the recovery server could not be contacted - final solution

the recovery server could not be contacted
It appears that this has to do with the time on the machine not being synchronized, so when the MacBook tries to reach out to the recovery server the certificates do not validate and we get this useless error message.
To fix this.
Open up a Terminal from the utilities menu
Enter 'time' then enter
How do I open the terminal on my Mac
What is recovery mode
How do I open terminal in recovery mode
What is Internet Recovery Mac
How do I start my Mac in recovery mode

[@ProfessorAdi]

If you are getting desperate and restless to say thank you 😊 to me then go to google play store see my app ,If you find it good and useful then support me by downloading it. play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nftmaker.cryptopunkcreator

[@manojchhetri9070]

U didn't solve anything, just looked at bash lol

[@jesswhited9895]

I solved this problem by clicking on the WIFI icon in the upper right corner and reentering my WIFI password. It didn't remember the PW from when I had previously entered it. Then I had to run the recovery install twice before it worked.

[@amaru894]

It worked for me as well, thanks for the hint !

[@rikaft7355]

Thankyou i’ve been tried the terminal but couldn’t worked and when i did what you say it’s work!

[@JosetruckHD]

Thank you so much! It worked for me!

[@alefa1846]

Thank you

[@josiek69]

But it won’t let me re type my password😪

[@lourdes06500]

Crazy - this worked even though all I did was ... type “date” in the terminal window and then try again. Not expected, but certainly most welcome! Thanks.

[@heroesnpatriots9622]

I wana throw this macbook out the window .....

[@teeyateeyah233]

DEADASS

[@Ibrahim-us5hu]

For all the dislikes,, after typing date enter, then new command “name date” run. Then quit. Then it will install with no problems. Thank you for the video

[@MicBergsma]

Oh man I realized my wifi was not connected haha now it works!

[@aliwahir3679]

Same

[@MywordsAi-]

same, thanks so much for the tip!

[@Shahadalm]

Sameeeeee

[@cfbevilaqua]

omg me too

[@djmeezymeez940]

Thank you I didn’t have to watch this waste of a video lol

[@idkjaehyy]

2023: I have a MacBook Early 2011, so I did anything I can do and I did this thing. It also dont work till I search on Apple Supports till I see that "If you are on Recovery Mode, All you did from the Disk or in the Software will not be remembered". So I re-entered my WiFi Password and also Make my MacBook Close to the Router and Erase my Disk and That fixed my Problem! I see that you need a better WiFi Connection so Apple Servers will see that you are requesting for an Software Install or Update! Hope this helps!

[@spotdog]

I have erased my main drive, no help. Have tried everything in the video to no avail. Getting kinda frustrating.

[@DancingOutInSpace]

​@@spotdogI'm the same as u, where u able to fix it?

[@alexkhrapko]

You should check your wifi connection in a top-right corner. As it turned out internet recovery does not remember you wifi setup as you started it. There is no point to mess with terminal/menu - just make sure mac is connected to the network. Hope this helps. Cheers.

[@SpeedChair]

Perfect, fixed my problem, thanks for the video and the suggestion on the wifi

[@bobadelfson2105]

Perfect. "internet recovery does not remember the wifi setup as you started it" was the key. I tried everything until I read your post.

[@mrabalone3492]

thanks!! it is due to the wifi !

[@Rita_shamoun]

oilart nothing is working Not the terminal And the wifi looks connected How can I disconnect and connect again i don’t have this option

[@chasepeek4438]

dude this comments the only reason my pc works now, ive no one had told me that i would have thrown it out

[@itstrickzi5719]

Bro the counfuison why are you clicking on random thinks

[@mrdhksan]

All you did was type "date" in Terminal. With all the scrolling you do in the Terminal menus, at no time did you select any command except for Quit Terminal. So typing date in Terminal alone solved the problem?

[@EdmanEntertainment]

Hahah 😂 thanks a lot I was lost this helped 👍

[@EmilyLovesTea123]

Yk not for me it didn’t

[@greentangerinephotography462]

Didn’t work for me either

[@Mooshimoca]

just check your wifi connection top right corner, thats why

[@milestone8585]

Thank You man! 🙏 these videos are upsetting.

[@fledgling5616]

No, that’s not why.

