How To Reinstall Apple MacOS
When you need to go back to square one
You can use macOS Recovery to reinstall macOS at any time on your Mac. How you start reinstalling the operating system would depend on which type of Mac you own.
Macs going back to nearly 15 years use Intel-based chips. Meanwhile, the 24-inch iMac (2021), 13-inch MacBook Pro (M1, 2020), MacBook Air (M1, 2020), and Mac mini (M1, 2020) run the Apple silicon.
Regardless of your Mac version, the following instructions would reinstall the current macOS version onto your Mac Machine. If you want to reinstall the version of macOS that came with your machine at the time of purchase, it is possible. To do so, follow the directions below.
Before doing anything else
You should back up your Mac's application files before reinstalling macOS. Ideally, you should already be backing up your computer regularly either through the Time Machine or another solution. Before going further, make one last backup copy.
Getting started on Intel-based Macs
To reinstall macOS on your Intel-based MAC machine, you must first go into recovery mode. Make sure that your computer is connected to the internet, then press and hold on the 'Command' + 'R' keys on your Mac as it's booting up. Do this until you see the Apple logo coming up on the screen and add your administrator password if it is required.
Getting started on Apple silicone-based Macs
On recent Apples computers, turn on your Mac using the device power button. Immediately after, hold on the power button until you see the startup options window.
On the screen, click on the gear icon labeled 'Options', then click on 'Continue'. Add your administrator password, if it is required.
On all Macs
Regardless of the version of your Mac, you can now continue the reinstallation process.
Click on 'Reinstall macOS' from the utility window that is in macOS Recovery, then click on 'Continue' and follow the directions that is on the screen.
Important points
Apple offers a lots of guidelines to keep in mind concerning reinstalling macOS. These would include:
- If the installer asks you to unlock your disk, enter the password that you use to log in to your Mac.
- If the installer does not see your disk or says that it can not install on your computer or volume, you might need to erase your disk first.
- If the installer offers you the choice between installing on a Macintosh HD or Macintosh HD - Data, choose Macintosh HD.
Allow the installation to to run through without putting your Mac to sleep or closing its lid. Your Mac might restart and show a progress bar lots of times, and the screen might be empty for several minutes at a time.
