macOS Sonoma Simplifies Restoring a Mac in DFU Mode

[MacRumors]

With the macOS Sonoma update that's coming this fall, Apple is making it simpler to revive or restore a Mac that is stuck in DFU mode. With the new software, you can initiate a Mac-to-Mac restoration process right from the Finder app.

In macOS Ventura and earlier, reviving or restoring a Mac requires a second Mac that has the Apple Configurator app installed, but in macOS Sonoma, Apple Configurator is no longer required.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1691241183463317504

Restoring or reviving using Finder is basically the same process as restoring with Configurator, just without the need for additional software. The two Macs will still need to be connected to one another through a USB-C cable, and the same steps will likely apply. Both machines will need to have macOS Sonoma installed to use Finder for a restore.

DFU mode can occur when there is a power failure during a macOS update or upgrade, leading to a Mac that is unresponsive. In this situation, a second Mac is required to get the affected Mac back to a functional state.

macOS Sonoma is in beta testing at the current time, and is expected to see a launch in a month or two.

Article Link: macOS Sonoma Simplifies Restoring a Mac in DFU Mode

 

[symphony]

I noticed this when installing a virtual machine of macOS in UTM app

I don’t like how these restore pop up windows for Mac iPhone and iPad resize Finder windows though

 

[HiVolt]

You know what would be nice, that on the upcoming iPhones with USB-C, if they could have an app on the iPhones that could do that.

Perhaps they might at some point. and on the iPads that have had USB-C for quite some time.

 

[vegetassj4]

DFU mode.......what a crazy acronym:

P.G. Version: Did *Foul* Up?

 

[Realityck]

In macOS Ventura and earlier, reviving or restoring a Mac requires a second Mac that has the Apple Configurator app installed, but in macOS Sonoma, Apple Configurator is no longer required.

Yay! It's been difficult to do a DFU with Apple Configurator for a long time.

Just compare the old way.

Apple Configurator User Guide for Mac

Apple Configurator makes it easy to deploy iPad, iPhone, and Apple TV devices in your school or business.

support.apple.com

 

[Realityck]

DFU mode.......what a crazy acronym:

P.G. Version: Did *Foul* Up?

Device Firmware Update

It's used to reset the OS and system firmware for various Apple devices. Examples below are against Macs, with restore being a factory reset.

A revive updates the firmware and updates recoveryOS to the latest version. A revive is designed to not make any changes to the startup volume, the user’s data volume, or any other volumes. User data may be retained if recoverable.

A restore updates the firmware, updates recoveryOS to the latest version, and erases and installs the latest version of macOS on your internal storage. When this process is complete, any data on any internal volumes is unrecoverable.

 

[infinitedreams]

They should implement this in the new Apple Devices Windows app as well.

 

[mxrider88]

It stands for Dont ****ing Update.

That’s because they crippled macOS so much that we should really stop updating to avoid issues.

 

[GrumpyDonkey]

So we can now do once again what was possible for almost 2 decades? WOW what progress.

 

[contacos]

Sounds still too complicated. Can you go to an Apple Store to have a Genius do it for you without charging for it by the way? Hoping I’ll never require it but curious

 

[TheOldChevy]

Why isn't there a ROM function for that purpose ? Security reason ?

 

[mikethebigo]

I want internet recovery back

 

[Rychiar]

I want internet recovery back

They took internet recovery away? Wtf

 

[markfc]

Wait! You cant just restore from USB? I need to buy two Macs now in case one messes up?
Jesus Christ. 😂

 

[SFjohn]

Sounds still too complicated. Can you go to an Apple Store to have a Genius do it for you without charging for it by the way? Hoping I’ll never require it but curious

As long as your computer is covered by Apple Care+ it’s no problem (other than time & effort). No Apple Care? Well, you’re going to pay for that Genius time… 😉

 

[Wanted797]

And locks what components?

Did Apple see Luke Miani’s video?

 

[diggy33]

twocanoes has some products that should make it even easier to put a Mac in DFU mode. And if I recall correctly, no second Mac is needed

 

[Darren.h]

wow. you still need 2 Macs to rescue your Mac from death. why cant they make it like Intel Macs ? Boot with a USB drive or something and re install?

your already in trouble if the SSD on the SOC goes bad. data gone forever.

Long live the External Hard Drives!

 

[noraa]

I want internet recovery back

Internet recovery is still there, it’s just been merged with the regular recovery. If you boot into recovery mode, internet recovery will automatically happen if the built-in recovery partition is damaged, otherwise you’ll boot off that partition. However, as far as I can tell, there is no way to force an internet recovery.

 

[noraa]

They took internet recovery away? Wtf

Internet recovery is still there, it’s just been merged with the regular recovery. If you boot into recovery mode, internet recovery will automatically happen if the built-in recovery partition is damaged, otherwise you’ll boot off that partition. However, as far as I can tell, there is no way to force an internet recovery.

 

[TriBruin]

twocanoes has some products that should make it even easier to put a Mac in DFU mode. And if I recall correctly, no second Mac is needed

The product you are looking for was DFU Blaster, but it has been rolled in to their paid product MDS.

And you still need a second computer to do a DFU restore. All DFU Blaster/MDS did was provide an easy way to put a computer in DFU mode. And these are based on:

GitHub - AsahiLinux/macvdmtool: Apple Silicon to Apple Silicon VDM utility

Apple Silicon to Apple Silicon VDM utility. Contribute to AsahiLinux/macvdmtool development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

You need Xcode to compile the application. Since I test enrollment processes and need to move between O/Ss, I built the application and use it all the time.

 

[diggy33]

The product you are looking for was DFU Blaster, but it has been rolled in to their paid product MDS.

And you still need a second computer to do a DFU restore. All DFU Blaster/MDS did was provide an easy way to put a computer in DFU mode. And these are based on:

GitHub - AsahiLinux/macvdmtool: Apple Silicon to Apple Silicon VDM utility

Apple Silicon to Apple Silicon VDM utility. Contribute to AsahiLinux/macvdmtool development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

You need Xcode to compile the application. Since I test enrollment processes and need to move between O/Ss, I built the application and use it all the time.

Thanks for the clarification; its been a while since I had looked at it, to be honest

 

[mikethebigo]

Internet recovery is still there, it’s just been merged with the regular recovery. If you boot into recovery mode, internet recovery will automatically happen if the built-in recovery partition is damaged, otherwise you’ll boot off that partition. However, as far as I can tell, there is no way to force an internet recovery.

Unless it has changed since M1's launch, that's not true. See here: https://mrmacintosh.com/how-to-rein...pple-silicon-mac-everything-you-need-to-know/

Apple Silicon Macs have 2 versions of recovery on the local drive, but if both are corrupted, the Mac does not have any capability to boot into Internet Recovery to download the recovery partition. Your only option is a DFU restore by being plugged into another Mac locally.

 

[coolbreeze2]

When I bought my new M2 Max Studio from Apple it kept getting stuck when using Migration Assistant to set it up. I then tried to start fresh by attempting to re-install Ventura. It then became corrupted and I had to use DFU to get OS installed. It worked but it behaved with all kinds of glitches. I returned it to the Apple Store and picked up a new one in its place.

 

[svish]

Good to see this change.