Fixing “Your Mac has no Volumes to Recover”

The good news? Most cases are fixable within 30-60 minutes without losing your files. Common root causes include interrupted updates, corrupted user databases, or inaccessible encrypted drives.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through a quick diagnosis and five proven solutions, ordered by success probability and ease.

We’ll prioritize data preservation, and if recovery is needed, I’ll recommend reliable tools like Remo Recover for Mac.

Contents:

• Quick Diagnosis – Why does my Mac say “There are no users on this volume to recover”?
• How to Enter Recovery Mode?
• Methods to Fix ”There are no Users on this Volume to Recover”
• Solution 1 – Reset NVRAM and Recovery
• Solution 2 – FileVault Recovery Method
• Solution 3 – Recovery Assistant Alternative Path
• Solution 4 – Terminal Recovery Commands
• Solution 5 – Clean macOS Installation
• Alternative – External Drive Recovery
• When DIY Solutions Fail
• Preventing “Your Mac has no volumes to recover” Errors
• Conclusion: Your Action Plan

Quick Diagnosis – Why does my Mac say “There are no users on this volume to recover”?

Before diving into fixes, pinpoint the cause to save time. Answer these questions to guide you:

• Did this happen after a macOS update? : Likely system corruption; start with Solution 1 (Reset NVRAM).
• Is FileVault encryption enabled? : Encrypted drives often hide users; try Solution 2 (FileVault Recovery).
• Were you trying to reset a password? : Authentication glitch; go to Solution 3 (Recovery Assistant).
• Did you modify system files/permissions? : Database issues; attempt Solution 4 (Terminal Recovery Commands).
• Nothing specific – just suddenly appeared? : Severe corruption; escalate to Solution 5 (Clean Recovery).

How to Check FileVault Status:

Boot into Recovery Mode (instructions below), open Disk Utility, and look for a “locked” icon next to your drive. If locked, FileVault is enabled. Use Solution 2. If not, start with Solution 1.

Note: macOS uses APFS containers so that volumes may appear as “Macintosh HD” (system files) and “Macintosh HD – Data” (user data). Always select the correct one to avoid errors.

Recovery Mode is your starting point for most fixes. If it fails to load, try Internet Recovery for a fresh download from Apple’s servers. This requires a stable Wi-Fi connection.

That’s the main difference between Mac types. Proceed to the solutions from here.

Methods to Fix ”There are no Users on this Volume to Recover”

Solution 1 – Reset NVRAM and Recovery (Success Rate: 70%)

Best for: Post-update errors or general system corruption. (Time estimate: 10-120 minutes).
NVRAM (or PRAM on older Macs) stores user authentication and boot settings, which can get corrupted and cause this error.

Steps:

Reset NVRAM first:

• Shut down your Mac completely.
• Turn it on and immediately hold Option (⌥) + Command (⌘) + P + R.
• Hold for about 20 seconds (or until you hear the startup chime twice on Intel Macs), then release.
• Let the Mac boot normally and test if you can log in or access Recovery Mode without the error.

If NVRAM reset didn’t work:

• Enter Recovery Mode.
• From the utilities window, select “Reinstall macOS.”
• Choose to install over the existing system (this keeps your data intact).
• Follow the prompts; it may take 1-2 hours depending on your internet speed.

Why This Works:

NVRAM reset clears temporary glitches in user detection, while reinstalling repairs the corrupted user database without touching your files.

Success Indicators:

• The user selection screen appears in Recovery Mode.
• Installation completes without errors.
• You can log in with your original password.

If this fails, ensure you’re selecting the correct volume (e.g., Macintosh HD – Data for user files).

Solution 2 – FileVault Recovery Method (Success Rate: 85%)

Best for: Encrypted drives showing the “no users” error. (Time estimate: 15-30 minutes)

FileVault encryption protects your data, but it can block Recovery Mode from seeing users if the volume isn’t unlocked.

Steps:

• Boot to Recovery Mode.
• Open Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.

• Select your encrypted drive (it’ll show a lock icon; typically Macintosh HD – Data).
• Click “Mount” and enter your FileVault password to unlock it.

• If successful: Quit Disk Utility and retry the password reset or user selection tool.
• If the mount fails: Proceed to the FileVault Recovery Key method.

FileVault Recovery Key Method:

• In Recovery Mode, select “Reset Password using Recovery Key” (if available) or use the “Forgot All Passwords?” option.
• Enter your 28-character recovery key
• (format: XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX).
• Create a new password for your existing user account.
• Restart and log in with the new password.

Don’t Have Recovery Key?

• Check iCloud Keychain on another trusted device (go to System Settings > Apple ID > Password & Security).
• Look in your password manager or printed notes from when you enabled FileVault.
• If it’s a work/school device, contact the administrator.

Why FileVault Causes This:

Encryption hides user data until unlocked, preventing Recovery Mode from listing accounts.

Before proceeding to more invasive steps, back up data if possible using Target Disk Mode (connect to another Mac via Thunderbolt/USB-C, boot while holding T on Intel or via Share Disk in Recovery on Apple Silicon).

Solution 3 – Recovery Assistant Alternative Path (Success Rate: 60%)

Best for: When the standard password reset shows “no users.” (Time estimate: 15-20 minutes).
This creates a temporary admin account to bypass the error and fix your original one.

Steps:

• Boot to Recovery Mode.

