How Long Does Internet Recovery Take on a MacBook Pro 2018?

When your MacBook Pro 2018 is no longer performing as it should, you can use macOS Recovery mode to reinstall the operating system. In scenarios where the internal recovery resources are corrupt, your Mac may default to Internet Recovery mode, connecting to Apple servers via an internet connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet). This process can be initiated manually by powering on your system and holding the ? Option ? Command R keys until the globe icon appears.

Common Issues With Internet Recovery

However, due to poor internet connectivity or power outages, the Internet Recovery process may not complete successfully and can get stuck. This incomplete reinstallation of macOS could result in data loss. But don't worry! You can follow the steps outlined below to recover inaccessible data and successfully complete the macOS installation.

Use an Active Internet Connection

Your Mac may not complete the Internet Recovery process in the following scenarios:

Internet Recovery stuck on Apple logo Internet Recovery stuck on Wi-Fi selection Internet Recovery stuck on a gray screen Internet Recovery stuck on a spinning globe Internet Recovery stuck at 24 hours

In any of these cases, you should forcefully shut down your Mac. Ensure you have a stable Wi-Fi network or a wired Ethernet connection to start the Internet Recovery process. If the issue persists, continue to the next troubleshooting steps:

Reset NVRAM, PRAM, and SMC

If you are still unable to complete the Internet Recovery process even with a stable internet connection, you can try resetting your Mac's settings:

Power on your Mac. Immediately press and hold the ? Command ? Option P R keys. Release the keys after about 20 seconds. Your Mac will either restart or start up. To reset the SMC on your Mac: For iMac or Mac mini: Shut down the system, unplug the power cable, wait for 15 seconds, and then plug it back in. Wait 5 seconds and then restart your Mac. For MacBook Air/Pro with a T2 chip: Shut down your Mac, then press and hold the power button for 10 seconds, and release it. Wait a few seconds and then restart your Mac. For MacBook Air/Pro with a non-removable battery and no T2 chip: Shut down your Mac, then press and hold the ? Shift ? Option Command power button for 10 seconds. Release the keys and start your Mac normally. For MacBook Air/Pro with a detachable battery: Shut down your Mac, remove the battery, press and hold the power button for 5 seconds, and reinstall the battery. Start your Mac.

After performing these resets, you can try to complete the Internet Recovery process with an active internet connection. If this still does not work, proceed to the next solution:

Use a Bootable Mac Data Recovery Software

You can use a bootable Mac data recovery software to retrieve your inaccessible data from the Mac that has corrupt macOS due to a stuck Internet Recovery process:

Download and install Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Mac on a working Mac, activating it using the purchased license key. Connect an empty USB flash drive with at least 8GB of storage space and launch the Mac data recovery software. Click on the Click here link beside Create Recovery Drive. Follow the on-screen instructions to create a bootable USB flash drive. Connect the bootable drive to the affected Mac. Turn on the Mac and hold the ? Option key. Release the key when the Startup Manager appears. Select the Stellar USB recovery drive and press Return. Your Mac will now boot from the recovery drive. On the macOS Utilities window, click StellarDataRecovery and then click Continue. Use the software to scan and recover data from your Mac. Save the recovered data to an external hard drive. After the data recovery, use a high-speed active internet connection to reinstall macOS using the Internet Recovery method. Finish by restoring the recovered data to your revived Mac. Note: The Create Recovery Drive function is also available in the Premium and Technician versions of the software.

By following these steps, you can recover your data and complete the macOS installation process even if Internet Recovery stalls. Using a bootable data recovery software can be your savior when issues arise during the Internet Recovery process.

Use a Bootable Installer

If you have recovered your data using a bootable data recovery software, you can proceed to reinstall macOS using a bootable installer if the Internet Recovery did not work:

Connect the bootable installer (DVD, USB Flash Drive, or USB Drive) to your Mac. In macOS Recovery, open Terminal and enter the following command in the command prompt: sudo /Applications/Install macOS Big --volume /Volumes/MyVolume Replace macOS Big with the name of the macOS version you are installing, for example, macOS Catalina. Replace MyVolume with the name of the bootable installer, and press Return. Type your admin password when prompted and press Return. The password characters will not appear on the screen. Type Y to confirm the erasure of your Mac's storage drive. You have already backed up data using the bootable data recovery software, so don't worry. Click OK to enable reproduction from the bootable installer. Once Terminal says done, stop Terminal and eject the bootable installer. Now restore the recovered data to the revived Mac.

Conclusion

A bootable data recovery software like Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Mac can be a savior if your MacBook Pro 2018 is stuck in Internet Recovery and no other troubleshooting method works. This software is compatible with the latest macOS Big Sur and supports APFS, HFS, HFS , and other file systems. Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Mac comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.