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Normally when you install a new version of macOS, you just install it over the previous version. It’s quick, easy and means we can be back up and running in no time, with all your apps and data ready to use. Your data remains but your software and file junk remains as well.

That’s why, sometimes, it makes more sense to run a clean install. Whether it’s because your Mac has accumulated so many junk files that it’s performance is badly affected or because you’re passing your Mac onto someone else and want to make sure all your data is removed. Or maybe you just want that fresh out of the box Mac experience again. Whatever your reasons, here is how to clean install macOS High Sierra.

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How to prepare your Mac for the clean install

Before you do anything, check that your Mac is able to run Apple's new operating system.

To complete the clean install procedure described below, you'll need:

• macOS High Sierra Installer,available from the Mac App Store.
• a 16GB or larger USB flash drive
  Notice: USB drive is needed for a clean install on your Mac’s startup drive. If you plan to clean install macOS on a non-startup drive, you don't need it.
• go for a system cleanup and backup your data - this will allow you to easily return your Mac to the condition it was in before you installed macOS.
• and an hour or two to spare.

Choose the right way to clean install macOS High Sierra

Before you proceed, you need to make a choice how to run a clean install. If you only have one drive and it’s not partitioned and this is where you have all your files and your OS, your choice is to clean install on the startup drive. This way entails one important fact: all your files and data will be deleted during the process.

If you have another drive or volume other than your startup drive, use the second way which is clean installing on a non-startup drive. It’s a more lenient and less intrusive way because your Mac doesn’t get wiped clean, only your system.

If you don’t know which one you have, go with the first option, startup drive.

How to clean install macOS on a startup drive

Once you have everything that's needed, let's begin. Don’t worry, this step-by-step guide will walk you through all you need to do.

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The process of performing a clean install involves wiping your Mac’s main drive clean so it’s essential that you back it up immediately before you start. You might not want to backup the files you don’t need and system junk, so make sure to clean that up beforehand. An easy way to go about this is to get a Mac cleaning app like CleanMyMac. It will save to hours of manual file cleanup and polish your system before the backup.

Start with a system cleanup

Delete everything you don't need - large and old files and archives, useless apps, cache data and other junk, duplicate files - all these files silently eat up the disk space, duplicate images are especially hard to find out.

You can always use CleanMyMac to cleanup macOS system junk, large and old files, and remove unwanted apps. You could do it manually, but CleanMyMac only all it takes is a few clicks.

Then you can use Gemini to easily find duplicate files and folders on your hard drive, so you can delete them and save precious storage space.

Backup your data

Now, for the backup itself use Get Backup Pro. It’s more powerful than Apple’s own Time Machine. It’s also a good idea to create a bootable clone, so if anything goes wrong you can go back to where you started easily. Also, a cloned drive makes copying files back to your newly-updated system very easy. And move your images and documents into the cloud or to an external drive, just to be on the safe side.

As well as backing up your Mac, you should also take screenshots of settings in any apps you’ve customized so that you can set them up again quickly later. And make sure you have a record of license codes for apps and passwords for websites.

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Create a bootable macOS installer

1. Download macOS High Sierra from the App Store. Here is a link to find it on apple.com.
   
2. When it’s finished, the installer will launch. As soon as it does, select File and Quit (or keyboard shortcut Command-Q) so it doesn’t install. The installer will remain in your Applications folder.
   
3. Plug in the USB stick and launch Disk Utilities.
   It’s a good idea to use a USB stick to put the bootable installer onto. It will need to be at least 8GB in size.
4. Click the Erase tab and make sure Mac OS Extended (Journaled) is selected in the format tab.
5. Give the USB stick a name, then click Erase.
6. When it’s finished, click Done and close Disk Utility.
   
7. Launch Terminal either by searching for it in Spotlight or navigating to the Utilities folder in Applications.
8. Type, or paste, the following command into Terminal, where [YOUR DRIVE NAME] is the name you gave the installer drive when you formatted it:
   sudo /Applications/Install macOS High Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/[YOUR DRIVE NAME] --applicationpath /Applications/Install macOS High Sierra.app
   Notice: Remember to replace [YOUR DRIVE NAME] with the name of your installer disk.
9. Hit Return.
10. Type in your admin password and wait.
11. When the process is finished, the word Done will appear in the Terminal window.
12. You can then quit Terminal.

