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Does reinstalling macOS wipe everything?
macOS Reinstallation Deletes Everything, What Can I Do Reinstalling macOS of macOS Recovery can help you replace the current problematic OS with a clean version quickly and easily. Technically speaking, simply reinstalling macOS won’t erase your disk either delete files.
How do I do a clean install of my Mac?
Step 4: Wipe your Mac
- Connect your boot drive.
- Start up – or restart – your Mac while holding down the Option key (also known as Alt).
- Choose to install your chosen version of macOS from the external drive.
- Select Disk Utility.
- Select your Mac’s start up disc, probably called Macintosh HD or Home.
- Click on Erase.
Can macOS be reinstalled?
You can 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. Use the App Store or a web browser to download and install an earlier macOS. Use a USB flash drive or other secondary volume to create a bootable installer.
What happens if I reinstall macOS?
2 Answers. It does exactly what it says it does–reinstalls macOS itself. It only touches operating system files that are there in a default configuration, so any preference files, documents and applications that are either changed or not there in the default installer are simply left alone.
Will I lose my files if I reinstall macOS?
macOS Recovery keeps your files and user settings intact when reinstalling. Important: Your computer must be connected to the internet to reinstall macOS.
What to backup before clean install Mac?
Back Up Your Data Locally This is why the first step of a clean install is data backup. Using the built-in local backup feature, Time Machine, you can save all the data from the Mac on an external hard drive. This way you’ll back up important data, files and pictures so you can access them after the clean install.
How do I wipe my Mac and start fresh?
Shut down your Mac, then turn it on and immediately press and hold these four keys together: Option, Command, P, and R. Release the keys after about 20 seconds. This clears user settings from memory and restores certain security features that might have been altered.
Should I do a fresh install of macOS?
No. Doing it so often is not a good idea. MacOS is a stable system and if you need to clean up your disk, just use special software for this. You may need to do a clean install only if you detect some issues or malware on your system and this is the only way to fix them.
What happens when you clean install a new Mac?
When you do a clean installation, you let macOS run its Setup Assistant and create a new, empty user account. During the process, you enter some information, such as your Apple ID, so your iCloud account is activated, but, for the most part, your Mac will be a tabula rasa —a blank slate.
How to reinstall a MacBook Air with new OS?
Choose Reinstall macOS (or Reinstall OS X) from the Utilities window. Click Continue, then follow the onscreen instructions to choose your disk and begin installation. If the installer asks to unlock your disk, enter the password you use to log in to your Mac.
How do I get the correct installer on my Mac?
To get the correct installer, download from a Mac that is using macOS Sierra 10.12.5 or later, or El Capitan 10.11.6. Enterprise administrators, please download from Apple, not a locally hosted software-update server. This downloads as a disk image named InstallMacOSX.dmg.
What version of macOS do I have installed on my Mac?
On an Intel-based Mac: If you use Shift-Option-Command-R during startup, you’re offered the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available. If you use Option-Command-R during startup, in most cases you’re offered the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac.