EFI Firmware Update Brings Lion Internet Recovery to Mid-2010 13-Inch MacBook Pro [Updated]

Monday January 23, 2012 8:30 PM PST by Eric Slivka

As noted in our forums, Apple today pushed out a new firmware update specifically targeting users of the company's Mid-2010 13-inch MacBook Pro model. The new MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 2.5 brings compatibility with Lion Internet Recovery, allowing users of OS X Lion to reinstall the operating system from scratch on a brand-new hard drive without the need for physical recovery media.
About MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 2.5

This update enables Lion Recovery from an Internet connection on MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2010) models.

For more information about Lion Recovery, please visit this website: http://www.apple.com/macosx/recovery/.
The update has not yet appeared on Apple's support downloads site, but weighs in at a small 2.9 MB for the user who posted the Software Update screenshot.

Lion Internet Recovery debuted alongside OS X Lion on new MacBook Air and Mac mini models introduced last July. The feature adds a minimal bootable install onto a machine's firmware to allow it to connect the Internet and download the full Lion operating system for installation. OS X Lion by default installs a recovery partition on the machine's hard drive for this purpose, but for users who are installing a blank hard drive or whose recovery partition becomes inaccessible, Internet Recovery provides yet another fallback option for Lion installation.

Following the July introduction of Internet Recovery on the current MacBook Air and Mac mini models, Apple extended the feature in mid-September to the then-current Early 2011 MacBook Pro models that had been released in February 2011. One month later Apple brought the feature to Apple's current-generation iMac line, leaving only the aging Mac Pro without support for Internet Recovery.

With today's firmware update, Apple has for the first time reached back to a previous-generation model to bring Lion Internet Recovery to the 13-inch MacBook Pro that was offered from April 2010 through February 2011.

Update: Users are also reporting that similar EFI firmware updates are available for the Mid-2010 white MacBook and the Mid-2010 Mac mini.

Related Roundup: Mac mini
Buyer's Guide: Mac Mini (Caution)
51 comments

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Mr. Retrofire
106 months ago

Isn't this effectively free Lion for anyone who bought a Mac since mid-2010?


Probably not. I'm sure it requires Lion.

Does anyone know if this update removes the ability to install Snow Leopard?


On Early-2011 MBPs (Snow Leopard 10.6.6 and 10.6.7), you can install Snow Leopard after the firmware update which enables Lion Internet Recovery. I tested this. I assume it is the same for the 2010 models.
Rating: 2 Votes
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N10248
106 months ago
Does anyone know if this update removes the ability to install Snow Leopard?
Rating: 2 Votes
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tblrsa
106 months ago

Apple is updating features on an older machine?! Oh happy day! :D

It's rare that they do something like this except for a security flaw. But of course I'm very happy that they are doing this. They probably won't go back that farther, but it's a wonderful feature to have if you have a compatible Mac. I'm all for Apple doing this more often. Especially because they seldom care about previously released hardware when new software comes around.


I agree. We pay a lot of money for their products, so seeing them supporting older machines is great, and will make me consider buying more of their new products in the future.
Rating: 2 Votes
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LimeiBook86
106 months ago
Apple is updating features on an older machine?! Oh happy day! :D

It's rare that they do something like this except for a security flaw. But of course I'm very happy that they are doing this. They probably won't go back that farther, but it's a wonderful feature to have if you have a compatible Mac. I'm all for Apple doing this more often. Especially because they seldom care about previously released hardware when new software comes around.
Rating: 2 Votes
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marcusj0015
106 months ago
So... They're slowly bringing Internet Recovery to all supported Macs?
Rating: 2 Votes
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gstevie
106 months ago
And on 2010 Mac Mini.
Rating: 2 Votes
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AppleFanatic10
106 months ago
Mid-2010 MacBook (White)

There's also one for the Mid-2010 White Macbook.
Rating: 2 Votes
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wordoflife
106 months ago
I'm so delighted to hear this! Nice to see that Apple is still catching up it's older users with new features. This was really one of the features I really liked about the newer Macs. Makes installing 10.7 so much easier.


Time to go update my MBP 13" 2010.:)
Rating: 2 Votes
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Carlanga
106 months ago
Sigh... I guess no love for my late 2007 white 13 MacBook... Shame on you apple shame!
LMAO :D
Rating: 1 Votes
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tblrsa
106 months ago

why would the 13" MBP get the update and not the 15 & 17?


I guess you just need to be a bit patient. I´m pretty sure Apple will roll out the Update for those models too. Otherwise it wouldn´t make much sense to provide it in the first place.
Rating: 1 Votes
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