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M1 Silicon macOS and Recovery

Description

Apple M1silicon devicesMac requirecomputers anuse alternatea method fordifferent Recovery Modestartup flow than Intel Mac computers, and otherActivation considerationsLock maycan needaffect torecovery actioned.after erase or restore workflows.

FileWave has seen instancescases where M1Apple macOSsilicon devicesMac arecomputers were no longer accessible after the first reboot following DEPAutomated enrolment.Device ItEnrollment. isThis believedappears to be related to the triggermanaged for this experience is centred around the Adminadmin account having never loggedcompleting in.a login before that reboot.

Erasing M1 devices

It is possible to use Apple Configurator tocan Restorerevive or restore Apple Siliconsilicon M1Mac macOS devices.computers. This requires a second deviceMac along withand the requirements listed details fromin Apple's KB:guide:

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/apple-configurator-2/apdd5f3c75ad/mac

  • Up to Up-to-date Apple Configurator Appapp
  • Network access to Apple
  • USB-C to USB-C cable (supporting both power and data)

Follow Apple's guidelinesrestore shouldor berevive followedworkflow to restorefor the deviceaffected Mac.

Activation Lock

If Activation Lock was enabled onenabled, the device,Mac thenmay theask abovefor process will block access to the device once recovered; a request to enteran Apple ID and password willafter berestore. presented.For However,organization-owned itdevices, isuse likelyRecovery there is no Apple ID associatedAssistant to the device.  In this instance Recovery Mode should be used to accessenter the menusMDM toActivation addLock inbypass thecode appropriate Bypass Code.instead.

TheActivation ByPassLock Codesbypass codes are available from the FileWave AdminCentral Assistants drop down menu:

  • Activation Lock Management

Recovery Mode

M1On SiliconApple devicessilicon haveMac a newer method to boot into Recovery Mode;computers, hold down the Powerpower Buttonbutton until the screen displays:shows 'Loading startup options' to enter Recovery.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mac-help/mchl82829c17/mac

To enter the Activation Lock code:

  • Choose 'Recovery Assistant' from the Menumenu Barbar
  • Select with MDM key
  • Use the key from the AdminFileWave consoleCentral Activation Lock Management window for this device

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mdm/apd593fdd1c9/web

At this point the device should be accessible again and a fresh enrolment maycan be actioned.enrolled again if needed.

Failure to PersonalisePersonalize

There is an additional issue that Apple havealso identified:documents this restore-related error:

  • "An error occurred while preparing the update. Failed to personalize the software update. Please try again."

Again,Apple's Applearticle have a KB onfor this issue:issue is here:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211983

The previous startup keys combinations used for Intel macOS devices do not apply to M1 Silicon macOS devices:
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201255

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