iBridge

iBridge is a family of embedded processing devices for Macs. There are currently two major variants.

• iBridge T1 - found in the 2016 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.
• iBridge T2 - found in the iMac Pro and later.

iBridge devices run a heavily modified version of watchOS, titled bridgeOS, and they drive functionality for a limited range of hardware components. They are currently only known to work with the Touch Bar and the built-in FaceTime HD camera.

Similar to iPhones, iPads, and iPods, iBridge firmware bundles come in IPSW form. Build train codenames are appended with "HWBridge" to distinguish them from normal firmwares, and the disk image files inside have labels that are appended with "UniversalBridgeOS." They can only be restored to if the Mac is in DFU mode.

Entering DFU Mode

The T2 models can be restored via a Thunderbolt cable using Apple Configurator 2.

Desktop Macs

For example, iMac Pro and Mac mini models from 2018 or later.

1. Completely power off the Mac; disconnect it from external power.
2. Attach one end of a Thunderbolt cable to the correct Thunderbolt port on the Mac.
   • iMac Pro: The Thunderbolt port that is located next to the Ethernet port.
   • Mac mini: The Thunderbolt port that is located next to the HDMI port.
3. Connect the other end to any Thunderbolt or USB port on the host Mac (the device which will be used for restoring).
4. Hold down the power button on the back of the Mac for 3 seconds, while connecting the power cord.

Portable Macs

For example, MacBook models from 2018 or later.

1. Completely power off the Mac; disconnect it from external power.
2. Attach one end of a Thunderbolt cable to the Thunderbolt port that is located on the left side, closest to the front.
3. Connect the other end to any Thunderbolt or USB port on the host Mac (the device which will be used for restoring).
4. Hold down the power button, right Shift key, and left Control and Option keys, for 3 seconds.

Mac Configuration Utility

The Mac Configuration Utility icon.

In order to restore a firmware to an iBridge device, technicians must use two Apple Internal tools. The first one, Apple Service Toolkit (AST), is used to initiate a diagnostic session between the host Mac and the Mac in DFU mode. The second tool, which must be installed on the host Mac, is known as the Mac Configuration Utility (MCU). It communicates with AST to provide board information and initiate restores and diagnostics over-the-air. MCU supports macOS 10.13.2 or later.

The Mac Configuration Utility startup screen.

iBridge devices can still be managed if there is no firmware present by booting a diagnostic image, which is pushed to the device by MCU after a Blank Board Serializer test is initiated on AST. This test will also assign a serial number to a new board.

During a restore, an Apple logo and progress bar will show on the screen, similar to that of a normal device restore. It is unknown if iBridge firmwares are signed, or if they are verified by the host or by iBridge devices.