Tips on how to clear set up macOS in your Mac

On this article, we’re going to point out you how you can carry out a clear set up of macOS, however earlier than we get in to how you can wipe your Mac and reinstall macOS we are going to talk about the distinction between a clear set up and a plain reinstall of macOS, and why you would possibly wish to do a clear set up of macOS. Is a clear set up higher than a reinstall, or is it really fully pointless to wipe your Mac first?

We’ll then talk about the other ways to do a clear set up of macOS. Historically, the best way was to make a bootable copy of the macOS installer on a USB stick after which reformat your drive earlier than putting in the bootable copy onto your Mac, nonetheless, that is pointless for contemporary Macs. There may be now a easy methodology to wipe a Mac and it’s potential to make use of macOS Restoration to reinstall the Mac working system over the online (we have now a separate tutorial about how you can reinstall macOS utilizing Restoration).

Nevertheless, as a result of on trendy Macs macOS is put in in your Mac on a separate quantity that may’t be touched by different apps and software program in your Mac, reinstalling macOS as a way to repair issues is much less prone to be the answer it as soon as was.

Must you do a clear set up of macOS?

There are a variety of explanation why you would possibly wish to do a clear set up:

• You would possibly wish to reinstall the working system to be able to appropriate issues together with your Mac. Doing a clear set up could also be choice in case your Mac is operating sluggish or in any other case misbehaving.
• Doing a clear set up permits you to clear away outdated information that you just might need been accumulating for years earlier than putting in the working system onto a freshly formatted disk. 
• A clear set up can also be one thing it’s best to do earlier than promoting your Mac or passing it on. It permits you to take away all of your knowledge out of your Mac and return it to manufacturing unit settings for the subsequent particular person.
• A clear set up can also be one thing many pc customers resort to when they’re making an attempt to eliminate a virus (though there may be numerous debate about whether or not there are viruses on the Mac).

Nevertheless, modifications lately could imply {that a} clear set up just isn’t needed. Since macOS Huge Sur (which arrived in 2020) macOS has its personal quantity which is totally sealed and can’t be modified by any software program you put in. As well as, should you wished to do a clear set up in order that no leftovers that belong to an outdated macOS are carried alongside, this not applies as a result of none of this info is carried over.

Another excuse to keep away from a clear set up is that it might end result within the lack of knowledge and settings you depend on. Chances are you’ll really feel that you’ve rather a lot extra knowledge and information in your Mac and that wiping your drive might be helpful, simply be ready that it may be a dangerous enterprise and you might find yourself deleting one thing essential. Beware {that a} clear set up could cause extra issues than it fixes. You would possibly choose to make use of an software like CleanMyMac X from MacPaw, or one of many Greatest Mac Cleaner software program we have now examined.

In case you are pleased to take the danger and nonetheless wish to wipe your Mac and reinstall macOS – which it’s best to positively do if you’re promoting or passing in your Mac – learn on!

Tips on how to clear set up macOS

As we defined above, there may be a couple of method to wipe your Mac and reinstall macOS:

1. Use the Erase All Content material and Settings choice setting and use macOS Restoration to reinstall macOS by way of the online.
2. Make a replica of the macOS installer on a USB stick, reformat your drive after which set up the macOS onto your Mac from the installer.

We’ll begin off with the straightforward choice that works on trendy Macs (all M-series Macs and the T2 Intel-powered Macs).

Earlier than you start: Again up your Mac

Earlier than you start we advocate that you just make a backup, simply in case one thing goes flawed. Full directions right here: Tips on how to again up a Mac. It’s solely potential that there can be one thing in your Mac that you just thought was within the cloud however was really in your Mac (we converse from expertise!)

Notice that with regard to backups, you in all probability received’t wish to recuperate a Time Machine backup should you don’t wish to copy over all of the settings and preferences related together with your outdated system. You could possibly alternatively sync all of your Paperwork and Desktop with iCloud relatively than run a full backup, however ensure that every thing you want is within the cloud and remember that you could be lose your settings and purposes. We now have reviewed some different Mac Backup options so verify them out for one which fits you.

Tips on how to wipe your Mac and reinstall macOS the simple method

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With this methodology you’ll erase all content material and settings utilizing a setting in macOS after which set up macOS.

What you want: A Mac with Apple Silicon (M1 chip or later) or an Intel-powered Mac with a T2 chip. macOS Monterey or later.

