Proper USB-C for Apple Configurator?

Hi sp_clark,

The USB-C power cable (not MagSafe) for my M1 MacBook Air has consistently worked fine for me in Apple Configurator. Apple's 0.5m Thunderbolt 3 cable also works, although not for restoring early versions of macOS Big Sur.

To confirm, did you plug the cable into the USB-C port closest to the screen and Esc key on your 14" M1? That's the only port that works for DFU mode on that model.

Errors can occur at various stages of the restore, but the only stage that actually matters is the last one - where the Mac finally gets restored. If you use the normal restore flow, Configurator goes through 3 additional stages first - figuring things out, downloading the right restore file, and then unpacking it.

If you want to skip the first 3 prep stages and get right to restoring, you can pre-download the restore file (IPSW). On your M3 14" MBP, head over to https://ipsw.me, select the correct model for your M1 14" MBP, and then download the latest IPSW file available (currently 14.1.1). All of the download links on that site redirect to genuine Apple software update servers. (The file is about 12-14 GB large.)

Once the IPSW file is downloaded, put your M1 14" MBP into DFU mode, and open Apple Configurator on your M3 14" MBP. Drag the IPSW file downloaded earlier onto the DFU square that appears in Configurator. When asked what to do with the firmware file, choose to Restore. Configurator will then skip the preparation stages and immediately start restoring your M1 14" MBP (it should show "Stage 2/2: Restoring firmware" or something similar).

When using a pre-downloaded file, the only errors I can think of that would occur would be one of the following:

• Activation Lock: Apple Configurator claims the restore failed, but the M1 14" successfully starts into macOS Recovery and shows an Activation Lock Screen. This is actually a successful restore; you just need to clear Activation Lock.
• Bad internet: Although you don't need to download the firmware, an Internet connection is still required to validate the restore with Apple and activate the M1 14".
• Transient error: This is rare, but just try restoring again. If you pre-downloaded the firmware it's faster to retry.
• Bad cable: It's possible that this could happen; a different cable might potentially work better.

Hope this helps!

sp_clark wrote:

So my 14" M3 MBP arrived last week, I was gonna 'wipe' my trade-in (Late '21) 14" M1 MBP before sending it back this week.

Apple's instructions say 'not all USB-C cables will work' then offer a a link to one they used to sell for both power and data.

I tried using a USB-C cable I'd successfully used when the 14" M1 arrived for 'wiping' the first M1 13" I'd used for 6 months.

Got an error after a bit, had to resort to simply using the Settings selection for going back to Square 1. Ended up with the opening page asking for what country I'm in so it did use my wireless to bring in a fresh Ventura OS.

I'd like more reassurance that the data that had been on that 14" M1 is really, truly gone before shipping it off. Configurator will do that but I've had no success getting it to function so far.

So what USB-C cables are out there now that WILL work for this function?

About the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) Cable

Use USB-C cables with Mac - Apple Support

Why Is Apple's USB-C Cable $130?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD5aAd8Oy84