Target Disk Mode

A Mac startup mode that makes the Mac’s internal drive appear as an external disk when connected to another computer. Useful for data recovery.

What to Know

Target Disk Mode enables direct file-level access to a Mac’s internal storage from another Mac, bypassing the need for the target Mac to boot into macOS. This is essential for data recovery when a Mac won’t boot but the drive is still accessible, for rapid large-file transfers between Macs, and for performing disk repairs or diagnostics from a known-good system. IT teams use Target Disk Mode to quickly extract user data from failing Macs before reimaging or to migrate data between devices faster than network transfers allow.

Common Scenarios

Enterprise IT: Corporate IT uses Target Disk Mode to recover user data from Macs with corrupted operating systems before performing warranty replacements or reimaging. This ensures employee files are preserved even when the Mac won’t boot normally.

MSP: MSPs use Target Disk Mode to quickly transfer client data between old and new Macs during device refreshes, or to extract data from Macs with boot failures before attempting repairs. This is faster than network migration and works even when macOS won’t start.

Education: School IT uses Target Disk Mode to rapidly transfer data from failing lab Macs to replacement systems, or to extract student project files from Macs requiring reimaging. This minimizes data loss and speeds up device recovery processes.

In Addigy

Target Disk Mode operates below the OS level and requires physical device connectivity, so it functions outside of MDM. However, Addigy can deploy documentation instructing IT staff on using Target Disk Mode for data recovery. Once the Mac boots normally again, Addigy management resumes automatically.