Install macOS on your startup disk drive

Make sure you backup your Mac to keep your important files, before taking next step, that erase your Mac’s Startup drive.

To erase your Mac’s main drive:

• Go to System Preferences
• Сlick Startup disk and choose the installer you just created.
• Restart your Mac and hold down Command-R to boot into recovery mode.
• Take your bootable USB and connect it to your Mac.

When the macOS Utilities screen appears, follow these steps:

• Select Reinstall a new copy of macOS.
• Click Continue, then click Continue again when the next window appears.
• Agree to the terms and conditions, then select your Mac’s internal drive.
• Click Install.
• Wait for macOS High Sierra to install and your Mac to restart.

When your Mac has restarted, you’ll need to follow the process of setting it up as if it was a brand new Mac. So, you’ll need to connect to your wifi router and type in the password. Then you’ll need to type in the details for your iCloud account. Then you’ll have to set up a new admin user account.

Once you’ve done that, you can start installing apps. In order to re-install Setapp apps, go to setapp.com to get Setapp installer or download Setapp here. You’ll need your username and password.

It’s a good idea to only download those apps you need to use straight away. Other apps can be downloaded as and when you need them. That way you avoid cluttering up your brand new macOS.

If you use a cloud service like Dropbox, now is the time to re-connect. And you can copy any documents, photos or other files you need from the backup you made at the start.

Clean Install macOS High Sierra on a non-startup drive

You don’t need a backup for this option, it’s safer and faster than the previous way but only available to you if you have an extra drive or your drive is broken down into volumes.

Here’s how to instal your new macOS on the non-startup disk.

Step 1. Erase your non-startup drive

Before you install the new OS on it, you need to erase all data on the drive you’ve chosen for it. To do it, use Disk Utility. Choose the volume you’d like to clean up and click Erase.

If you still need some info from that drive, you can use an app like ChronoSync Express to sync it with another drive and keep the files.

Step 2. Download the macOS High Sierra Installer from the Mac App Store

To download it, open the Mac App Store and go to the Updates tab (Here is a link.) When your installer is downloaded it will launch automatically but you need to quit it.

Fortunately, for this option you don’t need to create a specific bootable drive and you can simply use the installer from your startup drive and install the macOS onto the other one.

Microsoft Office v15.39 applications crashing on High Sierra 10.13. AFAIK 15.39 is a fast ring build, the latest stable release is 15.38. Outlook crashes. Version 15.40 (170926) I'm on the fast ring release, which you can't get out of it. Apr 28, 2020  Outlook for Mac 15.39 crashing with High Sierra I recently upgraded my mac OS from Sierra to High Sierra. Prior to the update - the search functionality of Outlook worked fine - no issues. Since the update - when I attempt to Search for a specific email. Outlook 15.39 for mac crashing in high sierra update.

Step 3. Install macOS High Sierra to your non-startup drive

Launch the Installer from the Applications folder and press Continue. Change the target drive for installation. macOS will offer you startup drive by default so you need to click Show All Disks button and choose your non-startup disk volume. From then on simply follow the installation guide and after that you’ll have to set up your Mac as a new one. That entails creating a new user account, setting up date and time zone etc.

Now that you have the latest macOS, you can enjoy its superior features and top performance. Clean install (when performed on a startup drive) does remove your apps so if you don’t feel like looking for every app and their licenses again, get Setapp. More than 100 apps in one suite available by subscription. Saves you time and money on looking for apps for your daily tasks. https://safeomg.netlify.app/ps2-emulator-mac-os-sierra-for-iso.html.

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Source: iMore

• Prepping your Mac for Sale

It is that time again. Time to decide whether to keep or replace your Mac laptop or desktop computer. If you are reading this article, chances are you've already come to the decision to replace your Mac with the newes model (or maybe you just got a new Mac as a present!), and you're thinking about selling your old one.

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The first thing you should do before hitting the streets to sell your old Mac is clear it of any and all personal data. You don't want to accidentally sell your computer to a stranger when you are still logged into iCloud.

The next step is to reinstall the Mac's operating system so that the new owner can get started without having to figure out how to start up in recovering mode. Believe me, that can be a pain.

If you're going through the process of erasing your old Mac and reinstalling the operating system, we've got some common troubleshooting tips to help you out. Don't forget to follow the additional steps if you're selling a MacBook with Touch ID.

