When your M1, M2, or M3 Mac is completely unresponsive and you've put it into DFU mode connected to a host Mac, you have a critical decision to make. In Apple Configurator, you can either Revive the device or Restore the device using a Universal Mac IPSW.
What is a Revive?
A Revive updates the firmware and recoveryOS to the latest signed version. It is designed to not make any changes to the startup volume, the user's data volume, or any other volumes.
If your Mac crashed during a macOS update, a Revive essentially replaces the corrupted boot files and allows the existing operating system and your personal files to boot up normally again.
What is a Restore?
A Restore is the nuclear option. It completely erases the Mac's internal storage, wiping all partitions, user data, and the operating system. It lays down a completely fresh installation of macOS using the IPSW file.
Which should you choose?
ALWAYS attempt a Revive first. If you do not have a Time Machine backup, a Revive is your only chance to save your data. Right-click the DFU square in Configurator, select Advanced, and choose Revive Device.
If the Revive process fails or the Mac still won't boot, then the corruption is too deep, and you must proceed with a full Restore (which will erase everything).
Related Guides
If you are troubleshooting Apple firmware issues or managing device updates, explore our other step-by-step guides: