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Cannot install macOS on 2019 MacBook Pro

Hi. We wiped this drive and wanted to install macOS fresh. The only option we get is macOS Mojave. But when I try to install it, it says "the recovery server cannot be contacted". Things I've tried.


  • Booting from USB Bootable Media for macOS Monterey > Holding OPTION during boot > Selecting the Bootable Media > (It goes to a message that says, "A software update is required to use this startup disk" - I then connect to the internet and click 'Update', but it fails. It states, "An error occurred installing the update. Try again or select another startup disk.")
  • Setting the date/time properly within Internet Recovery > Terminal > date
  • Tried connecting to a different network; both WiFi & Ethernet
  • Tried wiping the disk with Disk Utility > restarted in macOS Recovery and Internet Recovery
  • Tried SMC and NVRAM Reset


It's strange how difficult Apple makes it to reinstall macOS on a MacBook.

MacBook Pro (2017 – 2020)

Posted on Jun 20, 2023 12:47 PM

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Posted on Jun 20, 2023 05:04 PM

I figured it out, and it required me to put the MacBook into DFU mode and use Apple Configurator. Once it was recognized by Apple Configurator, I used the Revive option. After it completed, the MacBook restarted itself into Internet Recovery, but an updated version. It gave me macOS Ventura as an install option, rather than Mojave. I was able to install macOS Ventura and everything is now working fine.


Link I used: Revive or restore an Intel-based Mac using Apple Configurator — служба підтримки Apple (UA)


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Jun 20, 2023 05:04 PM in response to BDAqua

I figured it out, and it required me to put the MacBook into DFU mode and use Apple Configurator. Once it was recognized by Apple Configurator, I used the Revive option. After it completed, the MacBook restarted itself into Internet Recovery, but an updated version. It gave me macOS Ventura as an install option, rather than Mojave. I was able to install macOS Ventura and everything is now working fine.


Link I used: Revive or restore an Intel-based Mac using Apple Configurator — служба підтримки Apple (UA)


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Jun 20, 2023 02:14 PM in response to BDAqua

I tried APFS, didn't work. I just tried Mac OS Extended Journaled. Same problem. As stated in my original post, this error comes up in both regular macOS Recovery, as well as Internet Recovery (OPT+CMD+R)

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Cannot install macOS on 2019 MacBook Pro

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