Error -5101F during internet recovery for macOS Sierra installation

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Level 1

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Error -5101F during internet recovery for macOS Sierra installation

My Mac was wiped and I’m trying to redownload os sierra.

i get an error in recovery mode saying it can’t install sierra. I changed the date and time and I’m on a LAN cable ( also have used all other available network option. When I try to reboot with internet recovery I get the globe exclamation mark symbol and a “apple.com/support-5101F

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: -5101F on internet recovery

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Aug 21, 2025 4:40 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

MrHoffman

Community+ 2025

Level 10

144,075 points

Aug 21, 2025 5:15 PM in response to stefon258

Try Command-Option-R for Recovery, and get the latest macOS version supported.

Any Mac that can run macOS 10.12 can run macOS 10.13, or later.

Use macOS Recovery on an Intel-based Mac - Apple Support

If you have another Mad, try downloading 10.13 there, and build a bootable installer.

It’s also possible that something that caused you to erase and re-install is also causing problems for Recovery.

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Answer 2

HWTech

Level 9

68,228 points

Aug 22, 2025 7:37 AM in response to stefon258

To add to @MrHoffman's excellent suggestion......if the latest version of macOS compatible with your Mac is macOS 10.13 High Sierra, then you may encounter a new error message related to the server being unavailable. In that case, follow the instructions for Fix #3 in the following article:

https://mrmacintosh.com/how-to-fix-the-recovery-server-could-not-be-contacted-error-high-sierra-recovery-is-still-online-but-broken/

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