Clean the Mac of your personal data before erasing it

If you're about to sell your old Mac, the one thing you don't want to do is to give away the data you've been storing on it all these years. It's a security and privacy thing for you, but it's also important for the buyer. If you leave behind anything that needs to be logged into with a password, that buyer is going to have to track you down and get your password in order to change ownership. A completely fresh-from-scratch Mac is the best way to do this.

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Step 1: Back up your Mac

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If you already have your new Mac on hand, you can transfer all of your data from your old Mac or use an older Time Machine backup. If you don't have your new Mac yet, well .. then you probably shouldn't be selling your old one yet. But, if you really don't think you'll need your old computer before getting your new one, just make sure to back up your data so that nothing happens to it before you get what you need onto your new Mac.

Step 2: Sign out of everything

The software you have on your Mac is licensed to you, which means it doesn't get transferred to the new owner of your computer (except the operating system). In order to avoid complications with the new owner attempting to download and install software that is licensed by you, make sure to sign out of everything your personal information is connected to.

How to sign out of iTunes (macOS Mojave and older)

1. Open iTunes on your Mac.
2. Click Account in the Menu bar on the left side of your screen.

3. Click on Sign Out.

   On the left column,.Mac OS X Lion Skin Pack, free download. Vmdk mounter for mac os x. Mac OS X Lion Skin Pack 2.0: From Windows XP to OS X Lion: complete transformation.The last up to date build of Mac OsX. Click OK to close the box. Click Finish. Is the 9 major release (major release) OS X.Aug 02, 2011  Browse for the Mac OS X Lion Installer.vmdk that was downloaded from the torrent.

   Source: iMore

How to sign out of iMessage

1. Open Messages on your Mac.
2. Click Messages in the Menu bar at the top left corner of your screen.
3. Click Preferences from the drop-down menu.
4. Select your iMessage account.

5. Click on Sign Out.

   Source: iMore

How to sign out of iCloud

1. Click on the Apple icon in the upper-left corner of your Mac's screen.
2. Click System Preferences from the drop-down menu.

3. Click on Apple ID (on macOS Mojave and older, click on iCloud).

   Source: iMore

4. Un-tick the box for Find My Mac.
5. Enter your system password when prompted.
6. Click on Sign Out.
7. Click Remove data from this Mac when prompted.

Step 3: Unpair your Bluetooth devices

If you're keeping your Bluetooth devices, you don't want to leave them paired to a Mac that you're getting rid of. It isn't really that important of a step, but if you sell your old Mac to, say, a roommate or someone living in the same house as you, you may experience accidentally connecting back to it.

1. Click on the Apple icon in the upper-left corner of your Mac's screen.
2. Click System Preferences from the drop-down menu.
3. Click on Bluetooth.
4. Hover over the device you want to unpair.
5. Click on the X next to the device.

Note: If you're unpairing a keyboard, trackpad, or mouse on a desktop Mac, be sure to have a wired one plugged in or you won't be able to type or use a curser and you'll have to repair it all again.

Step 4: Erase your hard drive

Once your data is backed up and you've signed out of everything that might connect your old Mac to your personal information, you can erase everything on it by reformatting the hard drive.

1. Restart your Mac.
2. While the startup disc is waking up, hold down the Command+R keys simultaneously. Your Mac will boot into macOS Recover.
3. Select Disk Utility.

4. Click on Continue.

   Source: iMore

5. Click on View.
6. Click on Show all Devices.
7. Find your Startup disk (it should be named 'Machintosh HD' unless you renamed it) in the sidebar.
8. Select the data disk under the startup disk.
9. Click Edit.
10. Click Delete APFS Volume from the menu bar or click the Remove button in the disk utility bar.
11. Confirm by clicking Delete when prompted.

Repeat this process for all data disks under your startup disk. Do not use Delete Volume Group. Once you've deleted all of your data drives, you'll move on to erasing your startup disk.

1. Select your Startup Disk (it should be named 'Machintosh HD' unless you renamed it) in the sidebar.
2. Click the Erase button at the top of the Disk Utility window.
3. 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. See Troubleshooting for more information on which format to select.
4. If Scheme is available, select GUID Partition Map.

5. Click Erase.

   Source: iMore

6. After the process is complete, select Quit Disk Utility from the Disk Utility drop-down menu in the upper left corner of the screen.

