Upgrading to the latest Mac operating system released at the Apple keynote this September can be everything you envisioned and more. If you take the time to upgrade it properly, that is. How? By performing a clean install of the macOS High Sierra.
Create a macOS 10.13 High Sierra Beta Bootable USB Drive for Clean Installation. If you are looking to install macOS 10.13 High Sierra Beta on your Mac from scratch, then you need a bootable USB. In this video I will show you How to Create a macOS Sierra Public Beta Installation USB. This tutorial will work for both UEFI and Legacy. Create a Bootable USB Sierra Installer in Mac OS X 10.
![How To Create A Mac Os Sierra Public Beta Instalation Usb For How To Create A Mac Os Sierra Public Beta Instalation Usb For](http://cdn.osxdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/macos-high-sierra-usb-install-drive-610x354.jpg)
Don’t worry, a clean install is as easy as it gets and we’ve prepared a comprehensive guide to have you upgraded and performing at maximum, in no time. But first, let’s find out why the new operating system brings to the table in terms of new, exciting features. Afterwards, we’re going to give you a complete clean install guide which you’re actually going to enjoy!
Why you should upgrade to High Sierra
MacOS High Sierra’s features are a series of elegant refinements that will improve performance and user experience, while also paving the way towards virtual and augmented reality. Here are the best upgrades:
- Safari gets faster and smarter, offering multiple customization options for users
- The file system is now more secure, with built-in encryption and crash-safe protection
- Videos look more amazing than ever, while taking with 40% less space in storage
- The Photos app brings improved professional editing tools and new synchronization options
- Metal 2 leverages more power with state-of-the-art development tools, robust graphics and an external GPU
- Siri sounds more human and even has a new talent and hobby as a DJ
Are you ready to get beta version of macOS High Sierra?
Of course, these are just a few of features macOS High Sierra brings to the table. Once you’re convinced that macOS High Sierra is the system of your dreams, go straight to the clean install!
LEARN MORE: macOS High Sierra 10.13 - The New Features That Matter
Why opt to clean install macOS High Sierra
A clean install of macOS High Sierra will ensure the maximum performance for your Mac. The reason is pretty straight forward: by formatting your Mac drive you will eliminate all the issues accumulated over time and have a clean slate to start again.
By opting for a clean install, you will regain valuable disk space and get rid of the useless files and junk apps that were causing a slow Mac. Thus, you will both be able to enjoy all the great features of macOS 10.13 at their best and experience a faster Mac experience, reaching the top performance it should.
How to prepare your Mac for the clean install
Check macOS 10.13 High Sierra compatibility
Before you can enjoy all the new goodies from macOS High Sierra, you must answer the question: can your Mac run macOS High Sierra? Nervous? Don’t be, as the specs look quite promising. How promising? Well, you’ll be able to upgrade to High Sierra even if you own a Mac as old as 2009. Sure, the hardware might cause you some slight drawbacks and refuse to run all the features, but overall you should be able to enjoy the big refinements. Things look even brighter when it comes to newer version of Macs, which should support the new operating system without any problem whatsoever.
LEARN MORE: Find out if your Mac can run masOS High Sierra.
Go for a system cleanup and fast backup
The first step towards a clean install, is a drive format. But act with caution! Before you do anything drastic, make sure you cleanup and backup your Mac to keep your important files.
Start with a system clean-up. Okay, that’s actually an euphemism for: delete everything you don’t need, throw away any duplicates and erase all the useless data.
Don’t know how to do that exactly? Check out How to clean up your Mac for a detailed and easy way to perform a thorough cleaning.
There are going to be some important files you will want to keep. Be it files, documents, photos, movies or other apps, you’ll want to create a backup for them. Where? That’s up to you. You can choose either iCloud or any external storage device with enough space.
Now it’s time to wipe your Mac clean. But you did perform a Mac backup, right? Good! Then you can format the drive! Here’s how:
Go to Applications > Utilities and click on Disk Utility. From here, select the drive and hit Erase, as you select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) as the format type.
Before you start new life with the new macOS, get equipped with a couple of backup and maintenance tools. They will save you should something goes wrong. The good solutions are Get Backup Pro or Disk Drill.
And the last thing before we start. A new OS needs a fresh Mac, so trim down the fat on your system. Use an app like CleanMyMac X to remove all system junk, large hidden files, and old apps' leftovers.
And the last thing before we start. A new OS needs a fresh Mac, so trim down the fat on your system. Use an app like CleanMyMac X to remove all system junk, large hidden files, and old apps' leftovers.
A step by step guide to clean install macOS High Sierra
1. How to download macOS High Sierra
The new macOS High Sierra has long been available for the developers only, but now is public and available in Mac App Store.
Here is the link to download it directly: macappstores://itunes.apple.com/app/id1246284741
Make sure you download the macOS High Sierra Installer to the /Applications folder and leave its default name.
2. Create a macOS High Sierra Bootable USB Drive
A clean install wouldn’t be possible without creating a macOS High Sierra Bootable USB drive. So let’s go ahead and create one! Find an 8 GB USB stick and make sure it is formatted as GUID Partition Map and Mac OS Extended (Journaled). To check if it is, launch the Disk Utility application. It’s from here that you’ll also be able to make the needed changes, if the case.
Once you’ve done this, plug in the USB into your Mac and launch Terminal. There are 2 options for doing this: you either go to Launchpad or you can choose the Spotlight search. Next, write the following command, letter by letter:
sudo /Applications/Install macOS High Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/USB --applicationpath /Applications/Install macOS High Sierra.app --nointeraction
Ready? Great! Hit return, enter your admin password when prompted and them simply go along with the instructions to complete the process. In about 15 to 30 minutes you’ll have your bootable USB and you’ll be one step closer to macOS High Sierra’s world of new features.
