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The March 2015 update of Apple's 13" MacBook Pro Retina Display, model A1502, features fifth-generation Intel Core i5 and i7 processors and introduces the Force Touch trackpad.

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MacBook Pro won't go into recovery mode.

I was given a Macbook Pro 2015 (A1502). It will not go into recovery mode. I'd like to wipe the hard drive and re-install the OS. I have tried command + R numerous times. I've plugged in an external keyboard, no luck. Some of the keys are damaged so I suspected that one might be sticking. When I run the keyboard viewer no keys are being pressed.

How do I get this Macbook into recovery mode?

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Do you have access to a second Mac system?

If you do you can create a bootable USB thumb drive OS installer from it. They using it you can wipe the drive and install a fresh copy of macOS onto your system..

First reformat the USB thumb drive to GUID and a Journaled file system.

Access the desired OS installer from here: How to download and install macOS. The highest you can goto is Monterey 12.7.2 with some limitations!

It does not support Monterey's Universal Control, AirPlay to Mac, or Low Power Mode in addition to the more minor Spatial Audio, Portrait Mode, 3D Landmarks, and Interactive Globe features.

Copy the installer to the thumb drive, then follow this Create a bootable installer for macOS to convert it to a bootable drive.

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I did create a bootable USB drive with the OS, but how do I boot to it if the keyboard isn’t functioning properly? Holding the option key on startup does nothing.

I suspect the keyboard is giving phantom inputs, so plugging in an external doesn’t help.

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@jlaffin - do you have a USB keyboard? Plug it in that should do it. If not you may need to setup the system is clamshell mode using an external monitor with the lid closed

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I tried my Magic Keyboard plugged in with Lightning cable. Held command R, still nothing, it just boots up to desktop.

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@jlaffin - plug in a external display and close the lid to go into clam shell mode.

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Clam shell mode worked. Thanks very much for the help!

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Julian crwdns2934231:0crwdne2934231:0
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