Revive or restore an Intel-based Mac with Apple Configurator 2
What a revive does
In very rare circumstances, such as a power failure during a macOS upgrade, a Mac may become unresponsive and so the firmware on the Apple T2 Security Chip must be revived. A revive updates that firmware. A revive is designed to not make any changes to the startup volume, the user’s data volume, or any other volumes.
What a restore does
You must restore the firmware and erase the internal flash storage if:
You can’t start the Mac from the startup volume or the recoveryOS
Reviving the T2 chip firmware is unsuccessful
WARNING: Back up your data before you restore your Mac. When you restore a Mac with a T2 chip, you are restoring the firmware and erasing the internal storage. When this process is complete, any data on any internal volumes is unrecoverable.
Supported devices
Revive and restore processes cover all Intel-based Mac computers with a T2 chip, namely:
iMac (2020)
Mac Pro (2019)
Mac mini (2018)
iMac Pro (2017)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018)
MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020)
MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2019)
MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)
Requirements
To perform this process, you must have:
The latest version of Apple Configurator 2 installed on a Mac and internet access
You may need to configure your web proxy or firewall ports to allow all network traffic from Apple devices to Apple’s network 17.0.0.0/8. For more information on the ports used by Apple products, see the Apple Support article Use Apple products on enterprise networks.
A supported USB-C to USB-C charge cable, such as the one sold by Apple (may not be available in all countries or regions)
A supported USB-A to USB-C cable
The USB-C cable must support both power and data. Thunderbolt 3 cables aren’t supported.
Revive or restore process
The revive or restore process involves the following steps:
1. Launching Apple Configurator 2 on the second Mac and connecting the Mac computers
2. Restarting the Mac using a special key sequence
3. Using Apple Configurator 2 to revive the firmware or restore the firmware and erase all volumes
Step 1: Set up the Mac with Apple Configurator 2 and connect the USB-C cable
Verify that:
You have the latest version of Apple Configurator 2 installed
The Mac with Apple Configurator 2 is plugged into a power source
You can connect to the internet
Plug in (along with any adapters needed) the USB-C cable.
Launch Apple Configurator 2
.
Step 2: Prepare the Mac mini
Plug in a monitor so you can see when the process is complete.
Disconnect the Mac mini from power.
Plug the USB-C cable into the Thunderbolt port closest to the HDMI port.
While holding down the power button, connect the Mac mini to power and continue to hold the power button for about 3 seconds.
Note: You won’t see any screen activity from the Mac mini.
Step 2: Prepare the Apple notebook computer
Press the Sleep/Wake button for about 5 seconds to shut down the Apple notebook computer.
Plug the USB-C cable into the front Thunderbolt port on the left side of the Apple notebook computer.
While holding down the power button, at the same time press all three of the following keys for about 3 seconds:
The right Shift key
The left Option key
The left Control key
Note: You won’t see any screen activity from the Apple notebook computer.
Step 2: Prepare the iMac Pro or iMac (2020)
Disconnect the iMac Pro or iMac from power.
Plug the USB-C cable into the Thunderbolt port closest to the Ethernet port.
While holding down the power button, connect the iMac Pro or iMac to power and continue to hold the power button for about 3 seconds.
Note: You won’t see any screen activity from the iMac Pro or iMac.
Step 2: Prepare the Mac Pro (2019)
Revive the Mac Pro
You need to revive the firmware in a Mac Pro if the light turns amber and flashes the following sequence in under 4 seconds: three short flashes, three long flashes, and three short flashes again. For more information, see the Apple Support article Mac Pro (2019) status indicator light behavior.
Restore the Mac Pro
You must restore both the firmware and erase the internal flash storage if:
You can’t start the Mac from the startup volume or the recoveryOS
Internet recoveryOS was unsuccessful
Reviving the firmware is unsuccessful
WARNING: Back up your data before you restore your Mac. When you restore a Mac with a T2 chip, you are restoring the firmware and erasing the internal storage. When this process is complete, any data on any internal volumes is unrecoverable.
Plug in a monitor so you can see when the process is complete.
Disconnect the Mac Pro from power, then do one of the following:
For the desktop Mac Pro, plug the USB-C cable into the Thunderbolt port farthest away from the power button.
For the rack mount Mac Pro, plug the USB-C cable into the Thunderbolt port closest to the power button.
While holding down the power button, connect the Mac Pro to power and continue to hold the power button for about 3 seconds.
Note: You won’t see any screen activity from the Mac Pro.
Step 3: Revive the firmware
In the Apple Configurator 2
device window, select the Mac whose chip firmware you want to revive.
Do one of the following:
Choose Actions > Advanced > Revive Device, then click Revive.
Control-click the selected device, then choose Advanced > Revive Device, then click Revive.
Note: If you lose power to either Mac during this process, begin the revive process again.
Wait for the process to complete. During this process, an Apple logo will appear and disappear.
After the process completes, your Mac will reboot.
Important: When you revive the firmware on the Apple T2 Security Chip, you must verify that the process was successful because Apple Configurator 2 may not alert you.
If necessary, use macOS Recovery to reinstall macOS.
See the Apple Support article How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery.
Quit Apple Configurator 2, then unplug any adapters and cables.
Step 3: Restore the firmware and erase all data
In the Apple Configurator 2
device window, select the Mac to be restored.Do one of the following:
Choose Actions > Restore, then click Restore.
Control-click the selected device, then choose Actions > Restore, then click Restore.
Note: If you lose power to either Mac during this process, begin the restore process again.
Wait for the process to complete. During this process, an Apple logo will appear and disappear.
After the process completes, your Mac will restart.
Important: When you restore the Mac, you must verify that the process was successful because Apple Configurator 2 may not alert you.
After the Mac restarts, press Shift-Option-Command-R at startup to install the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.
See the Apple Support article How to reinstall macOS.
Quit Apple Configurator 2 and unplug any adapters and cables.