To start with, how to run first aid from recovery?
To run first aid from recovery: back up your mac data, boot your mac into recovery mode, and repair your mac disk using first aid.
First Aid can be launched from a startup drive, but it cannot repair until certain actions are taken. An infected startup drive on a Mac could cause operations to overwrite the original data. Data loss consequently happens. You must make a backup of your data before launching First Aid to avoid data loss. Data recovery can help you backup your data if you don’t already.
For more specific information, keep reading.
Table of Contents
What Situations Require Running First Aid From Recovery?
In general, there are 3 situations:
Your Mac Won’t Turn On All The Way
Your Mac computer will not successfully boot up if macOS crashes or the startup disk is corrupted or damaged. Run First Aid from Recovery if you need to fix your Mac disk using it.
You Want To Fix The Startup Disk On Mac
Your Mac must first boot into Recovery Mode before you can access Disk Utility or use First Aid to check and repair the drive if you want to repair your startup disk.
First Aid Found Corruption On The Disk
First Aid can identify and fix issues with a disk’s formatting and directory structure on your Mac. However, if the tool finds corruption on your disk, it will prompt you: First Aid found corruption that needs to be repaired. Run First Aid from Recovery in order to restore the startup volume.
To view more relevant details, click Show Details. For example, you can see the error code like
It is necessary to repair the corrupted volume on the Macintosh HD.
A partition map issue was discovered that might make booting impossible.
Any type of error you see only requires you to launch First Aid from Recovery and then use this tool to repair the disk.
Run First Aid From Recovery
First Aid cannot be started from Recovery in a single action. The whole process includes the following steps:
- Step 1: Back up your Mac data
- Step 2: Boot your Mac into Recovery Mode
- Step 3: How to run First Aid from Recovery
- Step 4: Repair your Mac disk using First Aid
In the sections that follow, we will now introduce these steps.
Back Up Your Mac Data
Make sure you have a recent backup of your Mac data in order to protect it. In that case, you ought to make a local backup of your Mac.
Advice: You can skip directly to Step 2 if you don’t need to back up your Mac.
Backup Method 1: Use Time Machine
Your Mac can be backed up using Time Machine if it boots up normally. However, this approach is not available if your Mac won’t boot up completely. Third-party software must be used.
Backup Method 2: Use Stellar Data Recovery for Mac
A Mac data recovery program is a good option to recover data from an unbootable Mac computer. Stellar Data Recovery for Mac is an option. Mac data recovery software of the highest caliber. It is compatible with macOS Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, and other versions.
In order to recover data from a Mac that won’t boot normally, you must use this software’s Professional or higher edition to create a recovery drive and then boot your Mac from that drive. You can visit the MiniTool website to purchase the Professional or a more sophisticated edition, depending on your needs. Furthermore, since your Mac won’t boot, you must create this recovery drive using a normal functioning Mac and a USB drive.
All files on the USB drive will be deleted during the creation of the recovery drive. If the USB drive contains important files, you should make a backup of them.
You might not know how to make a recovery drive and use it to recover your Mac’s data if you’re a beginner. Here, we will show you a full guide:
Stage 1: Create a Recovery Drive
- Connect a Mac that is operating normally to a USB drive.
- On that Mac, download and install Stellar Data Recovery for Mac.
- Enter the software’s main interface by registering it with the license key you were given.
- To proceed, select the Click here link in the bottom left corner of the software.
- On the next, tiny interface, you must choose the USB drive that is currently connected. Next, proceed by clicking the Create Recovery Drive button.
- Another interface appears, warning you of the repercussions. If everything is ready, press OK.
- You’ll see a prompt after the process is finished. To close the prompt, click OK.
- Remove the USB drive’s plug from the Mac.
Stage 2: Rescue Your Mac Data
- To save your Mac data at this stage, you must prepare and attach an external storage drive to your computer. To store the data you want to restore, the external drive needs to have enough space.
- Your unbootable MacBook should have both the external storage drive and the USB recovery drive connected.
- Press and hold the Power button until the startup options window appears on a Mac computer built with Apple silicon.
When using a Mac with an Intel processor, you must first turn on your Mac by pressing the Power button, and then you must immediately press and hold Command+R until you see the Apple logo. The window for startup options is then also visible.
