That way you always have your recovery key when you need it. You might want to give a copy of your recovery key to a family member, or keep copies in more than one place. With that in mind, it's important to keep your recovery key in a safe place. If you lose both of these items, you could be locked out of your account permanently. Using a recovery key is more secure, but it means that you’re responsible for maintaining access to your trusted devices and your recovery key. Learn more about using account recovery instead of a recovery key. Account recovery is a process that would otherwise help you get back into your Apple ID account when you don’t have enough information to reset your password. Creating a recovery key turns off account recovery. While it’s not required, using a recovery key improves the security of your account by putting you in control of resetting your password.
If you're using Boot Camp to start up from Microsoft Windows, set Startup Disk preferences to start up from macOS instead. Then shut down or restart and try again.A recovery key is a randomly generated 28-character code that you can use to help reset your password or regain access to your Apple ID.
If you're using a keyboard made for a PC, such as a keyboard with a Windows logo, try a keyboard made for Mac.
Or use your built-in keyboard or a wired keyboard. If you're using a wireless keyboard, plug it into your Mac, if possible.Some keyboards have a light that flashes briefly at startup, indicating that the keyboard is recognized and ready for use. You might need to wait a few seconds before pressing the keys, to give your Mac more time to recognize the keyboard as it starts up. Then press and hold the keys as your Mac starts up. Then press the power button to turn on your Mac. With an Intel Mac: Restart or press the power button and then hold down Command-R until the Apple logo appears and the progress bar on loading the operating system begins to fill. Press and hold all keys in the combination together, not one at a time.You will be asked to change your admin password if use the recovery key. If a key combination doesn't work at startup, one of these solutions might help: Click the triangle-button next to that message to reveal the Recovery Key textfield (which replaces the password textfield) If the recovery key allows you to login then you know it worked. Eject (⏏) or F12 or mouse button or trackpad button: Eject removable media, such as an optical disc. Disabled when using a firmware password.Command-V: Start up in verbose mode. Disabled when using a firmware password.T: Start up in target disk mode. Disabled when using a firmware password.Disabled in macOS Mojave or later, or when using a firmware password. Command-S: Start up in single-user mode.To use the default boot image on the server, press and hold Option-N instead. Disabled when using a firmware password. N: Start up from a NetBoot server, if your Mac supports network startup volumes.Or use Option-D to start up to this utility over the internet. Disabled when using a firmware password. D: Start up to the Apple Diagnostics utility.If your Mac is using a firmware password, it ignores this key combination or starts up from macOS Recovery. Option-Command-P-R: Reset NVRAM or PRAM.If your Mac is using a firmware password, you're prompted to enter the password. Option (⌥) or Alt: Start up to Startup Manager, which allows you to choose other available startup disks or volumes.
macOS Recovery installs different versions of macOS, depending on the key combination you use. If your Mac is using a firmware password, you're prompted to enter the password. Or use Option-Command-R or Shift-Option-Command-R to start up from macOS Recovery over the internet.