1. Open System Settings.
2. Click on on Normal.
3. Click on on Switch or Reset.
4. Click on on Erase all Content material and Settings.
5. Enter your password.
6. You’ll be reminded to do a backup with Time Machine earlier than you start deletion, however you possibly can skip that step when you have one other backup you’re utilizing.
7. A window will present you what can be deleted, together with Apple ID, Contact ID, equipment, and Discover My settings.
8. Lastly, you will have to sign off of your Mac and all associated providers utilizing your Apple ID.
9. Earlier than your Mac is erased you obtain a closing warning, so when you have second ideas a minimum of you possibly can cease at this level!
10. Having clicked the second Erase All Content material & Settings your Mac will restart. Finally, you will note a black display whereas it restarts.
11. As soon as your Mac restarts you possibly can undergo the steps to set it up as new. This can be adequate for you, however should you additionally wish to reinstall macOS you are able to do so from Restoration.
12. Begin up in Restoration by shutting down your Mac after which urgent and holding the ability button till the Mac begins up and also you see the Choices icon. (On an Intel Mac it’s essential press and maintain the Command and R buttons to begin in Restoration).
13. Click on on Choices and Proceed.
14. Enter the password if required.
15. A macOS Utilities window will open with choices to Restore From Time Machine Backup, Reinstall macOS [version], Safari (or Get Assist On-line in older variations) and Disk Utility. 
16. Select Reinstall macOS.

In macOS Monterey the method was barely totally different however the end result was the identical. Erase All Content material and Settings was accessed from the System Preferences menu on the prime of the display.

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We clarify how you can reinstall macOS by way of Restoration in additional element right here: Tips on how to reinstall macOS.

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Tips on how to clear set up macOS utilizing a bootable USB

Now for the even trickier enterprise of putting in a clear copy of an older model of macOS on an older Mac. Talking of which, if an outdated model is what you’re on the lookout for, it might be value having a look at one other article the place we concentrate on that solely: Tips on how to obtain and set up outdated variations of OS X on a Mac.

This methodology entails utilizing a bootable USB with the macOS set up on it. This may also be one of the best methodology if you have already got the set up information downloaded and don’t wish to look forward to hours for Restoration to obtain the information (or you’re putting in the software program on a number of Macs).

• Instruments required: A 15GB or bigger detachable USB flash drive to carry the installer file for our chosen model of macOS. (We’re going to erase it, so make certain it doesn’t include any worthwhile knowledge.) Admin privileges for the Mac. A again up, simply in case one thing goes flawed.

1.

Format the exterior drive

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We’re going to re-download the installer file for our chosen model of macOS and retailer it on a USB stick or exterior drive. However earlier than you do that you may put together the USB drive by reformatting it.

Right here’s how you can format your USB drive appropriately:

1. Plug within the USB drive.
2. Go to Functions > Utilities.
3. Open Disk Utility.
4. Choose the drive and click on Erase. (The title of the disk must be “Untitled”, if the Terminal instructions under are to work, so rename it if needed.)
5. Choose Mac OS Prolonged (Journaled) because the format sort. 
6. Select GUID Partition Map from the Scheme choices (should you don’t see this you’re within the flawed view – it’s essential choose the exterior drive, not the container under it).
7. Click on Erase.
8. Disk Utility will create the partition and arrange the drive (it may possibly take some time).
9. Click on Carried out.

2.

Get the macOS set up file

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For those who’re reinstalling the newest model of macOS, or putting in a brand new model of macOS, the subsequent step is comparatively straightforward though the method for acquiring the installer can be totally different. 

Tips on how to obtain the installer by way of Software program Replace

In case you are at the moment operating Ventura and wish to do a clear set up of macOS Sonoma, for instance, then you possibly can obtain the set up package deal by way of System Settings.

1. Open System Settings.
2. Select Normal.
3. Select Software program Replace.
4. Obtain the macOS Sonoma set up information (don’t set up it!)

Tips on how to obtain the installer from the Mac App Retailer

Discover the model of macOS you wish to set up. Chances are high should you following these steps you’ll be utilizing an older Mac that’s incompatible with Sequoia and Sonoma. See: What model of macOS can my Mac run.

Nevertheless, it’s potential to run new macOS on outdated Macs, as we clarify in Tips on how to set up macOS Sequoia on an unsupported Mac.

First up, it’s essential pay money for the model of macOS you wish to set up. For extra assist learn: Tips on how to set up older variations of macOS or OS X.

• You’ll find Sonoma on the Mac App Retailer right here
• Seize the Ventura installer from the Mac App Retailer right here.
• Monterey is on the Mac App Retailer right here.
• Huge Sur is on the Mac App Retailer right here.
• Catalina is on the Mac App Retailer right here.
• You may get macOS Mojave by way of this hyperlink.
• Obtain Excessive Sierra right here.
• Sierra is right here as a direct obtain.
• El Capitan could be downloaded from this hyperlink.
• Yosemite is on the market right here. 