   Source: iMore

Source: Christine Romero-Chan / iMore

After you erase your hard drive it will be ready for a clean installation of the operating system. You should already be in the Utilities window after erasing your Mac. If not, restart your computer and hold down Command and R at the same time until you see the Apple logo.

Make sure to reinstall macOS through Recovery Mode, holding down Command+R. You may be asked to sign in with your Apple ID.

If you get stuck during reinstallation, see our troubleshooting section for additional help.

Note: Make sure your Mac is connected to the internet in order to verify the software. You'll be asked to do so during the installation process.

If, while reinstalling macOS, you're asked to enter a password, enter the password you use to unlock your Mac, not your Apple ID.

1. Restart your Mac.
2. While the startup disc is waking up, hold down the Command+R keys simultaneously. You're Mac will boot into macOS Recover.
3. Click on Reinstall macOS (or Reinstall OS X where applicable) to reinstall the operating system that came with your Mac.
4. Click on Continue.
5. Select your hard drive ('Machintosh HD), when asked to select your disk.

6. Click on Install to install the latest operating system that was on your Mac. Your Mac will restart after the installation is complete.

   • Make sure you don't close the lid on a MacBook or put your Mac to sleep during this reinstallation period, even if it takes a while. If the computer goes to sleep, it will stop the installation process from continuing and you'll have to start over. Your screen will go blank, show the restart Apple logo, and show a progress bar several different times.
7. Hold down Command and Q after the installation is complete. Do not follow the setup instructions. Leave that part for the new owner.

8. Click Shut Down to shut down your Mac.

   Source: iMore

Your Mac is now clean and ready for a new owner. They will complete the setup instructions to get started using the Mac, as well as download the latest macOS operating system that is available and supported on their Mac.

Troubleshooting erasing your hard drive or reinstalling macOS

I've gotten a lot of very specific questions about issues some readers have with erasing or reinstalling macOS (usually reinstalling). Sometimes, the easiest way to fix issues with reinstalling macOS is to start by holding Shift+Option+Command+R which will put your Mac into an alternate version of Recovery Mode that allows you to install the original macOS that came with your Mac. From here, you can either keep that operating system and let the new owner update to their preferred macOS, or go through the macOS update process.

If, during the macOS reinstallation process, the installer doesn't see your disk or says you can't install the operating system on the disk, you may need to try erasing your hard drive again. Restart your Mac and hold down Command+R to bring up Recovery mode and repeat Step 4.

Since macOS changed to APFS, some readers have struggled with which format option to choose when erasing their disk. Here are some other possible troubleshooting issues from Apple's support document that may help you.

Are you formatting the disk that came built into your Mac?

If the built-in disk came APFS-formatted, don't change it to Mac OS Extended.

Are you about to install macOS High Sierra or later on the disk?

If you need to erase your disk before installing High Sierra or later for the first time on that disk, choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled). During installation, the macOS installer decides whether to automatically convert to APFS—without erasing your files:

• macOS Mojave and Catalina: The installer converts from Mac OS Extended to APFS.
• macOS High Sierra: The installer converts from Mac OS Extended to APFS only if the volume is on an SSD or another all-flash storage device. Fusion Drives and traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) aren't converted.

Are you preparing a Time Machine backup disk or bootable installer?

Choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled) for any disk that you plan to use with Time Machine or as a bootable installer.

Will you be using the disk with another Mac?

If the other Mac isn't using High Sierra or later, choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Earlier versions of macOS don't mount APFS-formatted volumes.

To learn which format is currently in use, use any of these methods:

• Select the volume in the Disk Utility sidebar, then check the information on the right. For more detail, choose File > Get Info from the Disk Utility menu bar.
• Open System Information and select Storage in the sidebar. The File System column on the right shows the format of each volume.
• Select the volume in the Finder, then choose File > Get Info from the menu bar. The Get Info window shows the Format of that volume.

If you're still having trouble with either erasing your hard drive or reinstalling macOS, please reach out to us in the forums. We have a wonderful community of Apple users that are happy to help someone in need.

Any questions?

Is there anything about resetting your Mac to prepare it for sale that you need help with? Let me know in the comments and I'll get you squared away.

Updated May 2020: Updated for macOS Catalina.

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