Reinstalling MacBook

Reinstalling your MacBook may be the solution if it is behaving just a little differently than usual. Think sluggishness or problems with standard Apple apps. Reinstalling is a piece of cake – we’ll explain it to you!

In this blog, we discuss:

• Why reinstall MacBook?
• How can I reinstall my MacBook?
• MacOS recovery with Apple silicon
• MacOS recovery with an Intel Mac
• Reinstalling macOS
• Which macOS version is being installed?

Why reinstall MacBook?

Sometimes it seems like your MacBook is just a little slower or there are issues related to macOS software. A new software installation and updates can give your laptop a huge boost, allowing you to start again with a clean slate. And don’t worry, because unlike restoring your MacBook’s factory settings, also called a clean install or clean install, all your data will be preserved. Off to a fresh start!

How can I reinstall my MacBook?

Reinstalling the macOS operating system on your MacBook can be done in two ways. Even though it sometimes seems like a big job, this recovery is not higher math. Especially not if you follow the steps below – we’ll walk you through it.

MacOS recovery with Apple silicon

1. Take a closed MacBook as a starting point.
2. Press and hold the power button until you see “Load Startup Options” or the “Options” icon.
3. Click “Options” and “Continue.
4. When prompted, select your boot disk and click Next.
5. Click on the appropriate user and enter the corresponding administrator password.
6. Continue with the steps under “Reinstall MacOS.

MacOS recovery with an Intel Mac

1. Take a closed MacBook as a starting point.
2. Turn on the MacBook and immediately hold down one of the following key combinations until the Apple logo or a spinning globe appears:
– Command (⌘) + R
for the current version of macOS that is on your MacBook.
– Option (⌥) + Command (⌘) + R
for the latest macOS compatible with your MacBook.
– Shift + Option (⌥) + Command (⌘) + R
for the macOS that came with your MacBook or the version closest to it and still available.
3. Select a Wi-Fi network when prompted. This menu can be found in the upper right corner of the screen.
4. When prompted, select your boot disk and click Next.
5. Click on the appropriate user and enter the corresponding administrator password.

Reinstalling macOS

The MacBook is now booted up.
1. Choose the ‘Reinstall macOS’ option to reinstall macOS.
2. Click “Continue,” enter a password if prompted, and click “Macintosh HD.
3. The installation program may not be able to find your disk. In that case, erase your disk first.
4. Do not perform any other operations until the installation is complete. The MacBook will then probably start up with a configuration assistant that will let you do the final steps.

Which macOS version is being installed?

Which macOS version is installed depends on the recovery method you use. On an Intel Mac, Command (⌘) + R will reinstall the current version of macOS, Option (⌥) + Command (⌘) + R will install the latest compatible macOS, and Shift + Option (⌥) + Command (⌘) + R will reinstall the original version or the closest available version. On a MacBook with Apple silicon, choose “Reinstall macOS” in macOS recovery and it will install the version available for your Mac from Recovery.