If you’re handing your device to someone else or facing software problems such as slow performance or crashes, erasing and reinstalling macOS can offer a fresh start and help resolve underlying issues.
This guide is applicable to all Mac models, though specific steps may vary slightly depending on your device.
⚠️ Before You Start
Any of these steps will erase all data from you device. Before you continue, ensure you:
- Backup your data using Time Machine or an external drive.
- Sign out of iCloud and Find My Mac to avoid Activation Lock.
💡 Why Is This Important?
Transferring data from older Macs can sometimes lead to software issues caused by outdated or incompatible files. Erasing and reinstalling macOS provides a clean foundation, helping ensure optimal performance before reintroducing your data.
For Apple Silicon Devices
- Power off your device.
- Press and hold the power button until you see 'Loading startup options'.
- Click Options > Continue.
- Enter the administrator password if prompted.
- Make sure your device is connected to the internet, you can verify this by checking the status in the top-right corner of your screen.
- In the Recovery app, click Disk Utility > Continue.
- In Disk Utility, select View > Show all devices.
- Select the Container Disk on the left-hand sidebar and then click Erase.
- The name should be Macintosh HD, Format APFS and then click Erase.
- The device may reboot to a screen that says Activate Mac. You'll be required to connect to your Wi-Fi network again (top-right hand side).
- Once erasure is complete, select Disk Utility (At the top-left of your screen) > Quit Disk Utility.
- In macOS Recovery, select Reinstall macOS > Continue, and then follow the on-screen instructions.
- A language selection screen will indicate the reinstall is complete.
For Apple Intel-based devices
- Power off your device.
- Turn on your device and hold down this three key combination: Command (⌘) + Option + R.
- Select Disk Utility.
- Select View > Show All Devices.
- Select the 'Container Disk'.
- Click Erase.
- The name should be Macintosh HD, Format APFS and Scheme GUID Partition Map.
- Click Erase, once complete, quit Disk Utility by select the red cross (x).
- Select Reinstall macOS and follow the on-screen instructions.
- A language selection screen will indicate the reinstall is complete.
