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How to Reinstall macOS on Your MacBook Air/Pro or iMac: 3 Best Ways

Reinstall macOS seamlessly on your MacBook Air, Pro, or iMac.

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Last updated: December 30, 2024

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TL;DR

To reinstall macOS on your MacBook Air/Pro/iMac::

  1. 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​.
  2. Use Recovery Mode: Restart your Mac while holding Command ⌘ + R. Choose Reinstall macOS in Recovery Mode and follow on-screen instructions.
  3. 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:

  1. 💾 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.
  2. 🔍 Check Compatibility: Your Mac must be compatible with the latest macOS version.
  3. 🌐 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.
  4. 📊 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.
  5. 📥 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.

  1. First, make sure your MacBook Air/Pro/iMac is connected to the Internet.
  2. 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.
press Command R
  1. This will boot your Mac into the Recovery Mode. Once it loads, select Reinstall macOS and click Continue.
click reinstall macos in macos utilities
  1. Follow the on-screen instructions to select your startup disk and begin the reinstallation process.

This process may take some time, so be patient.

  1. 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.
  2. 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

    1. Download the macOS installer from Apple’s official website. The installer will be downloaded to the Downloads folder on your Mac.
    download the macos installer
    1. Insert a flash drive with at least 16GB of storage.
    2. 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.
    choose your external drive from the sidebar and click erase
    1. 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.

    type in a name for your drive and select the format
    1. 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
    1. Enter your admin password when prompted, and press Enter.
    2. Now, wait for the process to complete.

    b. Reinstall macOS

    1. Shut down your MacBook.
    click the apple icon and select shut down
    1. Insert the bootable macOS USB drive into your Mac.
    2. Turn on your Mac and press the Option ⌥ key on your keyboard.
    1. Select Install macOS 13 beta from the Startup options and press the Enter key to boot.
    select install macos 13 beta from the startup options
    1. Select your preferred language from the list and press the right arrow icon in the bottom right corner.
    select a language from the list
    1. Select Disk Utility from the list and click Continue.
    select disk utility from the list and click continue
    1. Click the View icon in the top left corner and select Show All Devices from the drop-down menu.
    click the view icon and select show all devices
    1. Now, choose your main drive in the left sidebar and click the Erase button at the top.
    choose your main drive and click erase at the top
    1. 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.
    type your drives name choose its format and scheme and click erase
    1. Wait for the drive to erase and click Done. Then, close the Disk Utility window.
    wait for the drive to erase and click done
    1. Go back to the macOS Recovery menu, click Install macOS 13 beta, and press Continue.
    click install macos 13 beta and press continue
    1. Click Continue again to start the installation process.
    click continue to start installation
    1. Click Agree on the software license agreement.
    click agree on software license agreement
    1. Next, select the drive you want to install the macOS to and click Continue.
    select the drive you want to install the macos to and click continue

    Your Mac will restart multiple times during the installation process.

    1. 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

    1. Turn off your Mac by pressing and holding the Power button until it shuts down completely.
    2. Press the power button to turn on your Mac. Immediately press and hold the Command ⌘ + Option ⌥ + R keys until you see a globe image.
    1. Next, tap Choose Network and select a stable Wi-Fi network from the drop-down menu.
    select choose network in internet recovery mode
    1. Enter the Wi-Fi password.
    2. 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.
    3. Once the download is complete, you’ll be directed to the macOS Utilities window, where you can initiate the installation process.
    click reinstall macos in macos utilities

    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:

    1. 💾 Restore Your Data from Backup: You can use Time Machine or any other backup method to restore your data to your Mac.
    2. 📥 Install Essential Software: Install the essential software that you use regularly, such as web browsers, productivity apps, media players, and other tools.
    3. ⚙️ 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.
    4. 📧 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.
    5. 🔒 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:

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I reinstall macOS without losing my data?

    Yes, you can reinstall macOS without losing your data using the Reinstall macOS feature. This will reinstall the operating system while keeping your files and settings intact. However, still back up your important data before proceeding with the reinstallation process.

    How long does it take to reinstall macOS?

    The time it takes to reinstall macOS can vary depending on the specific model of your Mac and the macOS version you’re installing. The process can generally take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours.

    Will reinstalling macOS fix all issues with my Mac?

    Reinstalling macOS can fix some issues with your Mac, such as software-related problems or performance issues. However, it may not fix hardware problems or issues with third-party software. Additionally, reinstalling macOS may not necessarily solve the problem if the root cause of the issue is user error or configuration.

    Ojash

    Author

    Hi there! I'm Ojash, a tech journalist with over a decade of experience in the industry. I've had the privilege of contributing to some of the world's largest tech publications, making my mark as a respected Mac expert. My passion lies in exploring, using, and writing about MacBooks, and I enjoy sharing my expertise to help others make informed decisions and get the most out of their MacBook experience. Join me as we delve into the fascinating world of MacBooks together!

    Hashir Ibrahim

    Reviewer

    Hello! I'm Hashir, a seasoned tech journalist with a unique blend of academic expertise and hands-on experience. With a bachelor's in IT, a master's in cybersecurity, and over a decade in the industry, I've built a reputation for demystifying complex Apple hardware. My work has been featured in top tech outlets like MakeUseOf and MakeTechEasier. As the senior writer at MacBook Journal, I write guides that help you solve any issues you have with your mac.

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