[@StevePerse]

Thank you! Solved with reconnecting WiFi! Just wasted time watching this video & the fix was in the comments...lol!

[@flynmurphy267]

Thxs man

[@momosATELIER]

Thanks,, problem solved

[@nynetre7339]

I have the Wi-Fi connection , I even went to terminal and entered date with the same results as the video and went to reinstall my Mac and still received the same error message

[@Yhan_KDK]

Me too 😢

[@GotchaPine007]

same here

[@jbproco5330]

Same

[@DavidFernandez-rv3nx]

Same 😢

[@gabby7320]

same

[@johnnajeong3001]

I've tried these steps a few times. Other how to videos show these same steps and it seems to be work well for them....BUT...I'm still getting the "recovery server could not be contacted" response. What's the solution???

[@camilemelissadeoliveira4945]

I have the same problem...

[@Itsdluna]

Make sure you’re connected to the WiFi in the top right corner

[@johnnajeong3001]

I sold that computer this week and bought a Mac mini...problem solved. lol @@Itsdluna

[@kriss5352]

@@Itsdluna THANK YOU SO MUCH, how can i be that dumb XD

[@imortalhigh9544]

Daniel Luna thank you🥺🥺🥺

[@spotdog]

My WiFi is connected and I can't get High Sierra to reinstall. I've even tried booting into internet install mode (command+option+R) and the globe just spins for hours. I reset the RAM (cmd+option+R&P), nothing. I'm at a loss here. I even went as far as to manually change the time in Terminal. Even switched WiFi networks.

[@SP2TURNT]

Did you find the proem?

[@willking9187]

Only way to fix is to create a bootable usb drive with high sierra on it and restart MacBook with usb attached and press on option key when you boot up. Then it will install 😊

[@lycageozelgutierrez703]

​@@willking9187can you elaborate it more please?

[@user-jn1rd7tq6d]

@@willking9187Yes, elaborate because I’ve done every suggestions so far and it hasn’t worked. What’s a bootable usb and how do you get high sierra on it? Thank you!

[@althepal9312]

Problem not solved

[@fishing8one529]

HOLY SHIT… THIS ACTUALLY WORKED… MAKE SURE YOUR WIFI IS ON!! or shit won’t work.

[@noelialopeznavarro2469]

the date was good for me but still doesn't work. The connection to server won't go

[@fvtutoriais]

Conseguiu resolver?

[@jmigiii9446]

I have a wi-fi connection and even plug the ethernet cable... this did not work for me. P/S I hate this pointing without talking.

[@barbstv4034]

thanks it works. all we need first is to connect into wifi to support then follow the steps which is terminal date then back to reinstall macos then walllaaaa it works

[@joek3023]

what if its still getting the error? My connected my wifi and my date is accurate

[@madisonjantzen6859]

Did you find a solution? I’m having the same issue

[@JocuripeTelefon-im9wq]

Me 2

[@biancadelgado7697]

Damn you earned a big thumbs up from me ,you are literally my savior! ( and a little tip do make sure you are connected to your wifi )

[@patrckxerxesojeda90]

The wifi✨

[@sandeepsandy8001]

the installer information on the recovery server is damaged how to fix . Tried time change but still have the issue, please help.

[@wendysonbae7629]

That's my problem now. Did you fix yours already? Thanks

[@sandeepsandy8001]

@@wendysonbae7629 yes solved. But i forgot the steps.

[@FelipeSarmiento]

@@sandeepsandy8001idiot

[@ghfpv]

Thank you ♥️🙏

[@roderickserrano9236]

tried terminal and the wifi still getting the same error "The recovery server could not be contacted"

[@feddtyme0722]

it doesnt work because High Sierra is outdated and no longer available to reinstall

[@djstudio4032]

I tried time fixing but this issue not solve

[@AmanSingh-zz7si]

Didn't work for me. I even tried changing the time to 2016,17,18,19. Somebody please help me 😖

[@vincemercado5901]

How dd you fix it?

[@chrisva4053]

FUCK IT WORKED!!!! YOUR THE BEST!!!!

[@ProfessorAdi]

i like the way you appreciate :-)

[@galileofig]

Amazing that the solution is not in the video but in Jess Whited's comment.

