How to Reinstall macOS Without Losing Data

If your computer’s acting up and you’re thinking about reinstalling macOS to fix things, you’re not alone. Many people worry about losing their data and the hassle of starting over. The good news is, you can actually reinstall your macOS without losing any of your stuff. It’s a quick process that can help with everything from minor glitches to major slowdowns. If this sounds like what you need, just follow the steps below to get your Mac back on track.

What’s macOS Recovery, and how does it do its thing?

macOS Recovery is like a handy helper tucked inside your Mac’s system. It’s there to assist when your Mac is acting up, especially if it won’t start up normally. The cool thing is, macOS Recovery has its own little space on your computer, away from the main operating system. This means it can still do its job even if your regular OS is having a bit of a meltdown.

In macOS Recovery, you’ve got a couple of useful tools, like one for restoring from Time Machine and another for managing your disks called Disk Utility. But the real gem we’re focusing on is the OS reinstallation tool. This nifty tool allows you to reinstall your macOS version and get all the latest updates, and the best part is, it won’t wipe out your data. So, if you’re dealing with OS-level issues, this tool can be a game-changer without the stress of losing your files.

WARNING – Reinstalling macOS without losing your data is a good trick, but it’s not foolproof. Whenever there’s a system update or upgrade, there’s a chance you might lose some data. So, if you can, it’s smart to make a backup before you go ahead and reinstall macOS. But we get it – if your macOS is not booting up at all, making a backup might not be doable.

How to launch macOS Recovery?

Here’s how to use macOS Recovery to reinstall macOS without saying goodbye to your data. First things first, check what kind of chip your Mac is running on – it could be either Intel or Apple Silicon. To find out, just go to the Apple menu in your Mac’s menu bar, click on “About,” and there you’ll see the details, including the processor type (either Apple or Intel). Once you’ve figured that out, follow the right steps for your system below.

TIPS – To reinstall macOS, make sure you’re connected to the internet. If you’re using Wi-Fi, you’ll need to manually connect to your preferred network. Just a heads up, macOS Recovery is kind of like its own separate space, so it won’t have your usual Wi-Fi networks saved.

How to launch macOS Recovery on Intel Mac’s?

• Open the Apple menu and click Restart.

• Immediately press the Command + R keys on your Mac’s keyboard.
• Your Mac will restart to the macOS Recovery environment.

How to launch macOS Recovery on Apple Silicon Macs?

• Open the Apple menu and click Shut Down.

• Press and hold the power button until you see the Loading startup options prompt.
• Click the Options button to launch macOS Recovery.

How to reinstall macOS in the macOS Recovery environment?

After you’ve found macOS Recovery, it’s time to reinstall your macOS version.

• Select the Reinstall button for your version of macOS and click Continue.

• Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the download and installation.

TIP – 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.

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

When should you reinstall macOS?

Before you jump into using macOS Recovery, try the usual troubleshooting tricks. It’s like a last resort. It’s actually a good idea to chat with Apple Support first to see if they can sort things out. But if you’re looking for a pretty speedy and solid solution, reinstalling macOS is a handy way to fix problems on your Mac without waving goodbye to your data.