- To continue, pick RecoveryDrive.
- (This is Mac Recovery Mode) The macOS Utilities interface appears. Click Continue after selecting StellarDataRecovery.
- You access the primary user interface of the software. To proceed, you must select the data type that you want to restore and click the Next button. Simply turn on the Recover Everything button if you want to recover all types.
- The drives that this software can find on your Mac are displayed. Next, you must decide which drive you want to use for data recovery. Deep Scan is not chosen by default. The deep scan must be manually activated if you want to run one.
- To begin scanning the chosen drive, click the Scan button.
- For a few minutes, scanning will be taking place. You must wait patiently for the process to be completed. As soon as the scanning is finished, a window will appear to inform you. The window must be closed by clicking the OK button.
- The scan’s outcomes will be displayed. The files you want to restore must then be checked. If you’re unsure, you can double-click the file to see a preview and confirm.
- Click the Recover button to continue after selecting the files you require.
- The connected external storage drive must be chosen as the output drive by clicking the Browse button on the pup-up interface.
- To save your chosen files, click the Save button.
Now that your Mac files have been saved, they are secure.
Boot Your Mac Into Recovery Mode
First Aid: How do I run it from Recovery? Accessing Mac Recovery Mode is the first step. It was covered in the section above. Or you can refer to the following instructions:
Repair Your Mac Disk Using First Aid
- On the top toolbar, there is a First Aid button. Click it to proceed once you’ve chosen the target volume.
- A small interface pops up, saying Run First Aid on “the name of the disk“? To confirm the action, click the Run or Repair Disk buttons.
- The chosen disk will now be checked by this utility. You will see the prompt for success when the process is finished successfully. To end the prompt, select Done. See more about Why Is First Aid Important?
Repair A Mac Disk With Disk Utility
Use the First Aid feature of Disk Utility to find and repair disk errors
The directory structure and formatting errors on a Mac disk can be found and fixed using Disk Utility. When using your Mac, errors can cause unexpected behavior, and serious errors may prevent your Mac from even starting up at all.
Make sure your Mac is currently backed up before continuing in case you need to recover damaged files or Disk Utility discovers errors that it is unable to fix.
Open Disk Utility
The Utilities folder of your Applications folder is where you typically open Disk Utility. However, if your Mac doesn’t start up all the way, or you want to repair the disk your Mac starts up from, open Disk Utility from macOS Recovery:
- Determine whether you’re using a Mac with Apple silicon, then follow the appropriate steps:
- Apple silicon: After turning on your Mac, press and hold the power button until the startup options window appears. Continue by clicking the Options-labeled gear icon after doing so.
- Intel processor: After turning on your Mac, press and hold Command () and R simultaneously until you see the Apple logo or another image.
- It might be necessary for you to choose a user whose password you know. After choosing the user, click Next and type in their administrator password.
- Click Continue after selecting Disk Utility in the macOS Recovery’s utilities window.
Select Your Disk In Disk Utility
Select View > Show All Devices (if available) from the Disk Utility menu bar or toolbar.
Starting with your startup disk, the sidebar in Disk Utility should now display every disk or other storage device that is currently in use. Any containers and volumes on each disk should be visible beneath it. Don’t see your disk?
In this illustration, the startup disk (APPLE SSD) contains one container and two volumes (Macintosh HD and Macintosh HD – Data). Your disk might not have a container and it might have a different number of volumes.
Repair Volumes, Then Containers, Then Disks
Choose the last volume on each disk that needs repair before selecting the First Aid button or tab.
Here, Macintosh HD – Data is the final volume on the disk.
To start looking for errors on the chosen volume, click Run.
- The Repair Disk button should be selected if there is no Run button.
- Skip this step for the selected disk, container, or volume if the button is dim and you are unable to click it.
- Enter your administrator password if a password is required to unlock the disk.
Select the item directly above the volume that Disk Utility has finished examining, then launch First Aid once more. First Aid should be run for each volume, then each container, then the disk itself as you move up the list.
In this case, the components were repaired in the following order: Apple SSD, Macintosh HD-Data, Macintosh HD, Container disk4, and Macintosh HD.
