“Recovery server cannot be contacted” error while trying to reinstall macOS on a 2017 MacBook Air

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“Recovery server cannot be contacted” error while trying to reinstall macOS on a 2017 MacBook Air

Hi there,

I am having trouble with getting macOS recovery to work on my current MacBook, which is a 2017 Intel MacBook Air, which came bundled with 10.13 (High Sierra I think) from the factory (or at least, I assume so since Internet Recovery defaults to HS, Monterey was installed when I received the laptop by the way) which will not install due to the server supposedly not being contactable.

This is the only Mac I have access to, the other computer I have is a Windows laptop.

I have tried to reset the clock back to 2017, with no dice since it still can’t connect with the server, now I’m at a loss, and I don’t know what to do.

I do NOT want to send the laptop to Apple and pay for them to reimagine the system drive, I just want an operating system installed on this laptop.

Any help appreciated.

MacBook Air 13″

Posted on Nov 5, 2023 2:21 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

John Galt

Level 10

155,060 points

Nov 5, 2023 3:06 PM in response to TheRealAH2006

From all the information that I have been able to obtain, we are no longer able to reinstall macOS from Apple's Recovery servers. They seem to have silently abandoned it and no one seems to know, or care.

Resetting the clock, etc won't help. Your Windows laptop won't help. The Recovery server hosting that macOS version is gone.

That's the bad news. The good news is that if you can get your hands on a Mac capable of running High Sierra, then you can create a "bootable USB installer" by downloading High Sierra from the App Store, which apparently does not rely upon Apple's recovery server. I have verified it and it works.

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

Since you will probably be borrowing that Mac you will probably need to sign in with the Apple ID you used when you first used High Sierra on that Mac. Be sure to sign out when you're finished with it.

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Answer 2

Nov 6, 2023 12:47 PM in response to John Galt

Hi John,

It’s a good thing that I will be able to create a new bootable USB to reinstall High Sierra, and then update to the latest version of macOS that I know this laptop will run (Monterey) to make sure everything stays nice and fresh. I’ll need to contact a relative to see if I can borrow one of their MacBooks.

Thanks for the help! :)

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“Recovery server cannot be contacted” error while trying to reinstall macOS on a 2017 MacBook Air

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