TL;DR
To reinstall macOS on your MacBook Air/Pro/iMac::
- Use a Bootable USB Drive: Create a bootable drive, boot from the USB drive, select your language, use Disk Utility to erase the main drive, and install macOS.
- Use Recovery Mode: Restart your Mac while holding Command ⌘ + R. Choose Reinstall macOS in Recovery Mode and follow on-screen instructions.
- Use Internet Recovery Mode: Restart your Mac while holding Command ⌘ + Option ⌥ + R, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the instructions to download and install macOS.
Tried and Tested ✅: The methods and steps mentioned in this article have been tried and tested firsthand by Ojash Yadav on his MacBook Pro M3 and rechecked for errors on Hashir’s MacBook Air M2.
I know how stressful it can be when your Mac isn’t running at its best. Sometimes, the easiest fix is a fresh reinstall of macOS. I’ll walk you through the step-by-step to reinstalling macOS and getting your Mac working like new again.
Before You Start the macOS Reinstallation
Before you begin the macOS reinstallation process, you need to do the following:
- 💾 Backup Your Data: Reinstalling macOS will erase all the data on your Mac’s startup disk. So, back up your Mac data before proceeding using Time Machine or any other backup method.
- 🔍 Check Compatibility: Your Mac must be compatible with the latest macOS version.
- 🌐 Check Your Internet Connection: You’ll need a stable internet connection to download and reinstall macOS. Make sure your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection is working correctly.
- 📊 Check Your Disk Space: Before reinstallation, ensure you have enough disk space for the new operating system. You can check your available disk space by going to the Apple menu > About This Mac > Storage.
- 📥 Download the Latest Version of macOS: Download the latest macOS version from the Mac App Store. Doing this before you start the reinstallation process saves time.
3 Ways to Reinstall macOS on Your MacBook Air/Pro/iMac
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Now that you have prepared your Mac for installation of macOS, I’ll share 3 methods to reinstall macOS.
1. Using the Recovery Mode
The most easitest and simplest method to reinstall macOS on your Mac is using the Recovery mode. Here are the steps to reinstall macOS by booting your Mac into Recovery Mode:
It’s always a good idea to back up your data before reinstalling macOS to avoid losing important files or documents.
- First, make sure your MacBook Air/Pro/iMac is connected to the Internet.
- Turn off your Mac and turn it back on while holding down the Command ⌘ + R keys on your keyboard. Keep holding the keys until the Apple logo appears.
- This will boot your Mac into the Recovery Mode. Once it loads, select Reinstall macOS and click Continue.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to select your startup disk and begin the reinstallation process.
This process may take some time, so be patient.
- After the installation is complete, your Mac will restart and display the Setup Assistant. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your Mac, including selecting your language, creating a user account, and configuring settings.
- Once you’ve completed the setup process, you should have a fresh macOS installation.
2. Using a Bootable USB Drive
Here are the steps to follow to reinstall macOS using bootable usb drive:
a. Create a Bootable macOS USB Drive
- Download the macOS installer from Apple’s official website. The installer will be downloaded to the Downloads folder on your Mac.
- Insert a flash drive with at least 16GB of storage.
- To create a bootable USB on Mac, open Disk Utility, select the USB drive in the left sidebar, and click Erase in the top menu.
- Type a name for your USB, choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled) as the format, and click Erase to format the USB.
In the Terminal command part later, you must substitute the term MyVolume with the name you assign to your USB in this step. So, remember this name.
- Open Terminal from the Utilities folder and type the following command:
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sonoma.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
Please note that this particular command is for macOS Sonoma. If you downloaded a different macOS version, replace Sonoma with the appropriate name.
Here are Terminal commands for some older macOS versions:
Ventura
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Ventura.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
Monterey
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Monterey.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
Big Sur
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
Catalina
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Catalina.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
Mojave
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Mojave.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
High Sierra
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
Sierra
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install/ macOS/ Sierra.app
El Capitan
sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app
Yosemite
sudo /Applications/Install OS X Yosemite.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install OS X Yosemite.app
- Enter your admin password when prompted, and press Enter.
