This describes now to connect an Apple Silicon Mac laptop in DFU mode.
On rare occasions you might need to complete wipe a Mac and set it up again from scratch. For example, if the main system and recovery partition are both destroyed, or if you have been locked out and have no passwords which work, or you are in a restricted environment where some features have been locked down.
If all "lesser" options have failed there is an option to do a complete factory reset and start again. Note that this destroys all the files on the computer, so do not do this if you don't have backups and care about the files on the computer (most people do).
Modern Macs (Apple Silicon and some older models) have a mode called "DFU" (device firmware update) which allows this reset to happen. When they are in this mode you need a second computer, connected with a USB-C cable and a working internet connection, to send the new system to the broken computer. Note, these notes apply to Apple Silicon laptops, and there is a slightly different procedure for desktops.
Here are the steps...
Make sure both computers (the "broken" one, and the one you are going to do the restore from, I call the "good" one) are connected to power. Try to use a MagSafe connector instead of USB if possible. Also, unplug all other devices connected (except the network adapter cable, if you use a wired network).
On the broken computer: plug the USB-C cable into the DFU port. Note that the cable used for charging is OK, but I have had mixed results with other cables. Also note that the DFU port is usually the one on the left closest to the back of the computer, except on the 14" MacBook Pro, 2024 with M4 chip (not M4 Pro or Max) where it is the one nearest the front (why, Apple, why?)
On the good Mac, which is going to do the restore, plug the other end of the USB-C cable into any port. Make sure that machine is running and connected to the network.
On the broken computer, make sure it is off (hold down the power button for 10 seconds, if necessary), then do this... Press and release the power button. Immediately press and hold all four of these together on the laptop keyboard: Control and option on the left side, shift on the right side, and the power button. Keep holding all four keys for about 10 seconds, then release all keys except power. Keep holding power for up to 10 more seconds, until you see a message on the good Mac. Release the power button on the broken Mac. Click "Allow" on the good Mac.
You can now try to "revive" or "restore" the broken Mac using the good Mac.
Note: yes, I know, it sounds complicated. The first time I did this it took me about 30 minutes to get the right combination of ports, cables, and keys! Good luck!
I usually write a blog post about once a week. The latest post can be viewed here: This is War!: I think it is a surface indicator of a deeper issue. (posted 2025-07-29 at 13:01:23). I do podcasts too!. You can listen to my latest podcast, here: OJB's Podcast 2025-07-18 Too Many Road Cones: I think it is clear, there are too many road cones!.
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