"Recovery server could not be contacted" Error Message

mostly it means migration assistant (because let's face it, you are here trying to reinstall macos because migration assistant already failed for you and insisted on keeping a botched transfer of your main account and now will not let you try that again but instead wants you to send your real account to some made-up name that does not conflict with the botched initial transfer that is somehow really really important to preserve), anyway, where were we? right, reinstall macOS. Because Migration Assistant just got confused enough to toast your machine and you can't think of anything better than scrubbing it all and starting over, and like me you are frustrated that there seems no way to do that.

I am searching for the the jealously guarded really-really-wipe-my-machine-and-start-over option, and promise to update this post if i ever find it. They have hidden it well. Does this ever turn out ok?

None of these suggestions work. If people are reading these posts then they have a wi-fi signal already. Apple can't deny someone from downloading a large file because their bandwidth speed is not at certain level.

I was able to manually download the full dmg for Sierra from the app store after doing some digging. Idk why Apple has to have us download a smaller app to run and then download basically the same target file.

So if anyone has a clear set of instructions on where to download the dmg file that would be fantastic.

Spent 45 minutes with Apple support chat today and they guy had no freakin' clue what to do....I remember the days when you could click on the update and it would automatically start downloading with no drama or youtube videos.

Happy new year to all

I was able to download it i think is the wi-fi connectivity issue. I also tried Ethernet but to no avail. For sure I have no network issues because i can use in prior to initiating because i can use in prior to initiating Sierra installation

That works!!!!

There's one thing I'm missing... since when is an INTERNET CONNECTION required to install software I purchased on a device I purchased!?

bought used iMac, and trying to reinstall macOS High Sirrra, but keep saying The recovery server could not be contacted

Hi I’m having the same problem and I’ve tried everything you guys have and it still says “recover server could not be contacted” what do I do ? I need to use my laptop for homework!

yes Bdaqua I have the 10.13.6

So, you can or cannot download that?

Are you still having connection problems?

Thanks, I do think they messed up on updates/upgrades lately.

Hello. Dear. How it work for date of today or how i would write the date

Wow! This actually worked! Thank you so much!!!!!

Great to hear! :)

if you are attempting to use a WiFi connection, plug in a network cable instead.

Patty.W wrote:

🙂😝

d4ma7or wrote:

What I had to end up doing was recovery booting , open disk utility and completely nuke everything but the recovery partition. Then boot back up into internet recovery mode. This takes forever but eventually you will get back to the recovery menu and from there just reinstall OSX , it will look like it’s hung up on 5 or 6 minutes or whatever but eventually it will finish. It might take a couple hours. Just wait it out and it will reformat your hard drive and your system will be like new. Oh, and you’ll lose any saved data so before you do this try to move your data around with the command line back in recovery mode.(look up copying files via terminal).'