- Now, wait for the process to complete.
b. Reinstall macOS
- Insert the bootable macOS USB drive into your Mac.
- Turn on your Mac and press the Option ⌥ key on your keyboard.
- Select Install macOS 13 beta from the Startup options and press the Enter key to boot.
- Select your preferred language from the list and press the right arrow icon in the bottom right corner.
- Select Disk Utility from the list and click Continue.
- Click the View icon in the top left corner and select Show All Devices from the drop-down menu.
- Now, choose your main drive in the left sidebar and click the Erase button at the top.
- A pop-up window will appear. Here, type your drive’s name (Macintosh HD), choose its format (APFS) and scheme (GUID Partition Map), and click Erase.
- Wait for the drive to erase and click Done. Then, close the Disk Utility window.
- Go back to the macOS Recovery menu, click Install macOS 13 beta, and press Continue.
- Click Continue again to start the installation process.
- Click Agree on the software license agreement.
- Next, select the drive you want to install the macOS to and click Continue.
Your Mac will restart multiple times during the installation process.
- Wait for the installation to complete until you see the macOS hello screen.
3. Using Mac Internet Recovery Mode
Internet Recovery Mode is a powerful solution for reinstalling macOS, especially when your Mac’s recovery partition isn’t available or you’re dealing with a more complex issue.
As someone who has relied on Internet Recovery in a pinch, I can vouch for its effectiveness. This method is a bit different as it uses your internet connection to reinstall macOS directly from Apple’s servers.
Here’s how to start your Mac in Internet Recovery Mode to reinstall macOS:
Before proceeding with the steps below, ensure you have a stable internet connection and back up all your important files and data.
a. For Intel-Based Macs
- Turn off your Mac by pressing and holding the Power button until it shuts down completely.
- Press the power button to turn on your Mac. Immediately press and hold the Command ⌘ + Option ⌥ + R keys until you see a globe image.
- Next, tap Choose Network and select a stable Wi-Fi network from the drop-down menu.
- Enter the Wi-Fi password.
- After establishing a stable internet connection, your Mac will begin downloading the necessary installation files. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to more than an hour, depending on the speed of your Mac and internet connection.
- Once the download is complete, you’ll be directed to the macOS Utilities window, where you can initiate the installation process.
b. For M1 Macs
On Apple Silicon Macs, standard macOS Recovery has been integrated with M1/M2 Mac Internet Recovery Mode. This means there is no difference between booting an M1 or M2 MacBook Pro to macOS Internet Recovery and entering a normal macOS Recovery.
Post-Installation Steps for macOS
After you’ve reinstalled macOS, you must take a few post-installation steps to make sure everything runs according to your preference. Here are the essential post-installation steps for macOS:
- 💾 Restore Your Data from Backup: You can use Time Machine or any other backup method to restore your data to your Mac.
- 📥 Install Essential Software: Install the essential software that you use regularly, such as web browsers, productivity apps, media players, and other tools.
- ⚙️ Configure Your Mac’s Settings: Take some time to configure your Mac’s settings. You can adjust settings for your desktop background, screensaver, dock, mouse, trackpad, and more.
- 📧 Set Up Your Email and Other Accounts: If you use email and other online services, set them up on your Mac. This can include setting up your email accounts, iCloud, Dropbox, and other services.
- 🔒 Set Up Security Features: Make sure to set up any security features you need, such as a password or Touch ID, to keep your system and data safe. Also, consider installing an antivirus to protect your data.
Final Thoughts on Reinstalling macOS
Reinstalling macOS can improve your Mac’s performance, speed, and stability. Knowing how to reinstall macOS on your device is helpful, but learning about relevant steps can help you troubleshoot any issues. Here are some helpful tips:
- Before reinstalling macOS, double-check the macOS version system requirements to make sure it is compatible with your Mac.
- Prepare better for an update by learning how much space does macOS take on your Mac.
- If you’re interested, learn how to download old macOS versions and install them.