On October 25, 2021, Apple released its newest operating system, the macOS 12 Monterey. Users may choose to update to the new OS or keep their current version and this is currently allowed by Apple until a set date a few years to come. 

Mac users may decide to format their hard disk and do a clean installation because of other reasons. It could be because the system is slow or it’s misbehaving because of other reasons. These tips will help you do a clean installation on macOS. 

Create a backup 

The new Mac OS 12 Monterey is already released and you are free to install it anytime you want. In this article, we’ll show you how to clean install a new macOS.

However, you should decide if you need to switch to a new macOS. Still, if you decide to switch and don’t like it, you can always learn how to install an older version of Mac OS and continue using the operating system you are used to. 

Before you start to install your new version of macOS, make sure you
have created a backup of all your documents. 

During installation, the hard disk will first be cleaned by erasing everything in it and then installing the OS.  That means you will lose all your documents if you don’t have a backup.

You may create a backup in the cloud using disks such as flash disk, external HDD, another Mac computer, or a memory card. Once installation is complete, you will copy back your documents. 

Create a bootable drive

After creating a backup, don’t erase yet before you perform this step. Go to the Apple store and download macOS Big Sur.

This is what you will use to do a clean install. Without it, you will not be able to install the new macOS version. Instead, you will be forced to revert to your older system and then repeat the entire process. 

Format your hard disk

You must erase everything in your hard disk to perform a clean install. To format your hard disk, use WI-FI or Ethernet to connect online and then open the Apple menu. A drop-down menu will open and from there, select Restart. 

Press and hold the command key + R immediately you hear the system startup sound. Do not release the keys until the time your Mac will reboot. After reboot, go to OS X Utilities and click Disk Utility, then click continue. Next, click on Startup Disk and then Erase. 

You will be given an option to enter the name of the file you want to be erased. You may also choose Mac OS Extended if your computer is using HFS+ or APFS if it’s using APFS.

Some Macs will have a Scheme and in this case, choose GUID Partition Map then click erase. Your Mac’s hard disk will be formatted and it will be left empty.

Install your new copy of macOS

Have your new copy of macOS with you in a flash disk, memory card, or external storage. Open the software and select install and then click continue. The installer will begin to run and it will reappear after a few minutes. 

After it reappears, select Continue again and then click to agree to the terms and conditions. Choose your Mac’s hard disk and then install it on it. The installation process will take a few minutes and once it’s complete, choose complete. 

Your new Mac operating system will be ready for use and you can enjoy the newest features. Paste back your documents from the backup you created and scan them for viruses if you hadn’t done so earlier. 

If you don’t like your new macOS

The newest macOS is the macOS 12 Monterey unveiled on June 7, 2021, but released on October 25, 2021. It gives users an improved experience due to its added features.

Some of its new features are enhanced privacy, the Safari revamp, live text, and visual lookup. It also has face-time upgrades, universal controls for multiple devices, and all other features you have experienced with the old version. 

Because of one reason or another, you might not like the new macOS version. You don’t have to worry about what to do or plan to buy another computer. Use the same process discussed in this article for installing the new version.

Do your backup, download the macOS Big Sur, erase your hard disk and reinstall your old macOS version. 

Conclusion 

Apple released its latest version of macOS on October 25, 2021, and users are free to upgrade or keep their old OS.

Before installation, users should do a backup of their documents and then create a bootable drive by downloading macOS Big Sur from the Apple store. Format the hard disk by erasing all files in It and start your new installation. If you didn’t like the new macOS, remove it and reinstall your old macOS.