Startup Security Utility

I have a totally erased drive on a 2018 MacBook Air. I cannot install ANYTHING on it because it times out or gives me an error. I a trying to install Big Sur from a bootable external drive, but I CANNOT get it to boot because I cannot get past this security, and because there is NO USER ACCOUNT on the drive because I wiped it clean!!! I ran Command D Hardware test and it comes back as no issue!! HELP!!! IS this a hardware issue??? I had trouble ever since I did the Sonoma Update 14.1.2. Computer kept shutting down randomly. Disk First Aid cannot fix..even Terminal not helping!!! HELP!!!

MacBook Air (2018 – 2020)

Posted on Dec 31, 2023 11:54 AM

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HWTech

Community+ 2026

Level 9

72,142 points

Posted on Dec 31, 2023 7:27 PM

If you have erased the computer and never previously modified the security settings using the Startup Security Utility, then you cannot boot from USB now until you get macOS reinstalled through Internet Recovery Mode. That is your only option now with a Mac using the T2 security chip.

To access Internet Recovery Mode, you can use the following startup keys:

Command + Option + R to access the most recent version of macOS...currently 14.x Sonoma

Command + R to access the installer for the last OS installed on this Mac prior to erasing it

Command + Option + Shift + R to access the online installer for the OS which originally shipped on the laptop from the factory which I believe is 10.14.1

Some Macs may only boot to the online installer for the OS which originally shipped with the computer from the factory no matter which startup keys are used.

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Startup Security Utility

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