Apple Silicon and T2 equipped Macs introduced a new startup mode called ‘Device Firmware Update,’ or DFU mode for short. This mode enables you to quickly restore another Mac’s firmware (revive) or erase and reinstall a fresh copy of macOS (restore) using a second Mac.
This article will help you install the required software, connect the proper cables, put a Mac in DFU mode, and perform the revive or restore
Please note: DFU mode is only available on Intel based systems with the T2 security chip and Apple Silicon equipped Macs. Please check compatibility before proceeding.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/116943
https://support.apple.com/en-us/103265
What you need:
A Mac you would like to restore or revive
A second Mac that will be used to revive or restore the target Mac (macOS 14 Sonoma or higher)
DFU application installed on the Mac that will be doing the restore/revive (Available in Managed Software Center)
USB-C to USB-C cable that supports data and charging, such as the charging cable that is included with some Apple products
Connect the two Macs:
Make sure both systems are connected to power
Identify the DFU port on the target Mac:https://support.apple.com/en-us/120694
Connect one end of the USB-C cable to the DFU port on the target
Connect the other end to any other USB-C port on the other Mac
Put the target Mac in DFU mode:
Launch DFU.app on the Mac that will be doing the restore/revive
Enter your admin credentials in the DFU prompt click ‘OK’
The target Mac should restart to a black screen, appearing to be unresponsive.
On the other Mac, switch to the Finder, and locate the DFU Mac in the sidebar
Revive or Restore the DFU mode Mac:
click ‘Revive Mac…’ if you would like reinstall firmware and retain all user and application data
click ‘Restore Mac…’ to erase and reinstall the latest supported version of macOS, which does not preserve user or application data.
Finder will download the required files and perform a revive or restore.