Apple’s official documentation on how to identify the DFU (Device Firmware Update) port on MacBook Pro models with Apple silicon has been found to be incorrect, confusing users and causing failed updates and restores.
According to the Apple support article How to identify the DFU port on Mac, the location of the DFU port on newer MacBook Pro models varies by model: for example, the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 or M5 chip should use the rightmost USB-C port, while “all other models” should use the **leftmost port when facing the left side of the Mac.” However, after extensive real-world testing, users are reporting that this guidance is simply wrong for certain machines — especially newer 16-inch models.
Real-World Tests Don’t Match Apple’s Instructions
One owner of a 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M4 Pro chip said that the DFU port wasn’t where Apple documentation claimed it was. Instead of the left side, the correct DFU port for his machine was a USB-C port on the right side of the laptop. Plugging external SSDs or cables into the documented port consistently failed to update or boot macOS on external drives — until the cable was moved to the correct physical port.
For users attempting low-level firmware updates or restores via Apple Configurator, choosing the wrong DFU port can mean hours of wasted time, incomplete updates, or failed macOS installs that never show error messages. In some cases, software updates appeared to run normally — rebooting and “landing” without success — only to leave the system unchanged.
Why This Matters
DFU mode is critical when a Mac becomes unresponsive or when firmware needs to be restored using another Mac and Apple Configurator. Many professionals and power users rely on accurate documentation for troubleshooting, system recovery, or installing macOS from external media. If the DFU port is identified incorrectly, installs can silently fail, and recovery attempts may never complete.
Users and developers are now calling on Apple to update and correct its DFU port documentation so that people don’t have to rely on trial and error to find the correct port — especially on newer MacBook Pro models.
Real-World Impact: Failed macOS Updates
One user, attempting to update an external SSD installation of macOS Sequoia (the version preceding macOS 16), encountered repeated failed update attempts. The installation process would download successfully and reboot, but then the update would not complete, returning to the previous software version without any clear error message. Only after experimenting with different ports did the update finally succeed — after moving the external drive from the port Apple labelled as DFU to a different USB-C port.
Conclusion
The DFU port documentation error has exposed a gap between Apple’s manuals and actual device behavior. While the hardware remains reliable, users now face confusion and potential failures when performing firmware recovery. Correcting this mistake is essential to restore confidence and ensure that MacBook Pro owners can carry out updates and recoveries without unnecessary trial and error.
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