Are you intending to upgrade to Tahoe on Monday? Or to Sequoia or Sonoma? Are you ready to cope with what could go wrong? Here are some tips to help you prepare.
restore
How to check there’s no hardware problem, then use Restore in DFU mode to completely wipe internal storage, including firmware, and reset the NVRAM.
Most backup apps make snapshots, so why not use those instead of conventional backups? Because of the weaknesses of snapshots, as explained.
Unless you exclude them from backups, Time Machine will back up all items in iCloud Drive as long as they’re stored locally when the backup is made.
Recovery reinstall, using an Installer app, or a bootable installer, or with an Apple silicon Mac in DFU mode? What the choices are, and how best to do it.
How well can Time Machine back up other volumes, such as those on external drives? Can it restore them when the original disk fails or goes missing?
How should you restore a whole volume, or an old version of a document to a different folder? Includes details of backup structure.
When should you put your Mac into DFU mode, hook it up to another Mac running Configurator, and revive or restore it?
What should you do if a firmware update goes wrong? Here’s a guide to avoid panic, whether your Mac is Intel, has a T2, or M-series chip, and for Studio Displays.
If there’s a problem, you may try Recovery mode. What do you do when that proves to be a problem? Solutions for Intel and Apple silicon Macs.
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