Exit Disk Utility once you’re finished. You can restart your Mac if you used Disk Utility from macOS Recovery by selecting Apple menu > Restart.
If Disk Utility Found Errors That It Can’t Repair
Use Disk Utility to format your disk if it discovered errors that it was unable to fix.
If Your Disk Doesn’t Appear In Disk Utility
Disk Utility will not be able to see any containers or volumes on your disk if it cannot see your disk. In that case, follow these steps:
- Unplug all auxiliary devices from your Mac after it has been powered off.
- If you’re fixing an external drive, be sure to use a cable that you are confident is in working order to connect it directly to your Mac. Then switch the drive on and off.
- If Disk Utility still doesn’t show your disk, your Mac might require repair. Contact Apple Support if you require assistance.
Conclusion
We trust that this article has shown you how to use First Aid from Recovery to fix a corrupt disk on a Mac. Furthermore, we wish Stellar Data Recovery for Mac could assist you in regaining the Mac data that you require.
I appreciate you reading.
FAQs
How do I run First Aid on Mac from recovery? ›
- In the Disk Utility app on your Mac, choose View > Show All Devices. ...
- In the sidebar, select a volume, then click the First Aid button .
- In the First Aid dialog, click Run, then follow the onscreen instructions.
- When the First Aid process is complete, click Done.
In Finder, navigate to Applications > Utilities. In that folder, you'll find Activity Monitor. Double-click it to start it. Alternatively, click the Spotlight in the top right of your Mac's screen.
Can you run First Aid on macOS base system? ›You can use Disk Utility's First Aid on your Mac's startup drive. However, you're limited to only performing a verification of the drive while the operating system is actively running from the same disk. If there's an error, First Aid will display it but won't attempt to repair the drive.
How long does running First Aid on Mac take? ›Usually, running Mac First Aid will require no more than five minutes. If there are no errors found on the target disk or volume, less time will use.
What do you do when Mac recovery doesn't work? ›- Try again – and make sure you are using the right key combination. ...
- Check your keyboard. ...
- Try a different way to access Recovery mode (M-series Macs) ...
- Try alternative Recovery options (Intel Macs) ...
- Check if your Recovery partition is there/working.
- Restart the computer.
- Open the BIOS.
- Select the Boot option from the drop-down menu.
- Change the order of the options such that the hard disc is the first option.
- Save these options.
- Restart the computer again.
- On your Android phone or tablet, open your device's Settings app. Google. Manage your Google Account.
- At the top, tap Data & privacy.
- Scroll to "History settings."
- Tap My Activity.
You can also hit Command + Shift + U on your keyboard. Then open the Activity Monitor. This app shows you all the processes that are running on your Mac, including disk activity, memory usage, and more.
How do I run a system diagnostic on a Mac? ›Turn on your Mac, then immediately press and hold the D key on your keyboard as your Mac starts up. Release when you see a progress bar or you're asked to choose a language.
What does it mean to run First Aid on Mac? ›Use the First Aid feature of Disk Utility to find and repair disk errors. Disk Utility can find and repair errors related to the formatting and directory structure of a Mac disk. Errors can lead to unexpected behavior when using your Mac, and significant errors might even prevent your Mac from starting up completely.
How do I run First Aid from recovery on Mac Mojave? ›
Boot to your Recovery HD by pressing and holding down the Command and R keys, then release when you see the boot screen and then once booted you should see a dialogue box that includes Disk Utility, click on that and then run First Aid from there.
Is running First Aid on Mac good? ›First Aid is a great tool for helping fix various issues relating to replacing parts on a Mac.
How many times a week should I shut down my Mac? ›However, it's advisable to restart your Mac every few days, so if a few times a week you can complete the tasks you are working on before the end of the day so that you can shut down your Mac it will thank you for it.
How often should I run Disk Utility on my Mac? ›The Disk Utility tool can be used for repairing disk permissions and it is important to run it once every 2-3 months to keep your Mac storage healthy and fully functional. You can check out Apple's disk utility guide to learn what it can do on different versions of macOS.
