Why your Mac is stuck in Recovery mode

Fortunately, it’s uncommon to see a Mac stuck in Recovery mode, but when it does happen, we’ve found it’s usually caused by one of these issues:

• Failed macOS updates: When a software update is interrupted or fails to install properly, it may default to Recovery mode and refuse to boot macOS.
• Corrupted or faulty startup disk: Issues with your Mac’s startup disk, like corrupted data or faulty hardware, can stop macOS from booting and push you into Recovery mode.
• Forced reboots: If you force your Mac to reboot over and over by holding down the power button, you can eventually end up in Recovery mode.
• Hardware issues: Faulty startup disks aren’t the only hardware issue that can force a Mac into Recovery mode; failing logic boards, keyboards, and other bad components can lead to the same result.
• User error: Sometimes, you may end up stuck in Recovery mode simply because you inadvertently entered a Recovery mode shortcut when starting your Mac.

How to get out of Recovery mode Mac

The most effective way to get out of Recovery mode on Mac is to reboot your computer by selecting the Restart option in the Apple menu. Select Startup Disk from within the same menu to ensure your Mac is trying to boot from the correct drive.

Depending on why your Mac is stuck in Recovery mode, the right fix may look different. Let’s look at 8 ways to fix a Mac stuck in Recovery mode.

1. Restart your Mac

The first step we recommend to exit Recovery mode on Mac is to restart the machine, like so:

1. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen, then choose Restart.
2. Select Restart again to confirm.

2. Select your startup disk

We sometimes see a MacBook will keep booting into Recovery mode when it’s stuck trying to boot from the wrong startup disk. Here’s how to check the correct startup disk is selected:

1. Open the Apple menu and click Startup Disk.
2. Select your Mac’s primary drive, which is usually called Macintosh HD, then Restart when prompted to boot from the selected disk.

3. Reset SMC

If you have a MacBook, iMac, or Mac mini powered by an Intel chip, we suggest that you reset the SMC (system management controller) to fix any issues that can stop macOS from booting. Try this:

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Hold Shift Control Option the Power button for 10 seconds.
3. Release all keys, then press the Power button to turn on your Mac.

If you have an M1, M2, or M3 Mac, there is no separate SMC, so all you have to do is restart your machine to achieve the same result.

4. Use Disk Utility to repair Mac

When Mac Recovery mode is not working properly and macOS won’t boot, we can use Disk Utility to repair the startup disk. Follow these steps:

1. In the macOS Utilities menu in Recovery mode, select Disk Utility, then click Continue.
2. Choose your Mac’s startup disk, then click the First Aid button.
3. Select Run to let Disk Utility repair any issues with your Mac’s drive.

5. Reset NVRAM

Another step we recommend if you have an Intel MacBook Air or MacBook Pro is to reset the NVRAM, which is where certain settings and preferences are stored. Here’s how:

1. Shut down your computer.
2. Turn your Mac back on, then immediately press and hold Command, Option, P and R on your keyboard.
3. Release all keys after 20 seconds. You may see your Mac restart during this time; that’s fine—just let it do its thing.
4. After a short wait, your Mac should boot up normally. You’ll need to adjust certain settings that were reset, like the time zone and preferred display resolution.

Although you can factory reset a Mac using Recovery mode, it’s sadly not possible to reset NVRAM from there—the process outlined above is the only way to do it. For those with an Apple Silicon Mac, the NVRAM resets automatically when you restart.

6. Boot into Safe mode

Sometimes, we find that a piece of third-party software prevents macOS from booting correctly and sends users into a Recovery mode loop. To see if that’s the problem, you can boot into Safe mode—which stops third-party software from loading—like so:

Boot into Safe mode on Apple Silicon Macs:

1. Shut down your Mac, then press and hold the Power button until you see Loading startup options.
2. Select your startup disk, then click Continue in Safe Mode.

Boot into Safe mode on Intel Macs:

1. Shut down.
2. Turn on your Mac, then immediately press and hold the Shift key.
3. Log in to continue. You may be prompted to log in twice; this is normal.

If you were able to get into macOS without issues, it suggests third-party software is indeed the issue. Remove recently installed apps while in Safe Mode, then restart as normal to get back into macOS.

7. Reinstall macOS

If none of the tips above gets you back into macOS, we can only assume your current OS install is corrupted. Here’s how to reinstall macOS without losing any data:

1. In Recovery mode, select Reinstall macOS, then click Continue.
2. Follow the steps on screen to complete the reinstall. When prompted to select a drive, be sure to select your Mac’s main startup disk if you have more than one drive attached.

In addition to letting you reinstall macOS and repair drives, Recovery mode can be useful for other maintenance and troubleshooting tasks, which is why we advise every Mac user to look into what is Recovery mode.

8. Contact Apple Support

When not even a fresh install of macOS gets you out of the Recovery mode loop, it’s likely your issue is not software related, but rather faulty hardware. We recommend contacting Apple Support or booking an appointment at the Apple Store so that your Mac can be diagnosed and repaired.

Conclusion

When your Mac gets stuck in Recovery mode, it’s certainly frustrating, especially when you need it to get things done. But in most cases, you can get out of Recovery mode and back into normal macOS by using the solutions we’ve outlined above, like restarting your machine or reinstalling macOS.

When you need help to get out of Recovery mode, contact MacKeeper’s Premium Services and our trained professionals will help you figure out what’s preventing your Mac from booting normally, and walk you through the right solution. We’re available 24/7 and quick to respond to all inquiries.

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