[@dx7014]

Thx Bro you saved my day

[@user-ks1xl6ju5t]

i have a question after i clicked quit terminal , the same pop up came out . what am i doing wrong ?

[@ESQENT-vf2ul]

I couldn’t get mine to work

[@pubggamers9208]

Thx mahn really appreciate thx for the video in just first trail it work i was thinking that just u did nothing its fake but when i did the same in just 1st attempt i work👍🏻

[@michelespiritlevel]

I wish you guys would not play music over the instructions because it’s real difficult to understand……! It’s very confusing as us dyslexic people are best being shown as we can’t follow nothing really unless we are shown and it’s explained in detail sorry for my comment but it’s true lookup dyslexics many thanks 🙏

[@angsanchezfoxy]

Omg thank you so much🤩

[@alsa253]

Thanks bro..i forgot to connect internet

[@mahmoudhegazy1153]

Perfectly done

[@aperson6233]

I made another video on how to fix this issue which is updated

[@laurajanethomason5098]

Did not work

[@malagatech7375]

my wireless is very faster but he can't done, the same error repeat The Recovery Server could be contacted on mMac

[@alessandromingoia6002]

Why I can’t see Mac OS utilities but only ask me to inser Apple ID

[@evaruiz3194]

I’m getting the same message. I followed the video and my internet is connected and it still isn’t working.😢😢

[@willking9187]

Only way to fix is to create a bootable usb drive with high sierra on it and restart MacBook with usb attached and press on option key when you boot up. Then it w

[@nuetouchtechnologiesllc7484]

This saved my day....ty

[@stuartmorley6338]

SOLVED: I had entered my WiFI password but the Macbook had forgotten it so clicking in the top right and entering it again solved my problem

[@chaudhryhaider8959]

Stuart Morley thankyou

[@brettwagner3347]

Great job! Haha it was connected to Xfinity even after I had typed mine in before the reboot! 🙄

[@emmanmach852]

Anyone has any other way? I deleted my macos hdd so can only use recovery mode. My time is right so is my internet conected

[@ItsMeSFSPlayerAndRoblox]

Yo shut man nobody needs it we have to think how to destroy “rEcOvErY sErVeR cOuLd nOt bE cOnTaCtEd”

[@lardijasisic2451]

It’s not working for me I did everything and I still get the same error messages

[@APOTRECHARLESPASSO]

Merci

[@nickicarroll4941]

Thank you so much 😇

[@gabgx5540]

all the disk says “this disk is locked” what do I do?

[@emproer1967]

I don’t know how but it worked thanks man

[@SabinsPalakkal]

LoL ....Same here ...haha!!

[@piprolls867]

Hello my error says macOS Sierra failed to download . How do fix that please help

[@saidibrahim8553]

Thanks for your help unfortunately dosn't work with me because of my last macos wasn't high seirra for those not work this video try to do command+option+R it works with me good luck thanks again bro

[@q4kingepic886]

Thank you so much

[@viktorjensen8448]

Hey guys the problem for most people is that they are not connected to the WiFi. Connecting to the WiFi should fix it😁

[@donianate6037]

Thank you, I love you ❤

[@ThraxMir4]

still didn't solve my problem.

[@williamoshee3737]

I have cat 8 cable do I need wi-fi

[@williamoshee3737]

I have full Wi-Fi bars think cat 8 cable not necessary try it without

[@spongebobstupidity2352]

so all you had to do was type “date”?

[@brettmelton5743]

I solved it by setting the WIFI password.

[@ipsycho173]

THANK YOU

[@user-st3gp8jo7e]

I'm not against it, I tried again with the wifi network but for me it doesn't always work 😢

[@M0DFATH3R]

I’m connected still doesn’t work 😢

[@malagatech7375]

i verifie the date it's correct but i don't know what i can right now

[@kollybegum8970]

YOU ARE AMAZING

[@aunkhet]

Just turned my WiFi off and on and it worked lol was giving me hell. Found that solution in these comments. Thanks hope I help someone else.

[@carolinekinikini5448]

Thanks

[@Melontusk101]

Not working. Please help

[@MIMINOSEC]

doesn't work for me(

[@fvtutoriais]

Conseguiu resolver?

