A guided TFTP Server recovery tool for macOS
If your OpenWrt router will not boot after flashing, start here. Many routers still have a recovery path, and this guide helps you prepare the Mac side calmly before trying again.
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.
OpenWrt recovery is for routers that stop booting normally after a failed flash, wrong firmware image, interrupted upgrade, or broken configuration. If LuCI is unreachable and the router only responds during boot, recovery mode may be the next path.
Do not start with a random firmware file. Match the brand, model, hardware revision, target, and image type. A sysupgrade image, factory image, and recovery image may behave differently.
Most TFTP recovery flows need a temporary manual Ethernet IP. If the router recovery address is 192.168.1.1, set the Mac to 192.168.1.254 with subnet mask 255.255.255.0. If the device guide lists another address, follow that guide.
The router can only request files from the folder served by the app. Use the required filename when your model asks for one, and make sure the file is not still inside a zip archive.
Power off the router, hold the required button such as Reset or WPS, connect power, then release when the LED pattern matches the model guide. Timing matters because some bootloaders only listen briefly.
Start the recovery check before the router enters its recovery window. Keep Ethernet connected, avoid Wi-Fi-only setups, and watch whether the router requests the firmware file.
Recheck the Mac IP, router recovery IP, firmware filename, served folder, firewall permissions, Ethernet port, and whether the router actually entered recovery mode.
No. Many routers support TFTP recovery, but the exact recovery method depends on the bootloader and model. Some devices require serial TTL or a vendor tool.
Use the IP required by your router guide. A common setup is router 192.168.1.1 and Mac 192.168.1.254 with subnet mask 255.255.255.0.
Use the image type required by your model and hardware revision. Do not assume sysupgrade, factory, and recovery images are interchangeable.
No. The app prepares and checks the macOS TFTP recovery environment. The router startup recovery program controls whether and how the firmware is accepted.