When trying to reinstall macOS on a iMac mid 2011, I get an error message "the recovery server could not be contacted." I've checked the wifi connection and it's working fine. I do not have the option to use Ethernet. Is there anything else I can try?
High Sierra is the latest OS version that Mac can run. Do you still need to reinstall it?
When you boot Recovery with the intent of reinstalling OS X / macOS, the Utilities menu at the top of the screen has a selection for Terminal. It's not one of the four choices that appear in the main screen.
How to start up from macOS Recovery - Apple Support
Excerpt:
"Other utilities, such as Terminal, are available from the menu bar at the top of the screen."
Personally I suspect they're punting on the question. You wrote that your Wi-Fi connection was working fine, so what's the problem? If pressed to identify the specific "hardware issue" or the reason for their allegation I'll bet they draw a blank. Anything to get the customer off the phone.
Apple Diagnostics / Apple Hardware Test will readily identify overt hardware failures: Use Apple Diagnostics to test your Mac - Apple Support
I did not want to say it earlier but a 2011 iMac is really too old to support Internet Recovery. There are some cases of 2011’s working but they are rare. If you still have the original HD in it (hard to believe if you do) and it works, it has a Recovery partition. I would recover from that and backup ASAP and then replace the machine ASAPier!
I don’t think you need another person telling you it’s way past time but you really need to get rid of it.I had one too and loved it but when it could no longer run current versions of Mac OS that was when I got rid of it. Just like I intend to do with my current 2020 iMac. The version of Mac OS installed (Tahoe 26) is it’s last hurrah, in 2026 it will be replaced.
Yes I've already replaced the iMac with a MacBook Air. I'm just trying to clean it up to get rid of it. I have someone interested in taking it, as may still useful for some basic functions like video conferencing and playing music.
I haven't upgraded the hard drive, so does that mean that I do have a Recovery partition? How do I know? (BTW the iMac is running High Sierra 10.13.6)
i installed High Sierra on a 2011 mac mini in October 2025
i downloaded the installer fresh off Apple servers, created a bootable thumbdrive installer through Terminal -- i did both procedures on a 2012 MacBook Pro -- you will need to solve that issue having a machine that will download the 10.13 installer if your 2011 is non functional
i booted the 2011 off the 10.13x installer thumbdrive, opened Disk Utility, Erased the target drive, and then installed to an empty SSD
I can't remember if Software Update had any updates, be sure to check
High Sierra is mostly equal to Sierra EXCEPT High Sierra supports APFS formatting for Solid State Drives SSD -- that's probably where you want to be
if you have HDD hardware (spinning sata drive) -- you probably want macOS Sierra 10.12x (format HDD HFS+ before installing)
It is posssible it has a recovery partition, you would need to boot it into that to see if it does or not. Honestly, I’d just use one of Apple’s free recycling programs and let them get rid of it responsibly. The person interested in it, well you would not be doing them any favors by giving it to them. It’s had its day, its 15 years old now and should be used to make the next generation of whatevever.
I have someone interested in taking it, as may still useful for some basic functions like video conferencing and playing music.
That Mac can do a lot more than that. It runs the latest version of Linux Mint beautifully, and Linux Mint runs the latest versions of everything.
You don't need to reinstall an operating system. Just erase it in accordance with the below and give it to your friend the way it is.
What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support
You can stop at Step 5-2. No need to reinstall macOS.
thank you John but this doesn't work for me as I have an old version of MacOS.
I was wrong ... it may work for me as I also have High Sierra. How do I get to Terminal? I don't see it in Utilities.
The most simple method to open Terminal (or any other app) is open Spotlight and type the apps name and hit enter. The app will launch.
According to the folks at Apple Support, my problem is that I can't connect to recovery because of a hardware issue on my old iMac. Thanks for your suggestion though.
A mid-2011 supports Internet Recovery: Computers that can be upgraded to use OS X Internet Recovery - Apple Support
error with macOS reinstall on iMac mid 2011
