After downloading the 14MB installer from the App Store, the installer window opens. One option given by the window is to the click "Continue".
After a little while a scroll down window says, "The recovery server could not be contacted."
Why?
Is there any other option to download the macOS High Sierra?
MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013), macOS Sierra (10.12.6)
Solved.
In my case I was trying to do a re-install of the OS form the startup utilities and kept getting this error.
The trick was to set the clock. Start the Terminal app from utilities to get a bash terminal. Type `date` to display the current date/time. In my case it was set to January 1st. I remember it was common with Windows Update to fail to update your system if the system clock was not "close" to the correct time.
Set the date with:
date 1114125317
(this example sets the date to November 14th, 12:53 2017)
Re-run the recover OS option and it should work.
Solved.
In my case I was trying to do a re-install of the OS form the startup utilities and kept getting this error.
The trick was to set the clock. Start the Terminal app from utilities to get a bash terminal. Type `date` to display the current date/time. In my case it was set to January 1st. I remember it was common with Windows Update to fail to update your system if the system clock was not "close" to the correct time.
Set the date with:
date 1114125317
(this example sets the date to November 14th, 12:53 2017)
Re-run the recover OS option and it should work.
I was trying to upgrade directly from Yosemite to High Sierra and I got the 14MB installer and the same problem about being unable to contact the recovery server. I tried a number of times over a couple of weeks (even deleting the installer and downloading a new copy in case it had been updated) but got no joy - I was never able to contact the recovery server.
In the end, I decided to try an upgrade to Sierra. Although not immediately visible in the App store, this page:
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT208202
gives a link from where you can download Sierra. The Sierra upgrade went without a hitch, after which I tried the High Sierra upgrade. This time, I got the full upgrade package and updated without a problem.
In the menu bar, look for "terminal" and open. At command line, type: ntpdate -u time.apple.com
Then hit enter. Wait about 5 seconds and you'll see the command executed. Then exit out of terminal. Proceed with installing macOS High Sierra. It will take roughly 30 minutes to install so be patient.
A more robust version of the answer might be:
ntpdate -u time.apple.comTry again to install
It’s because you aren’t connected to WiFi. Look upper right corner and then connect to your WiFi. Then it will work. I had same issue and it resolved once connected to WiFi.
As I mentioned before this is what helped me....
Seems that after the internet recovery starts, the process looses the connection to the wireless HW and therefore can't get the SW...
the Ethernet cable provides the connection
Make sure you have an active internet connection and try again
Connecting directly via cable (rather than wifi) solved the issue for me. Thanks.
I found the Internet cone icon in faint ink in the far right corner. I connected to the Internet and then could proceed.
this was the problem for me.... I had tried the terminal (btw the date was correct....), etc etc etc... I tried with a USB Stick where the OS was installed.... and as soon as I connected a physical cable to the internet IT WORKED!
This is bizarre. Why/how would plugging in the Ethernet cable help? At any rate, I sceptically tried it and the recovery server error didn't come back after the computer was connected via Ethernet, and High Sierra downloaded successfully. I didn't even turn off Wi-Fi. How would Ethernetless users of MacBook Airs and other newer portables get around this issue? Anyways — thanks!
This solved my problem. Don't forget to set time to UTC
funkymedinaNov 14, 2017 1:10 PM in response to marjeo
Level 1 (9 points)Nov 14, 2017 1:10 PM Re: macOS High Sierra installer says "The recovery server could not be contacted." Why?in response to marjeo
Solved.
In my case I was trying to do a re-install of the OS form the startup utilities and kept getting this error.
The trick was to set the clock. Start the Terminal app from utilities to get a bash terminal. Type `date` to display the current date/time. In my case it was set to January 1st. I remember it was common with Windows Update to fail to update your system if the system clock was not "close" to the correct time.
Set the date with:
date 1114125317
(this example sets the date to November 14th, 12:53 2017)
Re-run the recover OS option and it should work.
Try connecting directly to ethernet, not wifi.
This worked for me, Check your network is connected 😀
I had this problem before,
it was a firewall related problem, disabling the firewall when updating the os worked for me.
macOS High Sierra installer says "The recovery server could not be contacted." Why?
