In this article, we will teach you how to reinstall your Mac operating system using the built-in macOS Recovery tool.
Have you been using your Mac for a long time without performing any software maintenance? In general, After some time with macOS, it’s completely natural to feel like something is wrong.. The system loads slowly or it takes a long time for one or more applications to open normally. This is even more noticeable when talking about old Macs before the Apple Silicon era. If you notice unusual behavior and want to reinstall macOS without dying trying, in this article we will teach you how to do it from macOS Recovery Tool.
What is macOS Recovery?
This is a feature present in every version of macOS and This allows us to reinstall the operating system in such a way that we do not have to download anything beforehand.. This is the perfect way to be able to reboot our current operating system but without exhausting yourself or costing you work.
If you want to reinstall from root without taking into account the macOS tool, you may want to perform a clean install. Here we explain how to download the macOS version of your choice and install it correctly.
Please note that macOS Recovery Tool requires an available internet connection to perform the necessary downloads from Apple servers. Also keep your device connected to power and use the built-in keyboard or a wired one if it’s a desktop in case you have issues with the wireless keyboard.
That said, follow these steps to get started.
Start macOS Recovery with a Mac with Apple silicon
- If your Mac is on, turn it off
- Once off, press and hold the power button
- Stop pressing the button once the Options menu is visible
- Click on Options then Continue at the bottom
- You will be asked select a user to enter password and proceed with the reinstallation
- Click Next
Boot into macOS Recovery with a Mac with an Intel chip
Once your Mac is off, turn it back on and press one of the following key combinations:
- Command + R to get the current version of the latest macOS installation
- Option + Command + R to get the latest version of macOS compatible with your Mac
- Shift + Option + Command + R to get the factory version that came with your Mac or the closest version available
- Press and hold the corresponding keys until you see the Apple logo or until a rotating world ball appears
- Select the user or administrator to enter the password and proceed with the reinstallation.
- Click Next
Reinstall macOS
After the first part of this procedure, you will see the window to perform different actions. In this case we want to reinstall macOS, select this option.
- Click Continue and follow the on-screen instructions
- If the drive is locked, enter your Mac login password
- Choose the Macintosh HD Disk option
If the system does not find an available disk, you will need to erase the disk. You can do this one step earlier by clicking on Disk Utility. One of the reasons why it can’t be installed directly may be because the disk has some type of damage or needs additional attention.
If you have no problems after selecting the disk, the installation will have started. Make sure the installation is completed without touching your Mac (don’t put it to sleep while it’s plugged into power or close the lid). Your Mac may restart and display a progress bar repeatedlybesides having the screen go blank for a while.
The procedure is complete when your Mac starts the Setup Assistant. Now you can put the finishing touches on starting the operating system and using it.
What to do if macOS Recovery doesn’t complete the procedure?
In this case, it is suggested to repair the startup disk with Disk Utility.. Once inside, select the drive and click First Aid, then Run, then Repair Disk. If it is not repaired, you will need to format the drive by clicking Erase.
If you’re having trouble with macOS Recovery, you can install macOS using a bootable USB drive, which we show you how to set up here. Remember, if you’re having a more serious problem, Apple Support is here to help.
We leave you the following Apple video guide in case something is not clear.
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