Apple Configurator
Apple’s Configurator is one option to restore or recuperate a Mac. Here is learn how to use it to revive an Apple Silicon Mac.
There could also be instances when you have to restore your Mac to a earlier state – or to revive your Mac when it stops working for some purpose.
Apple’s gadget provisioning and configuration app known as Configurator enables you to do exactly that.
Configurator is a part of Apple’s bigger enterprise choices and is designed to permit mass deployment of Apple gadgets rapidly and simply throughout massive and small groups.
The thought behind Configurator is you should use it to revive Apple gadgets to some predetermined state with out having to reinstall an working system by hand onto each.
Configurator additionally enables you to handle gadget provisioning – for instance, to put in ad-hoc software program to gadgets, or to configure them for growth 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.
Getting began
To get began with Apple Configurator, obtain it from the Mac App Store to your Mac. It downloads to the Functions folder.
You may run it from there, or you possibly can copy it to a different quantity, through which case it is going to nonetheless work simply advantageous.
Configurator was initially designed for managing and provisioning iOS devices for company use, however model 2.x added the flexibility to revive Macs additionally.
You may also 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 specific significance for the Mac is the Restoration tab on the appropriate of the secondary toolbar in the primary window.
Apple Configurator most important window.
There’s additionally a (principally for iOS) command-line Configurator device (cfgutil) for Terminal which you’ll be able to set up from the Apple Configurator->Set up Automation Instruments menu merchandise.
You may 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 /Functions in your Startup Disk and kind:
man cfgutil and press Return in your keyboard for utilization particulars.
However for the examples under, you in all probability will not want it.
Reviving a useless Mac utilizing Configurator
In very uncommon circumstances, a Mac might turn into unresponsive, or unbootable resulting from a firmware failure. In these circumstances, the Mac cannot be revived with out restoring its firmware first and erasing its inner storage.
If this occurs to your Mac, first strive restarting it utilizing an exterior startup disk, then operating Disk Utility’s Disk First Assist on the interior quantity, after which rebooting.
If that does not work, subsequent strive utilizing Restoration mode by booting the Mac by holding down the facility 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 interior drive. If that does not work both, then you definitely’ll want to revive the default firmware within the Mac and begin over.
Because the Restoration mode software program lives in every Mac’s firmware, if the firmware turns into inoperable you will not be capable to boot into Restoration mode.
Getting ready for revive or restore
Apple calls the method of restoring a Mac’s firmware a revive. Be aware that performing a revive would not change something on a Mac’s current startup disk – it solely restores the default firmware and recoveryOS to its unique state by flashing the Mac’s firmware.
Against this, a restore is referred to by Apple as the method of doing a revive plus restoring a Mac’s inner Startup Disk to its bootable state. Generally this could additionally contain a full re-install of macOS onto the Startup Disk.
You may additionally want twoMacs to do a revive or restore since they should be related collectively through a USB-C to USB-C cable. An web connection can also be required.
To get began, join the 2 computer systems through the USB-C cable through 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 at the very least be sure 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 Pro, Apple says to plug the cable into the USB-C port farthest from the facility button – until it is a rackmount Mac Professional – then plug the cable into the USB-C ports closest to the facility button.
Lastly, be sure the second Mac is shut down, then run Apple Configurator.
Reviving steps
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 totally different relying on whether or not it is an iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, or Mac Professional.
- Disconnect iMac from energy
- Whereas holding down energy button, join energy, maintain energy button for 3 seconds
- When revive or restore begins you will see the Apple emblem and progress bar
For Mac Studio, Mac mini, or Mac Professional, the steps are roughly the identical, however a bit totally different:
- Disconnect from energy for at the very least ten seconds
- Press and maintain the facility button
- Reconnect energy
- Launch energy button
The standing indicator gentle ought to go amber, and the “DFU” emblem ought to seem in Apple Configurator.
As soon as revive or restore begins, you will notice the Apple emblem and progress bar on the Mac you’re restoring.
For Mac transportable computer systems, be sure the Mac is shut down first, then plug it into energy and press and launch the facility button.
Press the facility button once more, and press the appropriate 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 facility 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 wish to revive, and choose Actions->Superior->Revive System, then click on Revive.
Alternatively, you might Management-click the chosen DFU icon, select Superior->Revive System, then click on Revive.
If both Mac loses energy through the revive or restore, restore energy and begin the method over.
Look forward to the method to finish. You might even see the Apple emblem seem and re-appear a number of instances on the goal gadget.
If the method completes efficiently, the goal Mac will reboot when completed.
Reviving steps with macOS reinstall
These steps restore the firmware, recoveryOS, then erase the interior drive and reinstall a clear model of macOS onto it:
In Apple Configurator on the primary Mac:
- Choose DFU icon of the Mac you wish to restore
- Select Actions->Restore
- Click on Restore
- Look forward to the method to finish
- Look forward to Mac restart
- Full macOS Setup Assistant on the goal Mac
- Stop Configurator on the primary Mac, unplug any cables
The steps are much like the steps for Apple Silicon Macs, and on the whole, apply to Macs made in 2017 or later which include an Apple T2 Safety Chip.
Reviving in Finder utilizing macOS Sonoma
On some Mac fashions, in macOS 14 Sonoma Apple added the flexibility to carry out a revive or restore within the Finder immediately, with out the necessity for Apple Configurator. In actual fact, Apple has a technote (108900) on learn how to do it.
The steps for doing a revive or restore in Finder are primarily the identical as in Configurator. Nevertheless, after you have the machines related 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 gadgets with Apple Configurator from 2021 and two others titled What’s new in managing Apple gadgets from 2022 as nicely as 2023.
Section 3 of Apple System Help Tutorials web page for Configurator 2 has a dialogue of learn how to again up and restore iOS gadgets utilizing Macs.