(If these hyperlinks don’t work shut the Mac App Retailer and minimize and paste the hyperlinks into Safari. For extra recommendation on getting maintain of even older editions of Mac OS, see Tips on how to get outdated variations of OS X.)

Upon getting situated the model of macOS you need on the Mac App Retailer comply with these directions:

1. Hit Obtain or Get (relying on the model of the Mac App Retailer you’re utilizing).
2. You could get a warning message at this level, telling you that this model of macOS ‘is already put in on this pc. Would you wish to proceed?’ Click on Proceed.
3. Enter your Apple ID and password.
4. The set up information will begin to obtain.

The installer file can be a number of gigabytes. macOS Huge Sur was 12.6GB, for instance, so count on downloading to take some time.

Don’t set up but!

Whichever method you get the set up file the subsequent step is value highlighting for what you shouldn’t do, relatively than what it’s best to do:

1. When the macOS installer has completed downloading the installer will launch routinely, however we don’t wish to use it but so don’t click on to begin the set up!
2. Press Command + Q to stop out of the installer.
3. Discover the installer file (will probably be situated in your Functions folder, or you can seek for it utilizing Highlight (command + Area and begin typing Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Catalina or Huge Sur).

3.

Create a bootable USB disk

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Subsequent we have to flip the USB drive right into a bootable USB disk in order that we will use it to put in a brand new copy of macOS on our Mac after we have now reformatted it (that step will come later on this tutorial).

We’ve bought full directions on Tips on how to make a bootable macOS set up drive in a unique article, however we’ll run by means of the fundamentals right here.

We’re going to create the bootable drive utilizing Terminal, which you’ll open in your Mac by urgent Command + Area bar and typing Terminal.

Join the USB drive that you just formatted earlier to your Mac. Be sure it’s referred to as Untitled – rename it if needed (this can enable you enter the proper textual content in Terminal within the subsequent steps).

Making a bootable installer has been fairly straightforward for the reason that arrival of Mavericks in 2013 due to the Terminal command createinstallmedia that arrived in that model. Right here’s how you can use it (word that the title of the model of macOS will depend upon which model you’re putting in):

1. Open the Terminal software in your Mac (discover it by looking out utilizing Command + Area and typing Terminal)
2. Now copy and paste the next textual content into Terminal (This textual content is for Ventura – we embody the textual content wanted for the opposite variations of macOS on this article). Once you minimize and paste the next textual content into Terminal do verify that it maintains the — as we have now heard of individuals pasting within the — and it changing to –)
   sudo /Functions/Set up macOS Ventura.app/Contents/Sources/createinstallmedia –quantity /Volumes/MyVolume (the place MyVolume is the title of the exterior drive you’re utilizing – it might be Untitled).
3. Press Return.
4. Enter your password (you received’t see the password seem).
5. Press Return once more.
6. Terminal will warn that it’s about to erase the drive. If you wish to proceed press Y after which Return. The method can take some time, you’ll see “Erasing Disk: 0%… 10%… 20%… 30%…100%…
7. Subsequent Terminal will spend a couple of minutes copying the installer file to your drive. “Copying installer information to disk… Copy full” and so forth will seem within the Terminal window. Once more, this could take some time – it took our Mac ages to go from 0% to 10%…
8. When the bootable drive is ready you will note the phrase Carried out. It will possibly take some time.

Now you may have the installer on the exterior drive you need to use that to put in copies of macOS on a number of Macs – which might be useful if you’re admin for lots of methods.

Nevertheless, if you’re studying this since you wish to do wipe your Mac and do a clear set up, learn on…

4.

Wipe your Mac

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Now we’re prepared to put in the copy of macOS from the installer drive on our Mac. If you wish to do a contemporary set up (and fully wipe your Mac) it’s time to reformat your Mac’s start-up drive.

You probably have a not too long ago trendy Mac with Monterey put in, you’d be greatest off wiping your Mac utilizing the Erase all Contents and Settings choice. However for these operating older Macs with older variations of macOS might want to use Disk Utility to delete their knowledge.

In case you are operating macOS Catalina or Huge Sur you should have two volumes: Macintosh HD and Macintosh HD – Knowledge. If you wish to do a clear set up of macOS over an present set up you will have to delete the Macintosh HD – Knowledge quantity. We cowl how to do that in additional element right here: Tips on how to reset and wipe a Mac.

Macintosh HD – Knowledge is the place your knowledge is saved individually to the macOS set up.