3. Clean Install macOS High Sierra from USB Bootable Drive
You’ve got this far. Now, it’s time to actually hit the install button and leverage all the steps you’ve completed. Take your bootable USB and connect it to your Mac. To continue, restart your Mac while pressing the Option Key.
This will open the Startup Manager from where you’ll be able to start the clean install. Proceed by erasing your hard drive from Disk Utility. Once you’ve deleted this, go back to the main menu and hit install. The steps will be prompted to you on screen, and you’ll easily be able to complete the installation. Voila! Now enjoy macOS High Sierra!
There you have it! A step by step guide to clean install macOS High Sierra Bea and be among the first ones who get to explore the new exciting features. Do let us know what you think!
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macOS Catalina is the next major operating system for Mac. If you mashed your fingers all over that install button before considering that you may not be ready for it, you can downgrade back to macOS Mojave. If you follow these steps you'll be back to your old setup in no time.
Note: If you are reading this article on the Mac that you want to downgrade on, switch to another device or print this page before continuing so you can read along as you go.
Important information for Macs with the T2 security chip
Before you try to use a bootable installer on your Mac if you have a 2018 or newer MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or Mac mini, you may need to make sure to allow booting from external media before you attempt to downgrade. If you've enabled the Startup Security Utility, check to make sure you'll be able to use a bootable external drive. Here's how.
Note: You'll need the firmware password you used to enable the Startup Security Utility. This is different from your administrative password and your Apple ID. Make sure you know the correct password to access the Startup Security Utility before you begin.
- Restart your Mac.
- Hold down Command+R right when you see the Apple Logo. This will put your Mac into Recovery Mode.
- Click Utilities in the Menu Bar.
- Click on Startup Security Utility.
- Enter your Administrator credentials.
- Tick the box to Allow booting from external media.
Step 1: Back up your Mac
This process will erase macOS Catalina from your hard drive entirely. That means any files, programs, or documents you've been working on while using macOS Catalina will also be erased if you don't back them up first. Use an external hard drive or a cloud-based program like DropBox, OneDrive, or iCloud. If you don't save these important files somewhere off of your computer you will lose them.
Step 2: Create a bootable drive of macOS Mojave
Before you erase macOS Catalina from your computer, download macOS Mojave from the Mac App Store. You'll need a copy of macOS Mojave on an external hard drive in order to downgrade from macOS Catalina.
Follow the steps linked below to make a bootable installer drive for macOS Mojave.
Note: Making a bootable installer requires the use of Terminal. If you don't feel comfortable making changes to your Mac with Terminal, you can create a bootable disk using the DiskMaker X program.
Step 3: Erase macOS Catalina
You'll need to erase your hard drive before re-installing Mojave. Remember, back up your Mac before performing this step.
- Connect your Mac to the internet via Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
- Click on the Apple icon in the upper left corner of the screen.
- Select Restart from the drop-down menu.
- Hold down Command+R, and keep holding the keys until your computer reboots. This will put your computer into Recovery Mode.
- Click on Disk Utility in the OS X Utilities selector.
- Click Continue.
- Select your Startup Disk.
- Click on the Erase tab at the top of the window.
- Enter a name for the file to be destroyed (Like macOS Catalina or something).
- If your Mac is using HFS+, select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) from the format list. If your Mac is using APFS, select APFS from the format list.
- If Scheme is available, select GUID Partition Map.
- Click Erase.
After the process is complete, quit Disk Utility from the drop-down menu in the upper left corner of the screen to go back to the OS X Utilities selector.
Step 4: Reinstall macOS Mojave
After you have erased macOS Catalina, you will want to reinstall Mojave.
NOTE: If your Mac came with macOS Mojave, you can restart your Mac while holding down Shift-Option-Command-R to simply install the operating system that came with your Mac. Otherwise, follow the steps below to install Mojave back on your Mac.
- Connect your Mac to the internet via Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
- Plug the bootable hard drive you made with Mojave on it into your Mac.
- Click on the Apple icon in the upper left corner of the screen.
- Select Restart from the drop-down menu.
- Hold down Option while your computer restarts. This will send you to the option to select a startup disk.
- Select your bootable drive with macOS Mojave from the list of startup disk options. macOS Mojave will begin installing on your Mac.
- Click Continue in the macOS Mojave installation window.
macOS Mojave will install like a standard update. You will agree to the licensing terms before the software reboots on your Mac.
Step 5: Restore settings from an earlier macOS Mojave Time machine backup
If you have a recent backup of your Mac saved via Time Machine (which you should), you can use it to reinstall the settings you have saved from macOS Mojave.
- Connect your Mac to the internet via Wi-Fi or Ethernet
- Click on the Apple icon.
- Select Restart from the drop-down menu.
- Hold down Command+R when you hear the startup chime and keep holding the keys until your computer reboots.
- Select Restore from Time Machine Backup in the OS X Utilities selector.
- Click Continue.
- Click Continue after reading the important information about restoring from a backup.
- Select the Backup source for where your Time Machine backup is stored.
- Click Continue.
- Select the most recent macOS Mojave backup on the drive.
- Click Continue.
Your Mac will begin restoring from the Time Machine backup and then reboot. This process can take a while, so grab a cup of coffee while you wait.
If you run into any problems while trying to downgrade your Mac operating system, let us know in the comments.
Updated September 2019: Updated for macOS Catalina.
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