Fix: The Recovery Server Could Not Be Contacted – Mac OS Sierra
If you are trying to install Mac OS X (while in mac os recovery mode) onto a new volume on your Mac over your LAN network or Wi-Fi, you may receive an error.
The recovery server could not be contacted.
A solution provided by a user (Brano) on our site:
1. Launch Terminal and type:
ntpdate -u time.apple.com
Note: If you receive "operation not permitted" put sudo in front of the command.
sudo ntpdate -u time.apple.com
2. Proceed normally.
The problem is, SYSTEM DATE is wrong, and CERT validation is failing (https)
First, ensure your Mac is connected to a wired or wireless network. To connect wired network, plug an Ethernet cable in. To connect to a wireless network, go to the top right corner of the screen and choose the wireless icon and connect to a network.
If you are still experiencing the issue, it is very likely that the Apple servers are busy processing download requests for other users. You may also see your installation time rise significantly but come down suddenly over time.
If you are currently experiencing this issue, use the comment form below to let us now.
Comments 105
A BIG Thank You
ntpdate -u time.apple.com
this works.....
Try adding "sudo" in front of the command...
Is not a solution. After terminal appears the following message: Can't adjust the time of day: Operation not permitted
Bruno your tip also worked.. here, however does any know how to stop . Does anyone know how to fix "too many corpses being created" , this is my problems, I have already installed MACOS High Serra once which took over 12 hours, but I still have the same issue, boot page with Apple loads very slowly and does not start up the system. I do not have a backup to restore from..
?
I am tearing my hair out - there terminal thing did not work!!! Arghh any suggestions??? Been on phone for over 2 hours this morning to Apple Support who finally told me 'just install new High Sierra' that'll solve it!!! But no, getting same message re: recovery server could not be found!!! Arghhh so annoyed please can anyone suggest/help me!!
And what do you mean "launch Terminal"? From where? How? Techies are such crap communicators.
Hi there,
Thanks Brano. It took we time to find the terminal window. After going back and forth through the recovery menu options I finally found it.
1. Open Terminal
2. enter the line of code: ntpdate -u time.apple.com
3. wait 15 seconds. Get an incomprehensible answer
4. Quit the terminal
5. Start again the installation, it works
Good luck everyone. Been spending 2 hours, and it finally worked
Will now install Ubuntu on a partition of the disk
Thank you this solution worked, what a pain in the ass.
Brano's fix works
I spend more time on how to find terminal while I was in install macOS High Sierra screen, than to apply this fix. It did fix the issue, as soon as I apply this simple line in the command window.Thank you so much!!!!
I did this (ntpdate -u time.apple.com), but it did not work for me.
This will appear after we write this :ntpdate -u time.apple.com the terminal response : can't adjust the time of day: operation not permitted
Brano the man!!
OMG!!! Thanks, Brano. Did exactly what you said and it updating as we speak.
Thank you Brano, this solution solved this problem here.
I am currently having this issue .. all I see is The recovery server could not be contacted!! Honestly if there is this many problems trying to get a solution to a problem Apple is going down hill!! I might have to sell this and go back to HP or dell!!! I am even giving up my iPhone which is having update issues!!!
I got same error, fix:
1) launch terminal, write there: ntpdate -u time.apple.com
2) proceed normally.
The problem is, SYSTEM DATE is wrong, and CERT validation is failing (https)
I tried this several times and got this error message. But after continuing it finally came through to the user agreement form. Crossing fingers that this solves the problem of my broke instalation.
Download completed and while installing it appeared empty folder with ? Symble . Now i am unable to launch old os or install new one