1. Both click on on the – button or go to the menu and select Edit > Delete APFS quantity.
2. You will notice a message warning you that this can completely erase your knowledge. Click on on Delete. Don’t select Delete Quantity Group.
3. Wait whereas the amount is deleted.

Then you possibly can transfer on to deleting your Macintosh HD quantity as above.

Right here’s how you can do a contemporary set up of macOS should you aren’t already operating Catalina, Huge Sur or later.

1. Join your boot drive.
2. Begin – or restart – your Mac whereas holding down the Choice key (also referred to as Alt). It will take you to Startup Supervisor.
3. Select to put in your chosen model of macOS from the exterior drive.
4. Choose Disk Utility.
5. Choose your Mac’s start-up disc, in all probability referred to as Macintosh HD or Residence.
6. Click on on Erase.
7. Wait to your startup disk to be formatted.
8. Return to the primary Utilities menu and select Set up macOS.
9. Select your startup drive as the situation to put in macOS.

As soon as set up is full, you possibly can restore apps and settings out of your backup, or obtain them once more manually.

5.

Set up macOS

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Now you need to use your bootable installer to do a clear set up of macOS in your wiped Mac.

The method for putting in the OS from the bootable installer is barely totally different when you have an M1 or M2-series Mac (also referred to as Apple Silicon) or an Intel processor inside your Mac. We’ll run by means of each strategies.

In each circumstances, you will have to have your Mac linked to the Web. It additionally must be appropriate with the model of macOS you are attempting to put in (you possibly can’t set up a macOS older than Huge Sur on a M-series Mac).

Tips on how to set up macOS from a bootable installer

You probably have an M-series Mac right here’s how you can set up macOS from a bootable installer. As we talked about above, you possibly can’t set up a macOS older than Huge Sur on an Apple Silicon Mac.

1. Plug in your bootable installer
2. Flip off your Mac.
3. Press the ability button to activate the Mac – however preserve it pressed till you see the startup choices window together with your bootable quantity.
4. Select the bootable installer quantity.
5. Click on Proceed.
6. The macOS installer ought to open – when it does comply with the onscreen directions to do the clear set up.

You probably have an Intel-powered Mac right here’s how you can set up macOS from a bootable installer:

1. Plug in your bootable installer
2. Flip off your Mac.
3. Press and maintain Choice/Alt whereas the Mac begins up – preserve urgent the important thing till you see a display displaying the bootable quantity.
4. Select the bootable installer quantity.
5. Click on Proceed.
6. Choose Set up macOS from the Utilities window that seems. 
7. Click on Proceed.
8. Now comply with the onscreen directions to do your clear set up.

Causes to not clear set up macOS

Previously, it was useful to reinstall the system should you wished to appropriate some Mac issues, however immediately this resolution doesn’t make as a lot sense.

Since macOS Huge Sur (launched in 2020), macOS has its house by itself quantity, which is each read-only and cryptographically signed and sealed (known as a Sealed System Quantity). This seal is saved both within the T2 chip of the newer Intel Macs or within the Safe Enclave of the Apple M-series chip (aka Apple Silicon).

Every element of the system is signed in hierarchical order, and any change to a element would additionally invalidate the seal that represents the highest degree. For additional safety, these Macs additionally don’t begin instantly from the system quantity, however from a snapshot of the system–and snapshots can’t be modified, even by the system itself.

So macOS itself can’t be modified by any software program that you just set up as a consumer. Ought to an issue happen with macOS throughout a restart, maybe as a result of a cupboard space on the SSD is flawed and thus a system element is not intact, this can be acknowledged by the startup course of for the reason that seal will now be invalid. Ought to this occur you’ll have to reinstall the system.

Nevertheless, in case your Mac boots up with out subject then it signifies that there aren’t any issues with the system. So long as your Mac works (which could be decided on the idea of the seal), the Mac is taken into account to be in working order because it complies with Apple’s specs.

For that purpose, even should you do encounter issues on Macs with T2 chip or Apple Silicon whereas operating macOS, it is unnecessary to reinstall the system your self.

For individuals who wish to do a clear set up in order that no leftovers that belong to an outdated system are carried alongside, this not applies as a result of none of this info is carried over. All elements are checked after set up, then signed and eventually your entire system is sealed once more. Once more, the seal ensures that every thing is okay and that nothing untoward has crept in.

Nevertheless, there may be one element of the system software program that isn’t put in on the read-only system quantity. All different user-installed packages reside on the amount with the consumer knowledge, together with Safari. This implies Apple can provide a separate replace for the browser and WebKit, so that you just shouldn’t have to reinstall the entire system every time.

Within the case of Safari and different apps there could be advantages in cleansing up your Library folder since it might nonetheless include remnants of outdated purposes you not use.