you to handle machine provisioning – for instance, to put in ad-hoc software program to units, or to configure them for improvement groups.

Be aware that to do a Mac revive or restore utilizing Apple Configurator, you will want two Macs and a USB-C to USB-C cable.

To get began with Apple Configurator, obtain it from the Mac App Retailer to your Mac. It downloads to the Purposes folder.

You’ll be able to run it from there, or you possibly can copy it to a different quantity, by which case it is going to nonetheless work simply high quality.

Configurator was initially designed for managing and provisioning iOS units for company use, however model 2.x added the power to revive Macs additionally.

You can even add Macs to your group utilizing the iOS model of Configurator, however its options are extra restricted than the Mac model.

After downloading Configurator, open it in your Mac’s Finder to get began.

Of explicit significance for the Mac is the Restoration tab on the proper of the secondary toolbar in the primary window.

Apple Configurator essential window.

There’s additionally a (largely for iOS) command-line Configurator instrument (cfgutil) for Terminal which you’ll set up from the Apple Configurator->Set up Automation Instruments menu merchandise.

You will want an admin password in your Mac to put in it. As soon as you have put in the cfgutil, run Apple’s Terminal app situated in /Purposes in your Startup Disk and sort:

man cfgutil and press Return in your keyboard for utilization particulars.

However for the examples beneath, you most likely will not want it.

In very uncommon circumstances, a Mac could turn out to be unresponsive, or unbootable on account of a firmware failure. In these circumstances, the Mac cannot be revived with out restoring its firmware first and erasing its inside storage.

If this occurs to your Mac, first strive restarting it utilizing an exterior startup disk, then operating Disk Utility’s Disk First Support on the inner quantity, after which rebooting.

If that does not work, subsequent strive utilizing Restoration mode by booting the Mac by holding down the ability button from an off state (for Apple Silicon Macs), or holding down Command-R on the keyboard from a powered-off state (Intel Macs).

As soon as in Restoration mode, strive utilizing Disk Utility to restore or recuperate the inner drive. If that does not work both, then you definitely’ll want to revive the default firmware within the Mac and begin over.

For the reason that Restoration mode software program lives in every Mac’s firmware, if the firmware turns into inoperable you will not be capable of boot into Restoration mode.

Apple calls the method of restoring a Mac’s firmware a revive. Be aware that performing a revive does not change something on a Mac’s current startup disk – it solely restores the default firmware and recoveryOS to its authentic state by flashing the Mac’s firmware.

In contrast, a restore is referred to by Apple as the method of doing a revive plus restoring a Mac’s inside Startup Disk to its bootable state. Generally this will additionally contain a full re-install of macOS onto the Startup Disk.

You will additionally want twoMacs to do a revive or restore since they should be linked collectively by way of a USB-C to USB-C cable. An web connection can be required.

To get began, join the 2 computer systems by way of the USB-C cable by way of their USB-C ports on the facet. It is also a good suggestion to verify each are plugged into an A/C outlet, however if you cannot plug each into A/C not less than ensure that the one you are restoring from is.

For Apple Silicon MacBooks and the Mac mini, Apple says to plug the USB-C cable into the leftmost of the USB-C ports on each machines. For Apple Silicon iMac and Mac Studio fashions, Apple says to plug the USB-C cable into the rightmost of the USB-C ports on each machines

For the Apple Silicon Mac Professional, Apple says to plug the cable into the USB-C port farthest from the ability button – except it is a rackmount Mac Professional – then plug the cable into the USB-C ports closest to the ability button.

Lastly, ensure that the second Mac is shut down, then run Apple Configurator.

These steps are for reviving the goal Mac’s firmware and putting in the newest recoveryOS, however leaving the contents of the Startup Disk as-is.

The steps to do a revive or restore on an Apple Silicon-based Mac are barely completely different relying on whether or not it is an iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, or Mac Professional.

1. Disconnect iMac from energy
2. Whereas holding down energy button, join energy, maintain energy button for 3 seconds
3. When revive or restore begins you will see the Apple brand and progress bar

For Mac Studio, Mac mini, or Mac Professional, the steps are roughly the identical, however somewhat completely different:

1. Disconnect from energy for not less than ten seconds
2. Press and maintain the ability button
3. Reconnect energy
4. Launch energy button

The standing indicator mild ought to go amber, and the “DFU” brand ought to seem in Apple Configurator.

As soon as revive or restore begins, you will note the Apple brand and progress bar on the Mac you’re restoring.

For Mac moveable computer systems, ensure that the Mac is shut down first, then plug it into energy and press and launch the ability button.

Press the ability button once more, and press the proper Shift key, left Choice key, and left Management key on the keyboard all on the identical time for about ten seconds. Proceed to carry all 4 buttons down.

After ten seconds, proceed to carry the ability button down, however launch the three keys on the keyboard till “DFU” seems in Apple Configurator on the primary Mac.

Apple Configurator with a Mac chosen.

To revive the second Mac’s firmware, choose the “DFU” icon in Apple Configurator for the Mac you need to revive, and choose Actions->Superior->Revive Machine, then click on Revive.

Alternatively, you can Management-click the chosen DFU icon, select Superior->Revive Machine, then click on Revive.

If both Mac loses energy in the course of the revive or restore, restore energy and begin the method over.

Anticipate the method to finish. You might even see the Apple brand seem and re-appear a number of occasions on the goal machine.

If the method completes efficiently, the goal Mac will reboot when completed.

These steps restore the firmware, recoveryOS, then erase the inner drive and reinstall a clear model of macOS onto it:

In Apple Configurator on the primary Mac:

1. Choose DFU icon of the Mac you need to restore
2. Select Actions->Restore
3. Click on Restore
4. Anticipate the method to finish
5. Anticipate Mac restart
6. Full macOS Setup Assistant on the goal Mac
7. Give up Configurator on the primary Mac, unplug any cables

The steps are much like the steps for Apple Silicon Macs, and generally, apply to Macs made in 2017 or later which include an Apple T2 Safety Chip.

On some Mac fashions, in macOS 14 Sonoma Apple added the power to carry out a revive or restore within the Finder immediately, with out the necessity for Apple Configurator. The truth is, Apple has a technote (108900) on the right way to do it.

The steps for doing a revive or restore in Finder are primarily the identical as in Configurator. Nonetheless, upon getting the machines linked and powered on within the correct mods, you possibly can choose the goal Mac within the sidebar in a Finder window after which click on the Revive Mac or Restore Mac button to begin the method.

Finder revive or restore.

There’s additionally a WWDC session Handle units with Apple Configurator from 2021 and two others titled What’s new in managing Apple units from 2022 as properly as 2023.

Part 3 of Apple Machine Help Tutorials web page for Configurator 2 has a dialogue of the right way to again up and restore iOS units utilizing Macs.