How to revive your bricked Mac (2024)

All of Apple's latest Macs support macOS Sonoma. However, sometimes when installing a software update, you might run into an unexpected error. In a worst case scenario, this may occasionally result in a bricked Mac. If this occurs, your computer will fail to boot properly, typically resulting in an endless boot loop that displays the Apple logo. However, you don't need to worry; it's possible to revive your bricked Mac. Just follow the steps below.

How to revive a bricked Mac using only your computer

The "single computer" method where your bricked Mac helps itself

When trying to revive a bricked Mac, you have two options: you can either try to revive it with your computer's built-in recovery software, or use a second Mac to jump-start the bricked computer. It doesn't even have to be your own Mac that helps in that case, a friend or family member's machine will do just fine.

However, if you want to resuscitate your Mac without any help from another computer, follow these steps:

1. Depending on the processor in your bricked Mac, you will need to do one of the following:
   • If it has an Apple silicon processor such as the M1 or M2 chip, turn on your Mac and keep the Power button held down. Release it only once you see the startup options window. Afterward, click Options (the gear icon), then click Continue.
   • For Intel-powered Macs, turn your computer on, then press and hold Command + R until you see the Apple logo.
2. You may be asked to enter your user password. In this case, type the one you normally would use to unlock your bricked Mac.
3. Click on Disk Utility, followed by Continue.
4. Select the startup disk (usually named Macintosh HD).
5. Click Erase (if you are willing to delete everything on the Mac) and confirm that you want to erase it.
6. Click on the red close button once the erasure concludes.
7. Click on Reinstall macOS and select Continue for a fresh start.
8. Follow the stated instructions and agree to Apple's terms after reading them thoroughly.
9. The latest stable macOS version will then download and install. Keep your Mac connected to a power source during the process. Once it completes, your Mac should be up and running with factory settings.

While you can rescue your bricked computer on your own this way, but you will lose all of your data unless you have previously backed it up. If you can't afford to abandon the hard work stored on the computer, you will have to use a secondary working Mac to revive the bricked one.

How to revive a bricked Mac using two computers

Use this method if you need to preserve your data

If your bricked Mac runs on an Apple silicon (M series) or Apple T2 Security Chip, you might be able to revive it without losing any of your precious files. However, this process requires a stable internet connection, a USB-C cable, and a computer running macOS Monterey or later.

In order to revive a bricked Mac, you need it to enter Device Firmware Upgrade (DFU) mode. The process differs depending on the computer's chipset.

Follow these steps if your Mac runs on Apple silicon:

1. Plug both Macs into a power outlet.
2. Insert one end of the USB-C cable into the leftmost USB-C port of the afflicted Mac (the left-most port on the left side of the open computer).
3. Insert the other end of the cable into any USB-C port on the working Mac.
4. Turn on the bricked Mac by holding down the Power button for up to 10 seconds.
5. Once the computer is on, press and release the Power button again, then immediately press and hold the following keys:
   1. The Control key on the left side of the keyboard.
   2. The Option key on the left side of the keyboard.
   3. The Shift key on the right side of the keyboard.
   4. The Power button.
6. Hold down all four keys for 10 seconds, then release the Control, Option, and Shift keys.
7. Keep pressing the Power button for three more seconds, then release. It should enter DFU mode.

If your Mac uses the T2 Security Chip, follow these instructions instead:

1. Plug both Macs into a power outlet.
2. Insert one end of the USB-C cable into the rightmost USB-C port of the afflicted Mac (the right-most port on the left side of the open computer).
3. Insert the other end of the cable into any USB-C port on the working Mac.
4. Turn on the bricked Mac by holding the Power button for up to 10 seconds.
5. Press and release the Power button again, then immediately press and hold the following keys:
   1. The Control key on the left side of the keyboard.
   2. The Option key on the left side of the keyboard.
   3. The Shift key on the right side of the keyboard.
   4. The Power button.
6. Hold down all four keys for three seconds, then release all of them. It should enter DFU mode.

If you followed the relevant instructions above correctly, your bricked Mac should be in DFU mode now. Next you have set up the second Mac to be able to assist. Like the bricked computer's chips, the functional Mac's OS determines the steps you need to take for this leg of the process. If the working Mac is running macOS Sonoma, do the following:

1. Open Finder.
2. Select Mac in Finder's sidebar.
3. Click Revive Mac, then click Continue to confirm.

If the secondary computer uses macOS Monterey 12.4 to macOS Ventura, use these steps instead:

1. Open Apple Configurator. If you don't have it, download the program from the app store, then open it.
2. Select the DFU block representing the bricked Mac.
3. Choose Actions, followed by Advanced, then Revive Device.

Regardless of the program you used, a progress bar should pop up on the screen and tell you how long you have to wait. Once the process is finished, the bricked computer should automatically restart. You might be asked to select the volume you want to recover and/or enter your password, but once you're done, you should be able to use your computer as normal. Revive (if it works smoothly) should retain your information during the process.

How to restore a bricked Mac using two computers

If you can't Revive, then Restore

If worse comes to worst and your Mac's data is beyond recovering, you can still use a secondary device to unbrick your computer. However, you will have to make do with a factory reset, which may not be ideal since you will lose your data. For the most part, this process is identical to the previous one, at least through the point when the bricked Mac enters DFU mode. The Restore process then branches off in its own direction, but the steps you need to take are still determined by the second Mac's operating system.

If you are using a computer that runs on macOS Sonoma, do the following:

1. Open Finder.
2. Select Mac in Finder's sidebar.
3. Click Restore Mac.
4. Click Restore and Update.

If your computer uses macOS Monterey 12.4 to Ventura, use these instructions:

1. Open Apple Configurator.
2. Select DFU for the bricked computer.
3. Select Actions, then Restore, and Restore one final time.

Once again, a process bar will pop up. After the program is finished, the bricked Mac should restart, at which point you will have to set it up as you would any other fresh Mac that you just factory reset.

In case of times like this, we hope you will always keep a backup of your important files on an external hard drive or cloud service. Our computers could crash at any moment for different reasons, and while some revival methods let you retain your user data, they aren't always guaranteed to work. It's definitely better to be safe than sorry. If you are already in the situation where you need to use these steps though, we wish you all the best of luck!