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How to reinstall macOS without losing data

by Edward Harper

Reinstalling your operating system can be a useful fix for a slew of problems you might run into on your computer, even on the best Macs. However, people often hesitate to reinstall macOS due to fears of data loss or the hassle of starting from scratch. Luckily, it is possible to reinstall your current macOS version with a built-in tool without losing any data. It only takes a few steps to initiate, and doing so can fix issues on your Mac, from small bugs to system-wide slowdowns. If this sounds like what you need to revive your Mac, follow the steps below.


It's essential to wipe your personal data before reselling your Apple laptop

What is macOS Recovery and how does it work?

macOS Recovery is a software tool built into macOS that is designed to help users fix issues with their system, among other things. It's great during times when your Mac won't boot up normally, because macOS Recovery is stored separately from your regular macOS volume on a hidden disk volume called the macOS Base System. All you really need to know about this is that, because it's stored separately from your main OS, macOS Recovery can work even when your operating system is broken.


There are a few different tools available in macOS Recovery, including a Time Machine restore tool and the Disk Utility app. However, what we're interested in here is the operating system reinstallation tool, which lets you install your version of macOS and apply any available updates — all without losing data. As such, this tool can be critical in solving problems you might run into at the OS level without experiencing data loss.

While this method does offer a way to reinstall macOS without data loss, it's not a perfect solution. Anytime a system update or upgrade is applied, there is the possibility of data loss. If you can create a backup before reinstalling macOS, we strongly recommend doing so. However, in cases where the macOS operating system will not boot up at all, it may not be possible.

How to launch macOS Recovery

The following steps will explain how to use macOS Recovery to reinstall macOS without losing data. The steps for accessing macOS Recovery will vary based on whether you're using a Mac with an Intel or Apple silicon chip. To check, take the following steps:

  1. Click on the Apple menu in your Mac's menu bar.
  2. Select the About This Mac tab.

You will see either an Apple or Intel chip listed here, along with other specifications pertaining to your Mac. With this information in hand, follow the steps that pertain to your system below.

In order to reinstall macOS, you will need a network connection. If you plan to use Wi-Fi, you must manually connect to your preferred network. Since macOS Recovery is separate from your regular macOS volume, your known networks will not be saved here.

Use these steps to launch macOS Recovery on Intel Macs:

  1. Open the Apple menu and click Restart.
    The restart button in the Apple menu.© Provided by XDA Developers

  2. Immediately press the Command + R keys on your Mac's keyboard.
  3. Your Mac will restart to the macOS Recovery environment.
    An admin profile in macOS Recovery.© Provided by XDA Developers

  4. Alternatively, press Option + Command + R or Option + Shift + Command + R to install different versions of macOS, depending on your preference:
    1. Command + R will reinstall the latest macOS version installed on your computer.
    2. Option + Command + R will reinstall macOS and update it to the latest version available for your computer. This combination requires an internet connection.
    3. Option + Shift + Command + R will reinstall the original version of macOS that was included with your computer (or the closest one to it). This combination requires an internet connection.

How to launch macOS Recovery on Macs with Apple Silicon

  1. Open the Apple menu and click Shut Down.
    The shut down button in the Apple menu.© Provided by XDA Developers

  2. When your computer is off, press and hold the Power Button down until you see the system disk volume and Options buttons.
  3. Click the Options button to launch macOS Recovery, then click Continue.
    The boot options button in the startup menu.© Provided by XDA Developers

How to reinstall macOS in the macOS Recovery environment

After you've entered macOS Recovery mode, it's time to reinstall your macOS version.

  1. Select the volume you want to recover (if applicable), then click Next.
  2. Pick an administrator account and enter its password (if applicable), then click Continue.
  3. Select the version of macOS you want to reinstall. It should be labeled Reinstall macOS [version_name] or similar. Then click Continue.
    The reinstall macOS option in macOS recovery.© Provided by XDA Developers

  4. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the download and installation.
    The macOS Sonoma install page in macOS recovery.© Provided by XDA Developers

    If you are asked to select a disk volume, choose your current macOS volume. In most cases, this will be the only volume available for selection.

  5. Your computer will start up normally when the installation is complete.

When should you reinstall macOS?

macOS Recovery should be used as a last-ditch effort after typical troubleshooting methods have been exhausted. Before taking this step, it's recommended that you reach out to Apple Support and see if they can help solve your problem first. However, for a fairly quick and effective fix, reinstalling macOS is a great way to overcome issues on your Mac without losing any data. Don't let the Apple genius talk you through a factory reset before you try this method first.

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