If your Mac starts up to error -1008F

Your Mac tried unsuccessfully to start up from macOS Recovery over the Internet.

A globe with an exclamation point means that your Mac tried to start up from macOS Recovery over the Internet, but couldn't. When shown with error -1008F, one of the following solutions should help.

Globe with errror -1008F

Use a different key combination

If you're trying to use Shift-Option-Command-R so that you can reinstall an earlier version of macOS, you must first turn off Activation Lock as described below.

Or restart and use one of these key combinations instead:

Turn off Activation Lock

Activation Lock is a feature of macOS Catalina 10.15 or later. Follow these steps to turn off Activation Lock until after you've finished using macOS Recovery.

  1. Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences.
  2. Click Apple ID.
  3. Click iCloud in the sidebar.
  4. Deselect the Find My Mac checkbox on the right, then enter your Apple ID password when prompted.

iCloud preferences

If you can't complete the steps above because your Mac doesn't start up all the way, you can turn off Activation Lock by erasing your Mac as follows. Erasing your Mac permanently deletes all of its files.

  1. Use another device to sign in to iCloud.com with your Apple ID.
  2. Click Find iPhone.
  3. Choose your Mac from the list of devices. If you don't see a list of devices, click All Devices at the top of the page.
  4. Click Erase Mac , then follow the onscreen instructions.
  5. After the erase completes, take either of these actions on your Mac:
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