Can't access recovery on MacBook pro 2011 13 inch

Question

Level 1

4 points

Can't access recovery on MacBook pro 2011 13 inch

So a couple months ago I tried to install windows but it kept black screening after installing the drivers (keep in mind this model doesn't include the failing AMD GPU and just uses the igpu) well it would still let me access the bootloader with Alt and MacOS but I decided to Try again later. Now I'm trying it after a few months and all it does is show windows and then black screen after loading into it. Restarting it and trying to do boot into recovery with Command + R or the bootloader with Alt does nothing, the windows logo just instantly pops up. All I want to do is get MacOS working with the bootloader and everything and if possible recover my files from MacOS. Sadly the screen is broken so I use the trick with closing the lid and using an external screen to use it. I have access to 2x 16gb USB drives, a 2015 Mac with windows and Mac installed and a 500gb external hdd.

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Jan 9, 2025 7:30 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

HWTech

Level 9

69,674 points

Jan 9, 2025 8:37 AM in response to Owrnp123

Sounds like your keyboard is not being recognized. You need to press & hold the Option key immediately after hearing the startup chime. Pressing the key(s) too soon or too late will result in the key(s) not being recognized.

Try a PRAM Reset (hold for at least three chimes).

Theoretically you should also be able press the Recovery Mode and Internet Recovery Mode keys while sitting on the Option Boot screen with the Apple boot picker menu (at least I have done so with some Macs), so if you can Option Boot, then you may want to try the Internet Recovery keys while the Apple boot picker menu is shown.

Edit: You can also try using the built-in keyboard to start the boot process, then close the lid.

Reply

Answer 2

varjak paw

Level 10

182,668 points

Jan 9, 2025 8:23 AM in response to Owrnp123

The Windows installation probably blew away the recovery partition. Have you tried booting to Internet Recovery? Option-Command-R or Shift-Option-Command-R. If that works, repartition and reformat the drive and then see if you can get macOS installed. If Internet Recovery doesn't work, you'll need to try and create a bootable installer on another Mac. See:

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

Regards.

Reply

Answer 3

Owrnp123 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 11, 2025 2:27 AM in response to HWTech

Nope nothing works, I've tried an external and the MacBook keyboard and all it does is just go to the windows screen. Sometimes windows gives me advanced recovery where I can select MacOS to boot but that just puts me into windows again but maybe I could boot something from there, not a Mac USB tho since it's not recognized. Pram reset also doesn't work

Reply

Answer 4

Owrnp123 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 9, 2025 8:28 AM in response to varjak paw

I haven't tried internet recovery yet and I'll try it later, but how would I boot into a bootable USB if it doesn't let me access the bootloader by holding alt?

Reply