Reinstall Macos Catalina From Scratch

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Scratch

How to Perform a Clean Install of macOS Catalina Download macOS Catalina from the Mac App Store Direct Link. Once the download is complete, close the installer window by selecting the Quit. On an Intel-based Mac: Choose Apple menu Restart, then immediately press and hold Command-R. In the Recovery app window, select Disk Utility, then click Continue. In Disk Utility, select the volume you want to erase in the sidebar, then click Erase in the toolbar. Type a name for the volume in the Name field, click the Format pop-up menu. To perform a clean re-install in Catalina, once in Recovery Mode, you need to delete your Data volume, that’s the one named Macintosh HD - Data, or something similar if you’re using a custom name, and to erase your System volume. In Recovery Mode select the Macintosh HD - Data volume at the left of Disk Utility’s window then.

Laptop: Macbook 12' early 2016.


Hello! I know this question is asked so so so many times, and I think that is also the reason why now I feel a bit confused about all of the answers!


I checked out https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251236312, which seemed to be the closest to my question, however the answer provided to the OP is to donwload the latest macOS from the recovery, and I would like to stick to Catalina.


So, my question being: I upgraded to Catalina from El Cap; however all of my files, and some old apps I installed manually (like Outlook and etc etc) have remained the same. I installed these apps manually because on El Cap they weren´t available on the App Store. So now that I have a relatively new macOS, I would like to format my whole disk and system files, and start from scratch.


However, I find myself in the situation that I cannot simply download Catalina as a file, since now that it is in fact installed, my Macbook prompts me to install an upgrade, not Catalina itself.


Where can I find the Catalina installer that will work with my laptop? I am guessing that if I do a system reset, it will either want to go to El Cap or look for the latest (Big Sur) and I would like to keep Catalina.


Any help would be greatly appreciated! I did look on the internet, but most stuff points to downloading Catalina installer, and I can´t seem to be able to get a hold of such installer without having to visit shady sites.


Thanks in advance!

MacBook, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jul 25, 2021 5:30 AM

Start up from macOS Recovery

Determine whether you're using a Mac with Apple silicon, then follow the appropriate steps:

Apple silicon

Turn on your Mac and continue to press and hold the power button until you see the startup options window. Click the gear icon labelled Options, then click Continue.

Intel processor

Make sure your Mac is connected to the Internet. Then turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold Command (⌘)-R until you see an Apple logo or other image.

If you're asked to select a user you know the password for, select the user, click Next and enter their administrator password.

Reinstall macOS

Select Reinstall macOS from the utilities window in macOS Recovery, then click Continue and follow the onscreen instructions.

Follow these guidelines during installation:

  • If the installer asks to unlock your disk, enter the password you use to log in to your Mac.
  • If the installer can't see your disk or notifies you that it can't install macOS on your computer or volume, you may need to erase your disk first.
  • If the installer offers you the choice between installing on Macintosh HD or Macintosh HD – Data, choose Macintosh HD.
  • Allow installation to complete without putting your Mac to sleep or closing its lid. Your Mac may restart and show a progress bar several times, and the screen may be empty for minutes at a time.

When the installation is complete, your Mac may restart to a setup assistant. If you're selling, trading in or giving away your Mac, press Command-Q to quit the assistant without completing setup. Then click Shut Down. When the new owner starts up the Mac, they can use their own information to complete the setup process.

Other macOS installation options

Macos

When you install macOS from Recovery, you get the current version of the most recently installed macOS, with some exceptions:

Reinstall Macos Catalina From Scratching

  • On an Intel-based Mac: if you use Shift-Option-Command-R during startup, you'll be offered the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version that is still available. If you use Option-Command-R during startup, in most cases you'll be offered the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac. Otherwise you'll be offered the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version that is still available.
  • If the Mac logic board was just replaced, you may only be offered the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac. If you've just erased your entire startup disk, you may only be offered the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version that is still available.

How To Erase And Reinstall Macos Catalina

Reinstall macos catalina from scratch download

Reinstall Macos Catalina From Scratch Free

You can also use these methods to install macOS, if the macOS is compatible with your Mac:

Reinstall Macos Catalina From Scratch Software

  • Use the App Store to download and install the latest macOS.
  • Use the App Store or a web browser to download and install an earlier macOS.
  • Use a USB flash drive or other secondary volume to create a bootable installer.