How do I run Mac in repair mode? ›Command (⌘)-R: Start up from the built-in macOS Recovery system. Or use Option-Command-R or Shift-Option-Command-R to start up from macOS Recovery over the internet.
Can you recover files from a Mac that won't start? ›Data recovery from iMac is easy. If you can turn on your iMac but won't boot up properly, you can force the iMac into “Target Disk Mode” to retrieve the data. You need a working Mac and a thunderbolt cable to complete the task. If your iMac is relatively new, you need a USB-C type of Thunderbolt 3 cable.
How do you reset an unresponsive Mac? ›However, in some cases—for example, if your Mac becomes unresponsive—you may need to use a different startup method. Press and hold the power button on your Mac until it shuts off. After a moment, press the power button again to start your Mac.
Can a faulty hard drive cause no boot? ›Bad sectors or other hard drive issues
Problems on a hard drive, like bad sectors, can cause Windows not to boot up successfully. Hard drive issues can occur without warning, but they can also be fixed in many cases.
This tool is called Check Disk (chkdsk). To run Check Disk on a drive: Open My Computer (Start, My Computer) then right click on the drive you want to scan and select Properties. Select the Tools tab, then click on the Check Now button.
How do I clear a corrupted hard drive? ›- Go to Computer/This PC >> Select Hard Drive >> Choose Properties.
- Select Tools >> Error checking >> Check now >> Check local disk >> Start.
- Shut down all open and running programs >> wait for the system to check upon the next boot >> restart the PC.
Can someone screen mirror my phone without me knowing? ›
Unfortunately, the answer is “yes.” There are a number of spy apps that can sit hidden your phone and record everything you do. The snoop can watch every detail of your life and you'll never know.
Can monitor activity be tracked? ›Monitoring software can track when you're active or stalled by collecting your keyboard and mouse data. Certain types of activity can also lead to alerts to employers. If you use social media while working, your activity could likely get flagged.
How can I monitor another phone from my phone? ›- AirDroid Phone Monitoring App.
- mSpy Mobile Monitoring App.
- FamiSafe Phone Monitor App.
- PcTattletale Cell Phone Monitoring App.
- Spyfone Monitoring Phone App.
- KidLogger Phone Monitoring Software.
- Mobile Tracker Free.
- iKeyMonitor Android Monitoring App.
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Privacy & Security in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.) Open Privacy & Security settings for me.
- Click Input Monitoring.
- For each app in the list, turn the ability to monitor your input devices on or off.
...
How to use the Alt key on a Mac keyboard.
| Windows | Mac | |
|---|---|---|
| Closing a window | Alt-F4 | Command-W |
| Restarting | Control-Alt-Delete | Control-Command-Eject |
| Shutting down | Control-Alt-Delete | Control-Option-Command-Eject |
| Logging out | Control-Alt-Delete | Shift-Command-Q |
Ctrl + 3 - Switches to the Activities tab in the Universal Search bar.
How do I run a full system diagnostic? ›Go to Start , then select Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback.
How do I run Apple Diagnostics from terminal? ›Press shift + ctrl + option + command (⌘) + . , wait for the screen will flash once, and a sysdiagnose process will start running.
Why is my IMAC running so slowly? ›Why is my Mac running slow? Your Mac might be slow because of an outdated operating system or a full hard disk — especially if you have an older model Mac. If your Mac is new, it might be slow because you're running too many background programs and apps or even have a malware infection.
Should I quit programs on Mac? ›If you use an app only occasionally, you may want to quit the app when you're done using it, especially if the app uses significant energy. To quit an app, choose App Name > Quit App in the menu bar.
What does First Aid do to SD card on Mac? ›
Method 1: First Aid
First Aid is a native macOS tool that can automatically detect and fix disk errors on your SD card, which may uncorrupt an SD card. It doesn't wipe your SD card's data, but note the repair work may still inadvertently cause data loss.
- a. Log in as an administrator.
- b. Navigate to the program`s .exe file.
- c. Right click on it and select Properties.
- d. Click Security. Click Edit.
- e. Select the user and place a check mark on Full Control under “Allow” in “Permissions for”.
- f. Click Apply and OK.
