No menu in Recovery Mode?

Hi. On my M1 MBP, any reason why when I’m in recovery mode, I don’t get a menu bar. A lot of answers I see say:


”start up in Recovery mode. When the OS X Utilities window appears, select

Utilities ▹ Terminal

from the menu bar at the top of the screen”


but I never get this utilities option — or the option to log in with Apple ID. Any thoughts very much appreciated!



MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Apr 11, 2024 05:34 AM

Reply
12 replies

Jun 10, 2024 05:07 PM in response to JonesLovebug77

JonesLovebug77 wrote:

My problem is is I forgot my passcode because I haven't had the phone on in over 6 months


The other problem is unfortunately effectively burying your iPhone question in an unrelated discussion of macOS Recovery on Apple silicon, where fewer people will likely find your question.


It would generally be better to post your own thread for your own question.


That written, here is how to reset the passcode with a Mac or PC:

If you forgot your iPhone passcode, use your Mac or PC to reset it - Apple Support


And a reset without a Mac or PC, if you meet the minimum iOS version requirements:

If you see a iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro unavailable message or Security Lockout screen - Apple Support


Apr 11, 2024 09:31 PM in response to TImothyOD

TImothyOD wrote:

Thanks! I have read that article. I am running recovery when I’m looking for utilities etc, but I suppose because I don’t have my admin password (worst brain fart of my life), that may be why I can’t access terminal etc. :-(


So to confirm, you have booted into Recovery, and see a list of the stuff available in Recovery in the middle of the screen, and you do not see a “Utilities” item in the menu at the top of the screen?


There’s a (very tiny) screenshot including the Utilities item in the menu bar shown here:


The footer included in your original posting is presumably not related to this, as no M-class Mac can run macOS 10.13.

Apr 12, 2024 07:00 AM in response to TImothyOD

Assuming recent macOS on Apple silicon, your whole Recovery environment is either rather uniquely corrupted, or there’s something else going on here with the screen or resolution or related settings or otherwise.


Build a bootable installer (elsewhere), and boot and use that to back up, back up a second time, wipe and re-install, and migrate from your backup (migrate, not restore) into the newly-installed environment during the initial setup.

Apr 11, 2024 08:28 PM in response to TImothyOD

TImothyOD Said:

"but I never get this utilities option — or the option to log in with Apple ID. Any thoughts very much appreciated!"

-------


Revealing the Menu Bar:

And what happens when you drag your cursor to the top of the menubar?


If the macOS is still installed, then...

Reinstall the macOS:

Go Here: How to Reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - Apple SupportImportant: Be certain to create a backup of your Mac prior to all of this. That way, you can have something to restore from the Mac from, should anything go wrong with the reinstall. Once reinstalled, try this once more. System files may have become corrupt, and that is what reinstalling the macOS is all about.

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No menu in Recovery Mode?

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