Internet recovery on a Silicon Mac

Use macOS Recovery on a Mac with Apple silicon - Apple Support (CA)

Start up your computer in macOS Recovery

1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > Shut Down.
2. Wait for your Mac to shut down completely. A Mac is completely shut down when the screen is black and any lights (including in the Touch Bar) are off.
3. Press and hold the power button on your Mac until “Loading startup options” appears.
4. Click Options, then click Continue. 
5. If asked, select a volume to recover, then click Next.
6. Select an administrator account, then click Next.
7. Enter the password for the administrator account, then click Continue.
8. When the Recovery app appears in the menu bar, you can choose any of the available options in the window or the menu bar.

The user does not get to pick and choose what version they want to install.

Choosing to startup an M1 / M2 in Recovery Mode AND choosing to Reinstall macOS should download the lasts Version of macOS Available that this specific computer Qualifies to run.

To see what this may do --->>

Run this Terminal command without the Quotations Mark

" softwareupdate --list-full-installers "

Below is using the above command and the output this specific computer Qualifies to run

Mac-Mini-M1 ~ % softwareupdate --list-full-installers

Finding available software

Software Update found the following full installers:

* Title: macOS Monterey, Version: 12.5.1, Size: 12114929KiB, Build: 21G83

* Title: macOS Monterey, Version: 12.5.1, Size: 12114929KiB, Build: 21G83

* Title: macOS Monterey, Version: 12.5, Size: 12112497KiB, Build: 21G72

* Title: macOS Monterey, Version: 12.4, Size: 11819688KiB, Build: 21F79

* Title: macOS Big Sur, Version: 11.6.8, Size: 12118851KiB, Build: 20G730

* Title: macOS Big Sur, Version: 11.6.7, Size: 12121823KiB, Build: 20G630

* Title: macOS Big Sur, Version: 11.6.6, Size: 12121263KiB, Build: 20G624

* Title: macOS Big Sur, Version: 11.6.5, Size: 12121404KiB, Build: 20G527

* Title: macOS Big Sur, Version: 11.6.4, Size: 12147782KiB, Build: 20G417

* Title: macOS Big Sur, Version: 11.6.3, Size: 12143674KiB, Build: 20G415

* Title: macOS Big Sur, Version: 11.6.2, Size: 12141944KiB, Build: 20G314

* Title: macOS Big Sur, Version: 11.6.1, Size: 12137180KiB, Build: 20G224

* Title: macOS Big Sur, Version: 11.5.2, Size: 12149332KiB, Build: 20G95

EDITED

Self correction

Choosing to startup an M1 / M2 in Recovery Mode AND choosing to Reinstall macOS should download the latest Version of macOS Available that this specific computer Qualifies to run.

If one checks deeper in the link - the user was running an older version of Big Sur . Something less than version 11.6.8.

This implies something like Big Sur 11.6.?

By Rebooting inn Recovery Mode and choosing Reinstall macOS ( in this case Big Sur ) the updated version 11.6.8 ( Test Version was installed

If we fast forward, to an already installed version of Monterey say 12.0.1 or say 12.2 ( both of which are badly Out of Dated ) should the user Reboot in Recovery Mode and again choose the Reinstall macOS ( this being Monterey ) - in theory 12.5.1 should be downloaded and commence the Installation.

Yes, that's my apprehension. It seems that you get the very same version that was installed before, not necessarily the latest. Is there a way to force down the last available OS version (as with an Intel Mac)?

I don't know if that is possible in Recovery. That's why I only linked to the Guide.

Then, there is this from How to reinstall macOS:

When you install macOS from Recovery, you get the current version of the most recently installed macOS, with some exceptions:

• On an Intel-based Mac, you can use Shift-Option-Command-R during startup to be offered the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available. Or you can use Option-Command-Rduring startup to be offered either the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac, or in some cases the macOS that came with your Mac or the closest version still available.

A Bootable USB Installer seems the only option, but that would require you've already downloaded the most current OS version.

sudo softwareupdate -i -a -R

Credit goes to @leroydouglas

flag definition:

-i Install

-a All appropriate updates

-R Automatically restart (or shut down) if required to complete installation)

From the Guide, it doesn't appear that you have the Internet Recovery options that were available to Intel Macs. It only states you can choose the OS you were running, even if erasing the entire drive.

As evidenced by at least one user Cannot install Monterey - Apple Community

thrunobulax

User level:

Level 1

(10 points)

Sep 4, 2022 5:15 PM in response to P. Phillips

Thanks for all your help.

the solution was

reboot Mac in recovery mode

reinstall Bug Sue this successfully upgrade to 11.6.8

then download Monterey installer v 12.5.1

installer ran ok

It should, but you have to be careful erasing an M1 Mac. You may end up needing an iPhone to run Configurator to reset the M1.

Revive or restore a Mac with Apple silicon using Apple Configurator - Apple Support

That may depend on exactly what version of Big Sur is presently installed right now.

From what I have seen, running the last stable version of Big Sur and using the Recovery Mode should bring down Monterey.

The caveat being exactly which version exactly.

The method to see what versions this computer seems and Qualifies to run has already been provided.

Though, I do not see why the user finds it so important to try upgrading to Monterey via the Recovery Mode versus the traditional Method

It there some specific reason the user cares to share and perhaps we can better understand the why and therefor offer reasonable solutions.

That is, unless there is some other agenda at play

I will not take up any more of your time at this point.

IMHO - There has been sufficient advise offered for the User to make an informed and educated choice what the next course of action is required for this computer.

The suggestions have been put forth on a volunteer basis, in good faith and in the best interests of the computer.