4 Ways to Fix The Recovery Server Could Not Be Contacted on Macbook (Reinstall macOS Not Working)

📌Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:28 Possible reasons for "The recovery server could not be contacted"
00:48 Method 1: Change network
01:06 Method 2: Check Apple System Status
01:25 Method 3: Reset Date and Time
02:02 Method 4: Reinstall macOS from USB

📎Related Article:
The Recovery Server Could Not Be Contacted in Mojave/Catalina

🔎Related Guide:
Tenorshare 4DDiG Mac Data Recovery User Guide

🎥Related Video:
[Free] How to Fix MacBook Won’t Turn on 2023 (5 Ways)

#therecoveryservercouldnotbecontacted #reinstallmacosnotworking #therecoveryservercouldnotbecontactedmac

When you're going to reinstall macOS from recovery, your Mac will contact Apple’s recovery server over the internet. However, it may pop up a window with "The recovery server could not be contacted" error message. This might be caused by:
1. Poor network connection
2. Apple Server is unavailable
3. Wrong Date and Time

So, here are 4 methods to fix "The recovery server could not be contacted" error.

Solution 1: Check network connection
The first common reason for this problem is a poor network connection. So, make sure you have connected your Mac to a stable network first. Or connect your Macbook to another available WiFi.

Solution 2: Check Apple System Status
When the Apple server is down, you can't fix the problem yourself. Before going to next method, check Apple System Status. Make sure the recovery server is available. If there is actually a problem with Apple server, wait for Apple to fix it.

Solution 3: Reset Date & Time
If you haven't turned on your Mac for a long time, the date and time on your Mac may not match with Apple server's. But we can't see date and time in Recovery Mode, so go to utilities and use terminal to reset date and time. Open Terminal, type the command: *date 0606144123* (June 6, 02:41pm, 2023). Then you can try again.

Solution 4: Reinstall macOS from USB
The last method is to reinstall macOS from installer. Before that, you need to create a bootable macOS installer first. Download the macOS installer from website or App Store on an available Mac. Connect a USB to your Mac, and use terminal to create a bootable USB installer. Once done, insert the USB to your Mac, restart and press Option key to open startup option. Connect your Mac to the internet and select the installer, you can reinstall macOS.
Here are commands for different macOS (replace MyVolume with your USB name):
Ventura:

Monterey:

Big Sur:

Catalina:

Mojave:

High Sierra:

El Capitan:

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[andwhynot]

Try this and ignore this help video as it's out of date! When you reboot your Mac, simultaneously hold down these keys: Apple(Command) + Option + R (ie not just Apple/Command + R). In the 'Reinstalling MacOS' field, it will offer you Ventura or other recent OS and off you go. If you only hold down 'Command + R' the system takes you to an older recovery setup offering older OS like High Sierra, which Apple no longer supports. That’s why you get the message: 'Recovery Server Could Not Be Contacted.' So all that changing the time stuff won't help. Good luck!

[dan_iel_efs]

About the Usb Installer, it isn't clear for me. You have to find an "available Mac", that means another running smooth Mac, correct? Then you have to download the installer. Then, you should copy that file onto the USB. Then you run the things on Terminal where: On problem Mac or the other "available" Mac where you downloaded the installer? For me it's confusing because it's the same computer shown on video.
Other question, I'm trying to download the Installer (since my MacOs doesn't start anymore) but the other Mac is a Big Sur (while the problem Mac is a H Sierra). On a Big Sur, it starts to ask for updating (and it ends as Error since isn't an update) but I like to only download in order to create the bootable Usb. Any clue what I could do to download the High Sierra installer on a Big Sur computer?

[kingbeyfan]

Mines is in PDT when I live in EDT. How do I change that? I think that’s my issue. I can change the date and time but not the my Daylight Standard Time

[Sefko]

What are you pasting in terminal with option 4????

[juanescardenas]

Does it have to be a usb or can it be a SD card I have a port for one on my MacBook Pro

[lawrenceatkinson]

Thank you... the terminal date was a game-changer in my case.🎉

[davutkarahan]

I tried first 3 methods but not work :(
For 4th method i have available mac, is possible by Windows?
Thanks

[christielbates]

PLEASE HELP - I've done all of this but it my iMac keeps rebooting to the macOS Utilities screen no matter what I do.

[SPDYRACING]

Did all of the above plugged in go to reinstall all I get is a No entry Symbol?

[chocolatchiklet]

Thank you, the HighSierra installer was just what i needed. You are a life-saver!

[eligijuspranskunas]

it still pops the same error (at time stamp 3:44) so usb bootable installer is useless.

[BluesLuxury]

i did all of these including a usb installer for mac os High sierra which is the highest os for my 2009 macbook pro but it crashes at the end of the install ): same for my imac 2011. Installing Mojave it doesnt work ):

[MagazineFeminina]

Finally, something that works! Thanks

[johnchidieberejoshua-picu]

I am using MacBook air macos high Sierra, I downloaded macos big sur, I try to install it, but it's show "recovery server could be found, " I have tried your method it's only reinstall macos high Sierra, but I want to install macos big sur which I already downloaded

[waqasprince]

I have same problem server cannot be contacted

[chrismccooey]

I deleted my OS with the intention of reinstalling it. However, my drive was almost full and now it's telling me I don't have enough space to install the OS. I can't access the drive to even delete some files to make room as I don't have an OS to work from on the computer. I do have Time Machine backups. Any suggestion as to how to get an OS again? It's an Intel iMac.

[idkjaehyy]

Hello, My Macboon Pro Early 2011 does not show my Bootable USB. I ordered a MacOS High Sierra Bootable USB online. It seems real because of the reviews. So it arrives then i tried it, I have the error of Question Mark Folder so I Tried this one because it Shows Recovery server cant be contacted. And i inserted my Bootable USB and Hold Option. But it only shows the Internet Recovery. How do i fix it?

[akassebaum]

I have 2 old Macs that can't find the recovery server. I changed the date and nothing worked.

[angelbulut]

I can’t get to utilities bar to get to terminal. It just doesn’t show for me to fix the date and time :(

[MFCoaching]

I got this message when in Terminal, after I entered in my password.. /Volumes/USB is not a valid volume mount point.