If an Apple silicon Mac reaches Recovery but cannot open its normal desktop, Share Disk may provide a route to accessible files through another Mac. Decide which files matter most before beginning. This procedure cannot promise access to damaged storage or data you cannot legitimately unlock.

Use your own computers or obtain the owner’s permission. Prepare a clearly named destination folder on the receiving Mac with enough space. If the source repeatedly disconnects or reports read errors, stop and seek data-recovery advice rather than repeatedly scanning the whole disk.

Share the intended volume

These steps follow Apple’s macOS Tahoe 26 Recovery guide. Connect the Macs with a suitable USB, USB-C or Thunderbolt data cable. Shut down the source Mac, hold its power button until startup options appear, then choose Options and Continue. Complete any volume selection and administrator authentication requested.

In Recovery, choose Utilities, Share Disk. Select the required volume and choose Start Sharing. On the receiving Mac, open Finder, Network, and the source Mac. Choose Connect As, then Guest and Connect.

The Guest connection is part of Apple’s documented sharing procedure after authorised Recovery access. It does not remove the source Mac’s authentication requirements.

Copy and verify before doing anything destructive

Copy the priority files into the prepared folder. Keep the originals in place; do not use this session to tidy, rename or delete unrelated source material. Start with a small important item to confirm the path works, then continue in priority order.

Open representative copied files on the receiving Mac. Check a complete document, a photo and any application-specific file that matters to your work. Record folders still missing or files that could not be read rather than describing a partial copy as a complete backup.

When finished, eject the shared volume in the receiving Mac’s Finder. On the source, choose Stop Sharing, then quit Share Disk. Keep the copied files protected and arrange another backup before approving an erase or reinstall that could affect the source.

References: Apple: Tahoe Recovery and Share Disk.