An Apple Silicon Mac (M1, M2, M3, M4 or later) that will not start after a macOS update, a power cut during an update or a sudden crash can look completely dead: a black screen, a logo that never moves on, or a Mac that only shows a “Restore” prompt. Searching for help quickly leads to Apple Configurator and DFU mode, where you are offered two buttons: Revive and Restore. They sound similar, but one keeps your files and the other erases them for good. If the data on that Mac matters, the order in which you try things is everything.
Why the data cannot simply be taken out
On older Macs you could remove the hard drive or SSD and copy files off it in another computer. On Apple Silicon Macs that is no longer possible:
- The SSD storage chips are soldered to the logic board. There is no drive to unplug.
- All internal storage is encrypted by hardware, with keys held by the Mac’s own Secure Enclave. Even if the chips were removed, their contents would be unreadable anywhere else.
- So the only way to get the files back is to get that Mac, with its original board, working well enough to unlock and read its own storage.
This is why any step that erases or replaces the internal storage contents is final. There is no lab technique that brings back data from an Apple Silicon Mac after a Restore or an erase.
Revive vs Restore: what each one does
Both options are run from a second Mac using Apple’s free Apple Configurator app, with the faulty Mac connected by a USB-C cable and put into DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode.
- Revive reinstalls the Mac’s firmware and recovery system to the latest version. It is designed to leave your user data and the macOS volumes in place. It is the option to try when the Mac’s firmware or recovery system has been damaged, for example by an interrupted update.
- Restore erases the internal storage completely and installs a fresh copy of macOS and firmware. Everything on the Mac is lost. It is the step Apple suggests when Revive fails, but if you have no backup, choosing it means giving up on the data.
Apple Configurator may also offer Restore automatically if Revive does not work. Read every prompt before clicking.
What to try first, in the safest order
- Rule out power and display. Charge a MacBook for at least 30 minutes with a known-good charger and cable. On a Mac mini, Mac Studio or iMac, try a different power socket and, for desktops, a different display and cable. Many “dead” Macs are simply not showing a picture.
- Try the startup options. Shut the Mac down, then press and hold the power button until “Loading startup options” appears. If you see your startup disk and an Options icon, the Mac’s recovery system is working.
- Use Recovery without erasing anything. In Recovery you can choose to reinstall macOS over the existing system. This normally keeps your files, but avoid Disk Utility’s Erase and avoid Erase Mac or Erase Assistant.
- Copy files out with Share Disk. If Recovery opens but macOS will not start, the Utilities menu on Apple Silicon Macs has a Share Disk option. You can unlock the internal volume with your password and connect it to another Mac over a USB-C cable to copy files before you try anything else.
- Only then consider DFU Revive. If there is no response at all, or only a restore prompt, Revive through Apple Configurator on a second Mac is the next step. Follow Apple’s instructions for your exact model, because the DFU key combination and the correct USB-C port differ between MacBooks and desktop Macs.
- Stop before Restore if you have no backup of the files you need.
Check whether you already have a copy
Before deciding how far to go, check what may already be safe elsewhere:
- Time Machine backups on an external drive or network storage.
- iCloud Drive, including Desktop and Documents if that option was switched on, and iCloud Photos.
- Files synced to OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox, and email attachments still on the mail server.
If everything you need is backed up, a Restore is a reasonable way to get the Mac working again. If it is not, keep the Mac as it is.
What not to do
- Do not click Restore, Erase Mac or Erase in Disk Utility “to see if it helps”.
- Do not keep repeating failed updates or Revives over and over. If one Revive fails, stop and think about the data first.
- Do not accept a logic board replacement if the files are still needed. A new board comes with new, empty storage, and the old encrypted data cannot be moved across.
- Do not forget the login password. Even when the Mac is repaired, the data is unlocked with your Mac password, and FileVault or Activation Lock may also ask for your Apple Account details.
When the hardware itself has failed
If the Mac shows no sign of life even in DFU mode, or Revive fails with a hardware error, the cause is usually on the logic board: a failed power circuit, a liquid-damaged area, or a fault around the SSD storage chips. Because the data can only be read through that same board, recovery means diagnosing and repairing the original board to the point where it can boot and unlock its storage, then copying the files off. That is component-level work, and it is very different from a standard repair where the board is simply swapped.
Our technicians handle Apple Silicon data recovery for MacBook Pro M1 to M5 and MacBook Air M1 to M5 models, as well as iMac, Mac mini and Mac Studio. You can read more about our wider Apple Mac data recovery service.
Need the files off a Mac that will not start?
If your Mac is stuck after an update and you have not got a backup, do not choose Restore. Call Data Doctor on 020 7394 2529 for a free initial consultation, or bring it to our lab at Unit 1, The Willows, 80 Willow Walk, London SE1 5SY.