Fixing "The Recovery Server Could Not Be Contacted" Error in macOS High Sierra

Encountering the frustrating error message “The recovery server could not be contacted” when trying to install or reinstall macOS High Sierra can be a major roadblock. Many users have spent considerable time searching for a solution to this issue. This guide provides a clear, step-by-step method to bypass this error and successfully install macOS High Sierra, drawing upon proven solutions from various user forums.

This solution focuses on creating a bootable USB drive and utilizing specific Terminal commands to circumvent the recovery server issue. Let’s get your Mac running smoothly again.

Step-by-Step Solution: Creating a Bootable USB Installer for macOS High Sierra

This method involves using a patcher tool to download the necessary macOS High Sierra files directly from Apple and then creating a bootable USB drive.

Prerequisites

USB Flash Drive: A minimum of 16GB is recommended.
Patcher Application: Download a reliable macOS patcher tool. (You can search online for “macOS High Sierra patcher tool”).

Downloading macOS High Sierra DMG

Launch the Patcher Application: Open the patcher application you downloaded. If you encounter a security prompt, navigate to System Preferences > Security & Privacy and allow the application to open.
Download DMG from Apple: Once the patcher is open, locate the Tools menu in the menu bar. Select the option to download the DMG directly from Apple. This method often proves faster and more reliable than downloading from other sources, and avoids potential verification issues.
Verification and Application Creation: The patcher will download and verify the macOS High Sierra DMG file. Upon completion, it may ask if you want to create a bootable drive. Do not proceed with creating the bootable drive using the patcher at this stage. We will create it manually using Terminal for a more reliable process.
Locate the Installer Application: Find the downloaded “Install macOS High Sierra” application in your Downloads folder.
Move to Applications Folder: Copy the “Install macOS High Sierra” application from your Downloads folder and paste it into your Applications folder.

Formatting the USB Drive

Insert USB Drive: Plug your USB flash drive into your Mac.
Open Disk Utility: Go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.
Select USB Drive: In Disk Utility, select your USB drive from the sidebar.
Erase and Format: Click Erase. In the formatting options:
- Name: Enter MyVolume (This is crucial for the Terminal command later).
- Format: Choose macOS Extended (Journaled).
- Scheme: Select GUID Partition Map.
Click Erase and then Done.

Creating the Bootable Installer via Terminal

Open Terminal: Go to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
Enter the Command: Carefully type or paste the following command into the Terminal window. Ensure you have named your USB drive MyVolume and moved the installer app to the Applications folder as instructed:
```
sudo /Applications/Install macOS High Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
```
Enter Password: Press Enter. You will be prompted to enter your administrator password. Type your password (characters will not be displayed) and press Enter.
Wait for Completion: The bootable drive creation process will begin. This may take around 8 minutes. Terminal will display progress information. Do not interrupt the process.
Eject USB Drive: Once Terminal indicates the process is complete, eject your USB drive.

Bypassing the Recovery Server Error During Installation

Now that you have a bootable USB drive, you can use it to install macOS High Sierra and bypass the “recovery server” error.

Booting from the USB Drive

Insert USB Drive: Insert the bootable USB drive into the Mac where you want to install High Sierra.
Power On and Hold Option Key: Turn on or restart the Mac and immediately press and hold the Option (⌥) key.
Select Bootable Drive: The Startup Manager will appear, displaying bootable volumes. Select the USB drive you just created (it will likely be named “Install macOS High Sierra” or similar). Press Enter.

Disconnecting Network

Disable Network Connections: Before proceeding with the installation from the Utilities screen, disconnect any Ethernet cable and turn off Wi-Fi on the Mac. This is a critical step to avoid the recovery server error.

Setting the Date via Terminal

Open Terminal from Utilities: Once you are at the “macOS Utilities” screen (you might initially boot directly to the installer, in which case proceed to the next steps, but if you see the Utilities screen, follow these steps), go to the Utilities menu in the menu bar and select Terminal.
Set Date Command: In the Terminal, type the following command and press Enter:
```
date 0101010118
```
This command sets the date to January 1st, 2018. Setting an older date can help bypass issues related to expired certificates or server communication problems.

Disabling SIP via Terminal

Disable SIP Command: In the same Terminal window, type the following command and press Enter to disable System Integrity Protection (SIP):
```
csrutil disable
```

Restart and Install

Restart from Apple Menu: Click the Apple icon in the menu bar and select Restart.
Boot from USB Again (if necessary): If the system restarts back to the Utilities screen, restart again holding the Option (⌥) key and select your bootable USB drive.
Install macOS: This time, you should be able to proceed with the macOS High Sierra installation. Follow the on-screen instructions to install macOS on your selected drive. Remember to format your target drive using Disk Utility (as macOS Extended (Journaled) and GUID Partition Map) if you haven’t already done so, before starting the installation process.

Conclusion

By creating a bootable USB installer, disconnecting from the network, manipulating the date, and disabling SIP temporarily, you can effectively bypass the “recovery server could not be contacted” error in macOS High Sierra. This detailed guide should help you successfully install the operating system and resolve this persistent issue. While it might seem like a complex workaround, following these steps carefully will get your Mac back up and running.

Fixing “The Recovery Server Could Not Be Contacted” Error in macOS High Sierra