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T2

Recover files from a sick Mac

How to use Share Disk in Recovery on an Apple silicon Mac, how fast it can be. Target Disk Mode on Intel Macs, and some less likely alternatives.

March 10, 2026 Macs, Technology

Explainer: Mac firmware version numbering

How to read and interpret firmware version numbers from the first Intel Macs to the latest Apple silicon models.

March 7, 2026 Macs, Technology

Firmware updates for macOS Tahoe, Sequoia and Sonoma

Details of new firmware versions for iMac 2019 models, those with T2 or Apple silicon chips. And how Apple assigns version numbers to iBoot.

February 18, 2026 Macs, Technology

Apple silicon Macs have 2 types of Thunderbolt ports

One Thunderbolt port is the designated DFU port, to be used when connecting via USB-C in DFU mode, and to be avoided for external bootable disks. But how can you identify it?

February 6, 2026 Macs, Technology

Is your Mac dead, in DFU mode, or alive?

You press the Power button, but nothing happens. Has your Mac suddenly died, does it have a problem you can fix easily, or is it just in DFU mode?

February 4, 2026 Macs, Technology

Should you restart or cold boot?

You’re sometimes advised to shut your Mac down, wait a while, and start it up again, instead of restarting it. Are they different, and if so when should you use them?

January 27, 2026 Macs, Technology

Erase All Content and Settings does what it says

It throws away the encryption key for the Data volume, effectively wiping all its data. It doesn’t alter the System volume, SSV, or the macOS installed.

November 12, 2025 Macs, Technology

Gain access to a locked Mac with Recovery Assistant

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You’ve tried entering your password, but it doesn’t work. Should you try guessing? As that imposes increasing waiting times of up to 8 hours, maybe not. Try this instead.

October 22, 2025 Macs, Technology

Explainer: FileVault

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The T2 chip was designed for FileVault, and it comes at no cost to that and in Apple silicon Macs. Here’s how it works, and why everyone should enable it.

October 18, 2025 Macs, Technology

Which firmware should your Mac be using? (version 10, Tahoe)

Listing for all compatible Intel Macs with T2 chips, and all Apple silicon Macs.

September 22, 2025 Macs, Technology

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