• Click “Recovery Assistant” (or “Forgot All Passwords?” if prompted).
• Follow prompts to create a temporary admin account (requires your Apple ID for verification; needs internet).
• Boot to the new temporary account.
• Go to System Settings > Users & Groups.

• Reset your original user password from the admin account.
• Log out and test the original account.
• Delete the temporary admin account after verification.

Important Notes:

• Your original data stays intact.
• Requires an Apple ID linked to the Mac.
• If no Apple ID is linked, you may need to use Solution 4 or 5.

Solution 4 – Terminal Recovery Commands (Success Rate: 50%)

Best for: Advanced users dealing with permission or database corruption. (Time estimate: 20-45 minutes).

Warning: Terminal can cause data loss if commands are mistyped. Back up first via Target Disk Mode or external drive. Only proceed if comfortable with the command line.

Steps:

• Boot to Recovery Mode.
• Open Terminal from the Utilities menu.

Run diagnostic commands:

• dskutil list
• diskutil verifyVolume X (Replace X with your volume)
• diskutil repairVolume X

Reset user database if repairs succeed:

/sbin/mount -uw “/Volumes/Macintosh HD”
rm “/Volumes/Macintosh HD/var/db/.AppleSetupDone”
chown -R username:staff “/Volumes/Macintosh HD/Users/username”

• Restart the Mac it should show the initial setup screen.
• Create a new admin account when prompted.
• Access and transfer files from your original user folder (/Users/oldusername).

Advanced Tips:

• If FileVault is enabled, unlock the volume first: diskutil apfs unlockVolume disk1s1 and enter your password.
• Save recovered files to an external drive before rebooting.

Solution 5 – Clean macOS Installation (Success Rate: 95%)

Best for: Multiple failed attempts or severe corruption. (Time estimate: 2-4 hours).

Video Credits: Apple Support

This is a last resort, as it may require data recovery first. Always back up before erasing.

Archive and Install Method:

• Boot to Recovery Mode.
• Open Disk Utility.
• Create a new partition if possible (or use an external drive for backup).
• Install fresh macOS on the new partition.
• Boot to the clean installation.
• Use Migration Assistant to transfer user data from the old partition.
• Verify data transfer.
• Delete the old corrupted partition.

Alternative – External Drive Recovery:

Before erasing, recover data to avoid loss. For reliable data recovery, consider Remo Mac Data Recovery, a powerful tool that scans corrupted or inaccessible Mac volumes (including APFS and HFS+ file systems) to recover files like documents, photos, videos, and more.

It features quick and deep scans for scenarios like this error, where Recovery Mode fails to recognize users, allowing you to preview files before saving.

Remo Recover supports macOS up to Sequoia (15) and offers a free demo to scan and preview lost files, ideal for checking recoverability without commitment.

• Remove the Mac’s SSD/hard drive (if comfortable; otherwise, use Target Disk Mode).
• Connect to a USB enclosure or another Mac.
• Run Remo Recover to scan and copy user files.
• Reinstall the drive and perform a clean macOS install.
• Restore data from your backup.

Why This Works:

It bypasses the corrupted database entirely, creating a fresh system while recovering your data.
If hardware issues are suspected (e.g., failing SSD), run Apple Diagnostics first: Hold D at startup on Intel Macs or use Apple Configurator on Apple Silicon.

Also Read: 5 Best Mac Data Recovery Software Review

When DIY Solutions Fail – Professional Help

If the above doesn’t work, seek pros. Data recovery services cost $300-600 for logical issues like user database corruption, with 98% success for non-hardware problems (3-5 days turnaround). They use forensic tools for reconstruction.

Before going pro, try Remo Mac Data Recovery as a DIY alternative; its deep scan can handle corrupted volumes where Recovery Mode fails, recovering files from formatted drives or damaged drives with preview options. Supports various devices and offers a free demo.

What pros can do:

• Rebuild user databases hardware level.
• Recover from SSD failures.

Get quotes if the data is worth over $1,000.

Preventing “Your Mac has no volumes to recover” Errors

Stay proactive to avoid this hassle:

Regular Maintenance:

• Monthly: Run Disk Utility’s First Aid on all volumes.
• Before updates: Create a Time Machine backup.
• User management: Avoid manual permission changes.
• FileVault: Store your recovery key securely (e.g., offline in a safe or password manager).

Backup Strategy:

• Time Machine: Weekly full backups to an external drive.
• Cloud sync: Use iCloud or Dropbox for key documents.
• Clone backup: Monthly bootable clones with tools like Carbon Copy Cloner.

Red Flags to Watch:

• Slow logins or intermittent “user not found” errors.
• The system is prompting for new admin creation randomly.
• Recovery Mode is failing to load volumes.

Conclusion: Plan of Action to Resolve ‘No Volumes to Recover’ Error

This error looks scary, but your data is usually intact; it’s often just a database glitch.

Start with:

Solution 1 (NVRAM reset) works 70% of the time.
If FileVault is on, Solution 2.
Still stuck? Solution 3 for a temp account.
Advanced: Solution 4.
Last resort: Solution 5, with data recovery via Remo Recover to safeguard files.

About the Author: John Harris

With a decade of experience in data recovery, John Harris, Senior Editor at Remo Software, is your go-to specialist. His focus includes partition management, Windows solutions, and data troubleshooting, delivering insightful content that serves both users and search engines. John's expertise shines through in illuminating blog posts, untangling data loss intricacies across diverse storage platforms.…