Fix Mac won't enter Recovery Mode

Updated to Troubleshooting Tips by William on Mar 10, 2023 | Approved by Jennifer Allen

Contrary to what you might think, Mac devices are also susceptible to working problems. If this is not the case, there won’t be a need for the Recovery Mode feature in the first place. Whenever an error or a fault occurs on a Mac device, users can use the Recovery Mode to resolve the issue. Interestingly, the recovery mode of macOS can sometimes get stuck and it can be frustrating if you can’t get your system to start. Thankfully, this issue can be resolved. Therefore, if you are experiencing the issue of ‘iMac won’t enter recovery mode’, read this post to learn how to resolve it.

Part 1. Why may not Boot in Recovery Mode

Different reasons may make your Mac not to boot in recovery mode. Therefore, before you look for a solution to resolve the issue, it’s important to identify the root cause of the problem. Some of the reasons why your Mac may not boot in recovery mode are as follow:

Whatever reason is causing the problem of ‘Mac won’t enter recovery mode’, it can be resolved using different methods. In this post, we’ll share five ways to solve the issue of ‘Mac does not boot into recovery mode’.

Part 2. 5 Ways to Solve ‘Mac Not Restart in Recovery Mode’

The Mac recovery mode is a brilliant option to get your MacBook to start working again. However, it sometimes just doesn’t work and you have to find a way around it. If your Mac doesn’t boot in recovery mode, you can explore the five solutions highlighted in this article to resolve the issue.

Method #1: Use the Time Machine

If you have an external drive connective with the Mac’s Time Machine backup, it will be easy for you to use the recovery mode from it. With this, you can resolve the issue you have with ‘Mac won’t restart in recovery mode’. Below are the steps to use the Time Machine to solve this issue:

  1. Reboot the MacBook and click on the ‘Option’ menu when the startup music starts.
  2. Attack the Time Machine drive to the system and wait for the system to recognize it.
  3. After the system has recognized it, it will show up on the PC. Select the Recovery Drive and launch your Mac PC.

This should resolve the problem. However, if the problem persists, you should move to the next solution to get your PC working.

Method #2: Use Internet Recovery to Fix Mac won't Enter Recovery Mode

If it’s possible to connect your MacBook to the internet, you can use the Internet Recovery method to resolve the problem of Mac won’t boot in safe mode or recovery mode. Note that your Mac must be connected to the internet to use this method. Here are the steps to use the Internet Recovery method.

  1. Reboot the Mac PC and click on ‘Option’ and then click on ‘Command + R’ when the startup music starts.
  2. Maintain your hold on the keys until the progress bar and globe photo shows up.
  3. Choose the appropriate wireless connection for your Wi-Fi connection.
  4. Wait for the connection and follow the on-screen prompting to complete the process.

After this process, your Mac repair will be completed and you will be able to access your PC.

Method #3: Use a Bootable Disk Drive Installer

If your Mac will not boot to recovery mode, you can create a bootable OS installer with the Disk Utility feature. You should have a USB handy when using this method. Follow the steps below to use this method:

  1. Reboot Mac and press on the ‘Option’ menu until you hear a sound.
  2. Connect the bootable disk drive to your Mac and when you see the popup windows, select the drive from the list.
  3. Wait for the connection to take place and for your system to restart. When the Mac comes up again, the issue would have been resolved.

Method #4: Reinstall Mac OS

If the problem persists and you can’t still find headway as to ‘why won’t my Mac boot into recovery mode’, you may need to reinstall the Mac operating system. You can quickly do this if you have backed up your data before the issue starts. If you haven’t backed up your data, you may lose important data on your system. To reinstall Mac OS X, follow the steps below:

  1. Go to the Utility window and select ‘Reinstall Mac OS X’.
  2. Wait for some minutes while OS X is installed on your device. With the new installation, your Mac Book should work perfectly.

Method #5: Seek the Help of Apple Support

If the above four methods do not solve the problem you have with Mac will not restart in recovery mode, it may mean that there is damage to the storage of the system. If this is the case, you would need more professional help. It is recommended that you take your MacBook to the nearest Apple Service Center for repair.

Part 3. How to Recover Lost Files on Mac

Just like with any other computer system, you can also lose files on Mac due to a recovery mode issue. If you have tried to recover data from your MacBook without success due to the issue of Mac won’t enter recovery mode, you need a professional and advanced tool for the data recovery. To do an effective job, we recommend iBeesoft Data Recovery for Mac.

It is a comprehensive and safe data recovery tool designed to completely recover lost files from Mac desktops and notebooks as well as other storage devices. It uses advanced technology to quickly restore documents, photos, music, videos, and other files on Mac PC.

Guide to Getting Back Lost or Deleted Data on macOS

  1. Download and install the best Apple data recovery software. Launch the tool and select the file types that you want to recover on your Mac system. Usually, all files are selected by default. Therefore, you have to deselect unwanted files. Next, click ‘Start’.
  2. SSelect the directory that you want to scan. You will see the volume of the Mac storage and the external hard drives in the next window. Select the specific ones to scan and click on ‘Scan’.
  3. Preview the scanned files and select the files you want to recover from them. Next, click the ‘Recover’ button to save the selected files. You can also use the ‘Deep Scan’ option if you want to search for more files.

So, if you have been wondering why won’t my Mac boot into recovery mode? - We have listed the possible reasons above. Additionally, we have highlighted five ways you can resolve the issue. We’ve also given an extra tip on how to recover lost files that may result from the issue of Mac won’t enter recovery mode. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to let us know by contacting us officially.