How to reinstall macOS

Use macOS Recovery to reinstall the Mac operating system.

Start upward from macOS Recovery

Apple silicon

Turn on your Mac and proceed to press and hold the power button until y'all see the startup options window. Click the gear icon labelled Options, and then click Go on.

Intel processor

Plow on your Mac and printing and hold Command (⌘)-R immediately until you lot see an Apple tree logo or other image.

If you lot're asked to select a user you know the password for, select the user, click Next and enter their administrator countersign.

Reinstall macOS

Reinstalling macOS won't remove data from your Mac. To first the installation process, select Reinstall macOS from the utilities window in macOS Recovery, and then click Continue and follow the onscreen instructions.

macOS Recovery options with

Follow these guidelines during installation:

  • If the installer asks to unlock your disk, enter the password you use to log in to your Mac.
  • If the installer can't see your deejay or notifies you that it can't install macOS on your computer or volume, you lot may need to erase your disk first.
  • If the installer offers you the choice between installing on Macintosh HD or Macintosh HD – Data, choose Macintosh Hard disk drive.
  • Allow installation to complete without putting your Mac to sleep or closing its lid. Your Mac may restart and evidence a progress bar several times, and the screen may be empty for minutes at a time.

When the installation is complete, your Mac may restart to a setup assistant. If you're selling, trading in or giving away your Mac, press Command-Q to quit the assistant without completing setup. Then click Shut Downwardly. When the new possessor starts up the Mac, they can utilise their ain data to complete the setup process.

Other macOS installation options

When y'all install macOS from Recovery, you'll get the current version of the well-nigh recently installed macOS, with some exceptions:

  • On an Intel-based Mac, you can useShift-Option-Command-R during the startup process to exist offered the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available. Or you can useOption-Command-R during the startup process to be offered either the latest macOS that is uniform with your Mac, or in some cases the macOS that came with your Mac or the closest version still bachelor.
  • If the Mac logic lath has just been replaced, you may only be offered the latest macOS that is uniform with your Mac.
  • If you've merely erased your entire startup disk, y'all may simply be offered the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.

Y'all tin also use these methods to install macOS, if the macOS is compatible with your Mac:

  • Use the App Store to download and install the latest macOS or an earlier macOS.
  • Use a USB wink drive or other secondary volume to create a bootable installer.

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