StorageMacOS wrote:
• The hardware is fine. However, we accidentally erased some important volumes and container disks in Terminal. After restarting macOS, it ended up like this.
You cannot be 100% certain. Perhaps the revive/restore process is revealing a problem that has gone unnoticed. I'm just playing devil's advocate here.
Something isn’t right somewhere.
Does the Type-C to Type-C cable need to be an original from Apple?
That is the best, just make sure it is the Apple USB-C charging cable. The cable used for a DFU Firmware Revive/Restore must not be a Thunderbolt cable (usually the Thunderbolt cables have a lightning bolt on the connector). The USB-C cable used, must only support the USB protocol (Apple's charging cable only supports the USB2 protocol). Keep in mind there may even be some charging only USB-C cables out there which don't even support the USB protocol. Remember, the USB-C designation is only referring to the connector type/style.
• Does the internet connection need to be super strong? I’m using a Wi-Fi connection, and my home internet isn’t very reliable.
If the software download from Apple's servers takes too long, then it may break the process. I've had this happen to me once in a while and I'm on a fast corporate network.
If there are no solutions, I may need to contact Apple Support.
Very real possibility.
Make sure you are connecting the USB-C USB only cable to the proper USB-C port on the Mac that is being put into DFU Mode. Traditionally for an M-series Mac, the DFU port is the back left USB-C port but double check the Apple documentation. I believe for some newer models, Apple has mixed things up and is using another port (why Apple?!?).
Make sure the computer being put into DFU Mode is completely powered off which is very hard to do since there are no visual indicators to determine an Apple laptop's state. Normally I press the Caps Lock key so its LED is lit, but since you removed the critical APFS volumes on the internal SSD, this is probably not an option. Best to hold the power button for 10 seconds (use a clock/watch which has seconds shown). Then make sure to power on the laptop & hold the proper keys at the proper time.......timing & proper pressing of keys is absolutely critical. Sometimes it takes me a dozen times before I can get some of these Macs into DFU Mode.
I also like to have the Finder or Apple Configurator app open along with having the Mac being put into DFU Mode already connected. When connecting them, if the Mac is powered off, then it may cause it to power on automatically.....so you will need to force a power off again. Then with Apple Configurator open and the two Macs connected, I will attempt to initiate DFU Mode on the "broken" Mac. Apple Configurator will provide some feedback on the state of the other Mac (not sure if the Finder does) which can help in the process.
I think it may also be possible to download the .ips image file from Apple first, but I have no clue how to locate it since I have never tried it although I have seen a few people reference that this may be possible. This could help if you have a poor Internet connection.
You can also provide Apple with product feedback about how difficult it is to do this process and the fact you need a new Mac running the most recently released version of macOS to do it. You can also contact Apple corporate to let them know how difficult it is to do this.
Make sure to use the instructions in the Apple article @MrHoffman provided. Read it carefully, then re-read it again. I've done the DFU Firmware Revive/Restore multiple times, but must still read & re-read it in order to get it to work.
Make sure to disconnect all other devices from both computers. I recommend you have a power adapter connected to the Mac that is in DFU Mode.