[@aperson6233]

I made another video on how to fix this issue which is updated :)

[@DancingOutInSpace]

​@@aperson6233your video si with Monterey :(

[@arunakallon4226]

whys it's not working for me 😢😢😢😢😢

[@classictarget]

I'm still getting the "recovery server could not be contacted" response, what to do and my wifi is on ??

[@feddtyme0722]

the reason it doesnt work is because High Sierra is outdated and no longer available to reinstall

[@fa_moka19]

@@feddtyme0722 really? :(

[@feddtyme0722]

@Fany Moka yea as soon as you boot your Mac hold command option+R until the globe pops up then enter your wifi then go to disk and erase the 1st hard drive then go back to reinstall and you should get the new Mac update os

[@fa_moka19]

@@feddtyme0722 I've done that process and that's why I ended up with the problem shown in this video, the message still appears even if I change the date

[@kennyyv3118]

I did this, I did the wifi thing and still doesn’t works, anyone??

[@adanm3b18]

How do i re enter password its already connected

[@loveforthegame915]

Thank you so much for your help.

[@Adventure_Zone_Yt]

When you connect the Wi-Fi it will not show ‘The recovery server could not be contracted’ . Just make sure the Wi-Fi is connected

[@spotdog]

Yeah...not really all that's needed. I've connected to two different wifi networks and can't get beyond the error message.

[@ItsMeSFSPlayerAndRoblox]

@@spotdogme too i checked it everything is good and still showing the error and the worst thing is i can’t make bootable usb since i wiped the hard drive

[@DancingOutInSpace]

@@ItsMeSFSPlayerAndRobloxI'm the sames as you where u able to fix it?

[@ItsMeSFSPlayerAndRoblox]

@@DancingOutInSpace i fixed it by installing lion it saved my life, if it was still broken to this day i will get very angry

[@braravi2]

It worked for me .

[@wilzzer9656]

It still didn’t work

[@familyguysuchter2588]

Doesnt work i dont have connection

[@user-um5kb3nc1o]

you did shit

[@ChantelStays]

Whwt do you type in the terminal window

[@Pingpow-wo9to]

Type in date first and then press enter

[@ProjectCryo]

Does fix it

[@brand0nb4rn3s]

Worked for me thnx

[@crazyhorse851]

Wtf. So It worked. Not what he did. But what I did. Which was top right connect to wifi make sure you type wifi password in. Then try reinstalling. Worked for me. Trippy lol

[@tuckerlloyd86]

I am just trying this, I did exactly as you said. I’ll lyk how it goes…

[@ProjectCryo]

Doesn’t

[@NarsStTropez]

Thank you sweet baby Jesus.. this helped! Thank you for this get to the point video

[@jeanzulius6558]

Moc si mi nepomohol mne to nešlo 😢

[@fraolfikadu7300]

It is work good

[@dushyantdahiya]

Not working

[@coulsonkyser9757]

This doesn’t work

[@saraiortiz9169]

It didn’t work 😭

[@mdmohsin5671]

Didn't working

[@LuisJuarez-xb2hv]

Why did this work for me...

[@carvibezzz3599]

Exactly what it was

[@ProfessorAdi]

Thank you

[@zamfirandrei4208]

same here...

[@eddierobles2137]

thank you so much for this video.

[@walidwafai9855]

WTF THANK YOU

[@jonah7777]

thanks for wasting my time didnt work hope you got your views

[@nikkic3455]

See @ernest Cruz comment worked :)

[@Texminh07ne]

Không được

[@Arunkumar-tr1wf]

not working for me

[@feddtyme0722]

the reason it doesnt work is because High Sierra is outdated and no longer available to reinstall

[@felipenavarro7817]

JAJAJAJAJA con solo ver la fecha se va areglar, no me resulto sigo con el mismo problema 😡😡

[@karatrott7497]

When did people think it was a good idea to make instructional videos without verbal instruction. Let's hope this doesn't become a fad. Who knows what he clicked in the terminal drop down. This didn't work for me, but this video was just some lame music.

[@user-mk3bv4fk8r]

Wifi problem

[@idfklol622]

Thank u so fuckin much

[@leonardoperezgarcia8979]

Doesn’t work