Press and hold down the SHIFT key while you right-click the executable file or the icon for the application, and then select Run as. Select The following user. In the User name and Password boxes, type the administrator account and password, and then select OK.
How do I run command as root administrator on Mac? ›To run commands with superuser privileges, use the sudo command. sudo stands for superuser do. You're asked for the password of the current user. You're asked to enter the password for adminUsername, after which a new shell is opened for that user.
How do you get past the Recovery Assistant on a Mac? ›All you need to do is restart the Mac to exit out of recovery mode. You can initiate the restart from the Apple menu and choosing “Restart”, or by holding down the Power button on the Mac to turn it off and back on again.
How do I use Recovery Assistant on Mac? ›Start up your computer in macOS Recovery
Press and hold the power button on your Mac until “Loading startup options” appears. Click Options, then click Continue. If asked, select a volume to recover, then click Next. Select an administrator account, then click Next.
Usually, running Mac First Aid will require no more than five minutes. If there are no errors found on the target disk or volume, less time will use.
Does one need antivirus for Mac? ›The technically sophisticated runtime protections in macOS work at the very core of your Mac to keep your system safe from malware. This starts with state-of-the-art antivirus software built in to block and remove malware.
Should you BootCamp your Mac? ›Boot Camp is undoubtedly the best way to play Windows games on a Mac because it performs better than any virtualization software. Since the different operating systems don't run simultaneously, all of your Mac's hardware resources are allocated to Windows applications.
Is it better to shut down or sleep? ›Power surges or power drops occurring when a machine is powered by its power adapter are more harmful to a sleeping computer than to one completely shut down. The heat produced by a sleeping machine exposes all components to higher heat more of the time. Computers left on all the time may have a shorter life.
Does closing Mac lid put it to sleep? ›
The problem is that your Mac will go to sleep when you close the lid if it's not plugged in and connected to an external display. You could set never go to sleep in the System Preferences. Go to Energy Saver > and select 'Prevent your Mac from automatically sleeping when the display is off'.
How long do Macs last on average? ›This means that in general, you can expect at least 10 solid years of life from a Mac, barring any unforeseen hardware issues. Now let's look at some signs your Mac is at the end of its life.
Should I leave my Mac desktop plugged in all the time? ›In terms of conserving battery life and battery charge cycles, be sure to follow the tips below: Don't keep your MacBook plugged in all the time, and let its power drop to around 40 percent before recharging it. Don't fully discharge your battery regularly.
How many GB should I leave free on Mac? ›For your Mac to run properly, you'll need to have at least 10GB of free space. But we recommend that you keep at least 15% of your storage space free, so that you can have more freedom to install a new macOS, upgrade software, or download movies.
Should my disk usage always be at 100? ›In general, your hard drive should never be at 100% usage, so if it is, there is some reason for the condition. You need to fix the issue or risk a very slow moving computer.
How do I wipe my Mac without recovery mode? ›Erase your Mac using Erase Assistant. Restart your Mac. Choose Apple menu > Shut Down, press and hold the power button until “Loading startup options” appears, select Options, click Continue, then follow the onscreen instructions.
How do I boot my Mac into safe mode? ›A Mac is completely shut down when the screen is black and any lights (including in the Touch Bar) are off. Press and hold the power button on your Mac until “Loading startup options” appears. Select a volume. Press and hold the Shift key, then click Continue in Safe Mode.
Can you factory reset a Mac without logging in? ›Yes, you can factory reset the Mac without the Password by entering the Recovery Mode and then choosing the Disk Utility or Reinstall macOS option.
Does factory reset clean Mac? ›Use Erase All Content and Settings to quickly and securely erase all of your settings, data, and apps, while maintaining the operating system currently installed.
How do I reset my Mac password without a recovery key? ›Reset your login password using your Apple ID
Click the question mark next to the password field. If you don't see a question mark , press and hold the power button until your Mac shuts down, then press the power button to restart your Mac. Click the arrow next to “reset it using your Apple ID.”
How to get out of Safe Mode? ›
The easiest way to turn off Safe Mode is to simply restart your device. You can turn off your device in Safe Mode just like you can in normal mode — just press and hold the power button until a power icon appears on the screen, and tap it. When it turns back on, it should be in normal mode again.