A guided TFTP Server recovery tool for macOS
Use this page to prepare the Mac side before following an ASUS Rescue Mode or model-specific firmware recovery guide.
TFTP: a simple local file-transfer method. In recovery, the router may ask your Mac for one firmware file.
Recovery mode: a temporary rescue state used when the router cannot start normally. It usually exposes only the basics needed to accept firmware.
Bootloader: the small startup program that runs before the normal router system. Many recovery flows are controlled by it.
Static IP / same subnet: a temporary Mac address such as 192.168.1.254 so the Mac can talk to a router waiting in recovery mode.
What to do: check the router label and hardware revision, then download matching recovery firmware. Why: mismatched firmware is a common cause of failed recovery. You should see: a filename, model, and hardware revision that clearly match.
What to do: temporarily set the Mac Ethernet IP to the address required by the guide, such as 192.168.1.254. Why: this lets the Mac communicate with the router while it is in recovery mode. You should see: Ethernet connected, with the Mac IP and router recovery IP in the same local network range.
What to do: select the firmware file and let Router Recovery wait for the router request. Why: the router recovery window may be brief, so the Mac should be ready first. You should see: the app waiting for the router request or showing that a request was detected.
What to do: follow the model guide, usually power off, hold Reset or WPS, then power on. Why: the router must enter recovery mode before it can request or accept firmware. You should see: the documented LED pattern, a brief network response, or the app detecting a firmware request.
ASUS recovery behavior varies across models. Confirm whether your device expects TFTP, a vendor recovery utility, or another rescue path before sending firmware.
Set the Ethernet adapter to the IP pair required by the ASUS recovery instructions. If the guide lists a router recovery IP, keep the Mac in the same subnet.
Use firmware for the exact model and hardware revision. Do not use an OpenWrt image unless your guide specifically says that model accepts it in recovery mode.
Many routers use a Reset or WPS button sequence during power-on. Watch the LED pattern and start with the official model behavior when available.
Check Ethernet port, Mac IP, firmware filename, served folder, firewall permissions, and whether the router is using a vendor utility instead of TFTP.
No. Some workflows use TFTP, while others expect ASUS recovery tooling or a web rescue interface.
Only if the model-specific instructions say that image type is accepted. Otherwise use the required ASUS or recovery firmware.
Temporary Mac IP, Ethernet adapter, served folder, firmware filename, and firewall permissions.