How to Clean Install macOS Tahoe With/Without USB?

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A clean install of macOS Tahoe refers to reinstalling your macOS from scratch. It will give your Mac a fresh start, but erase all your data, apps, and settings as a compromise.

Whether you’re dealing with persistent system issues, planning to sell your Mac, or simply looking to upgrade from an older version of macOS, you’re encouraged to try a clean install of Tahoe. In this post, we’ll explain when it’s better to clean install rather than reinstall macOS. And then we’ll introduce how to clean install macOS Tahoe with or without a USB.

Reinstall vs. Clean Install macOS Tahoe

Generally, a clean install of macOS requires more time and complex steps than a reinstall of macOS. Therefore, before deciding to clean install Tahoe, it’s essential to figure out the differences between a clean install of macOS and reinstalling macOS, and whether it’s better to do a clean install of macOS.

A clean installation of macOS Tahoe involves deleting the internal drive of your Mac, wiping out any data, apps, and settings on it, and then reinstalling the operating system. However, a reinstall of macOS Tahoe will maintain your existing files, settings, and apps, and just reinstall the operating system. It’s better to perform a clean installation of macOS in the following cases:

• You want to set up your Mac as if it were new.
• You decide to sell your Mac or give it away.
• Over time, your Mac has accumulated many unnecessary files and software that can slow it down. If you work on a clean install, you can optimize your Mac’s performance.
• You want to resolve deep-rooted system issues, such as startup problems or software conflicts.
• You suspect that your Mac has suffered from malware or security threats.
• You’re going to upgrade from a much older version of macOS and attempt to prevent potential compatibility issues or issues from outdated files and settings.

Usually, you can perform a clean installation of macOS Tahoe using a bootable USB drive or macOS Recovery functionality. Both methods have their advantages, and which path you follow in clean installing macOS Tahoe will depend on your tools and needs.

How to Perform a macOS Tahoe Clean Install from USB?

On one hand, the USB drive bootable ensures offline installation. It’s an ideal solution when you have a poor network connection. On the other hand, the process is a customizable installation, and you don’t need to download the installer. This is especially workable when you’re dealing with a number of Macs.

Here are the steps for a macOS Tahoe clean install from USB:

Preparation

• Before starting, ensure you have a complete backup of your system using Time Machine or another backup method.

  

• You'll need a blank USB drive with at least 30 GB of storage. All data on this drive will be erased, so transfer any important files elsewhere first.

  To format your USB drive,

  1. Connect your USB drive to your Mac.
  2. Open Disk Utility, select your USB drive, and click the "Erase" option in the toolbar.
  3. Click Erase to continue.

Download the macOS Tahoe Installer

Download the macOS Tahoe installer from the Mac App Store (when available) or a third-party resource.

Create the Bootable USB Installer

1. Open Terminal.
2. Enter the following command, replacing TahoeUSB with the name of your USB drive: sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Tahoe.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/TahoeUSB
3. Enter your admin password when prompted.
4. Confirm the erase by typing Y and pressing Enter. This may take 15-30 minutes.

Clean Install macOS Tahoe

1. Insert the USB drive into your Mac and restart your Mac.
2. Select the USB drive and click Continue.
3. Open Disk Utility, select the main drive.
4. Click Erase, set the format to APFS, and tap on Erase and confirm.
5. Quit Disk Utility and click Install macOS.
6. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.

How to Perform a macOS Tahoe Clean Install without a USB?

If you want to clean install macOS Tahoe without a USB drive, you can also use the recovery mode. This is a free solution, and it doesn’t involve many steps. You can take this measure as long as your Mac can boot into Recovery mode. After upgrading to the latest version of macOS, your Mac will be safer and more compatible.

To perform a macOS Tahoe clean install with the Recovery mode, take the steps below.

Enter the Recovery Mode

• If you’re using an Intel-based Mac, you can reboot your Mac by immediately pressing and holding the Command and R keys at the same time until the Apple logo appears.
• If you’re using an Apple Silicon Mac, you can restart your computer by holding the Power button down until the startup options show up. And then choose Options and click Continue.

Erase Your Startup Disk

1. In the macOS Recovery window, select Disk Utility and click Continue.
2. Select your Mac’s internal disk (usually named “Macintosh HD”) and click Erase.
3. Choose APFS (or Mac OS Extended for previous macOS) as the format and click Erase.

Reinstall macOS Tahoe

1. Close Disk Utility and go back to the macOS Recovery screen.
2. Select Reinstall macOS and click Continue.
3. Then follow the instructions to complete the installation process.

Bonus Tip: What to Do Before a Clean Install of Tahoe?

Before installing Tahoe, you should bear in mind a list of things, among which you should notice that both solutions need sufficient disk space to store the installer files and process the installation. To ensure a smooth and successful clean installation of Tahoe, ensure you have sufficient storage space on your computer. If not, consider deleting unnecessary files and getting more storage space.

Normally, you can manually find and delete files, apps, or other unwanted data, but this process will consume a large amount of your time. Also, chances are that you cannot locate all the junk files. With BuhoCleaner, you can clean your Mac with a simple click. This professional Mac cleaning tool allows you to remove redundant system files, cache, app files, and other large files that have accumulated over time. Also, you can use BuhoCleaner to uninstall apps, disable background launch apps, and monitor and optimize your system performance in real time.

Here's how to use BuhoCleaner:

1. Free install BuhoCleaner and open it on your Mac.
2. Click the "Scan" button to let BuhoCleaner scan your macOS System. Check the data you want to remove from your computer.

   

3. Click the Remove button to initiate the process.
4. Navigate to other features like App Uninstall, Large Files, and Duplicates to make your Mac cleaner.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it's best to clean install macOS Tahoe when you decide to sell your Mac, fix the deep-rooted system errors, or restore it to its factory state. As a clean installation of macOS wipes all data and settings on your computer, it’s necessary to back up your device in advance.

You can either free install macOS Tahoe using a bootable USB drive or enter recovery mode. Considering both methods require sufficient disk space to store the installer files and perform the installation, you’re recommended to free up the storage space via BuhoCleaner. By following the detailed steps outlined in this article, you can successfully install macOS Tahoe and enjoy an optimized system.