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The recovery server could not be contacted

I replaced the hard drive on my 2011 MBP with an SSD and now I am unable to reinstall macOS High Sierra using internet recovery. I have been getting 'The recovery server could not be contacted' message for a couple of days now.


Apple also has made it really hard to download the macOS High Sierra installer. I am trying to download it from another MBP that runs macOS Ventura and the Mac App Store wont let me download an older version of the macOS to that laptop.


Steps described in internet articles written as recently as Mar/Apr 2023 about creating a bootable installer wont work.

Posted on Jun 5, 2023 7:01 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 6, 2023 8:18 AM

I have not tried reinstalling macOS 10.13 High Sierra through Internet Recovery Mode, but many times that error message you received indicates the security certificate for the installer is expired. First make sure you are actually installing High Sierra and not some older version of macOS since many times Macs may only be booting to the older online macOS installer for the OS which originally shipped with the Mac from the factory. Try using Command + Option + R to access Internet Recovery Mode and hopefully the online macOS 10.13 installer.


You can try changing the system date using the command line with the Terminal app which can be found on the Utilities menu on the menu bar. Use the following command to change the system date & time to Jan. 2, 2017 @ 11:33am:

date  -u  0102113317


If there are no errors, quit the Terminal app and proceed to use Disk Utility to properly erase the SSD, then select the "Reinstall macOS".


In order to create a bootable macOS 10.13 USB installer generally requires access to another Mac from Late-2009 to 2018. In order to create a bootable macOS 10.11 USB installer generally requires a Mac from 2007 to 2015. You can confirm compatibility for a Qualifying Mac by using this article:

https://eshop.macsales.com/guides/Mac_OS_X_Compatibility


Here is an Apple article with instructions for creating a bootable macOS USB installer assuming you have access to another compatible Qualifying Mac for the OS you are trying to create:

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support


2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 6, 2023 8:18 AM in response to bhs88

I have not tried reinstalling macOS 10.13 High Sierra through Internet Recovery Mode, but many times that error message you received indicates the security certificate for the installer is expired. First make sure you are actually installing High Sierra and not some older version of macOS since many times Macs may only be booting to the older online macOS installer for the OS which originally shipped with the Mac from the factory. Try using Command + Option + R to access Internet Recovery Mode and hopefully the online macOS 10.13 installer.


You can try changing the system date using the command line with the Terminal app which can be found on the Utilities menu on the menu bar. Use the following command to change the system date & time to Jan. 2, 2017 @ 11:33am:

date  -u  0102113317


If there are no errors, quit the Terminal app and proceed to use Disk Utility to properly erase the SSD, then select the "Reinstall macOS".


In order to create a bootable macOS 10.13 USB installer generally requires access to another Mac from Late-2009 to 2018. In order to create a bootable macOS 10.11 USB installer generally requires a Mac from 2007 to 2015. You can confirm compatibility for a Qualifying Mac by using this article:

https://eshop.macsales.com/guides/Mac_OS_X_Compatibility


Here is an Apple article with instructions for creating a bootable macOS USB installer assuming you have access to another compatible Qualifying Mac for the OS you are trying to create:

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support


Jun 5, 2023 9:38 AM in response to bhs88

1. Start up from macOS Recovery

Option-⌘-R

Upgrade to the latest macOS compatible with your Mac.


APFS won't work for Sierra, Sierra needs MacOS Extended Journaled. High Sierra won't work fir APFS on earlier Macs.


What has often worked for others is to use this Restore Method instead of CMD+r keys...


Option-⌘-R

Upgrade to the latest macOS compatible with your Mac.


2017 iMac failing to install Sierra in re… - Apple Community

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254872290?answerId=259072534022#259072534022


The recovery server could not be contacted

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