- Apple’s 2020 OS is an absolute hit. Here’s how to perform a clean install of macOS Big Sur and reinstall macOS Big Sur from a bootable USB drive. Follow the instruction!
- With your USB drive properly formatted with the “Mac OS Extended” option, let’s create a bootable installer that you’ll boot into later to perform a clean install of Big Sur. Launch Disk Utility from the Applications/Utilities folder on your Mac.
- At this point, we have successfully created the macOS Big Sur USB Installer. But, in order to install the Hackintosh, we still need to configure the EFI folder. I will cover this in the next post because otherwise, this post will be very long. Check the following article to install macOS Big Sur on AMD FX system.
Apple released macOS Big Sur on November 12, 2020. macOS Big Sur continues the list of Central California landmarks as well as marks the new operating system for Mac. Those who tried it say that it’s more stable. It also sports a refreshed version of Safari that is 50% faster than Chrome. Here’s how to perform a clean install of macOS Big Sur with pictures and helpful tips along the way.
Format the drive you will use to install macOS, and then install Big Sur through the on-screen prompts. It will say '3 minutes remaining for maybe 5-10 minutes', just be patient, it is working! Once your computer restarts, boot again to your USB and select the 'macOS Installer' option from the Opencore menu. If you don’t want to clean install Big Sur just yet, you can place the new update on top of your current drive, which will preserve all the settings. If your Mac runs on OS X Mavericks or later, you can update directly to Big Sur. Note that Apple recommends you have around 35.5GB available storage and 4GB of memory on your macOS before upgrading.
What is a clean install? (Big Sur or any other macOS)
A clean install means that you install the macOS onto the erased drive.
Why is clean install more preferable?
A clean install is the opposite of macOS upgrade. You format your hard drive, and therefore, it keeps no leftovers from the previous macOS.
- macOS performs faster
- You get rid of apps you don’t use
- Persistent issues may go away
Basic steps to clean install macOS Big Sur
The first step is to clean and back up your Mac to some external source. Then, you’ll need to download macOS Big Sur package to your Applications. Next, you’ll need to create a bootable USB installer (involves another external drive). And lastly, we’ll use Disk Utility to erase your Mac and install macOS Big Sur using the bootable USB device.
1. Clean & Back up your Mac
Cleanup
Cleaning your Mac is generally a healthy practice but since we’re about to back your Mac up, it’s worthwhile to get rid of system junk first. After we’ve cleaned your Mac, you’ll end up with a refreshed system ready for a Time Machine backup.
Time Machine will make a snapshot of your system.But before that we’ll ensure there's no unwanted leftovers on your entire Mac. To clean your machine automatically, you can run CleanMyMac X. This tool is one of the best-known cleaning utilities for Mac, and it’s been notarized by Apple.
Download the free version of CleanMyMac X cleaner here.
Install the app and click on System Junk to perform the scan.
Back up your Mac
Now, you’re ready to back up your computer. There is a tool built just for that purpose, you guessed it, Time Machine. Time Machine needs a storage source onto which it will copy your system.
So, you’ll need an external drive. This is the first external drive that we will use to clean install macOS Big Sur. This is the reserve backup for the worst-case scenario.
- Go to System Preferences > Time Machine.
- Connect an external drive (that’s more spacious than your current system).
- Select this Disk as a backup source in Time Machine.
Well done. The preliminary steps are done with, and we’re ready to clean install macOS Big Sur.
2. Download macOS Big Sur installer
macOS Big Sur has been released on November 12, 2020.
Since the public release in the fall of 2020, macOS Big Sur can be downloaded from the Mac App Store. It also can be found in the Software Updates pane in System Preferences.
So you’ll find it in System Preferences > Software Updates.
- Click Upgrade Now
Wait for the installer to download onto your drive. You will see the macOS Big Sur intro screen.
Don’t click Continue but for now, close this window by choosing Quit Install.
We only want to make sure that the app called Install macOS Big Sur.App is now firmly sitting in your Applications.
This is the file we’ll use later to run the clean install of macOS Big Sur via Disk Utility.
Now, and only now have we come to clean installing macOS Big Sur. This is only a short stop on the road, so catch your breath, and let’s move along.
3. Create a bootable Big Sur installer
Now, it’s time to grab another USB flash drive and connect it to your Mac. This drive should have at least 16 GB of storage space.
Wipe the drive clean with Disk Utility
- Pick this drive and click Erase in the top menu.
- Double-check what you’re erasing.
- Make sure the USB drive is shown as “Untitled”
- Under Format, choose: Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
All data on that disk will be lost, so beware.
Go to Terminal (Phew, we’re almost there)
This step will actually create the source disk so we can install Big Sur from bootable USB.
Launch Terminal app from your Launchpad.
Paste in the following command:
sudo /Applications/Install macOS Big Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Untitled
Type in your admin password and press Return and Y to confirm the action.
This command creates a bootable USB installer based on macOS Big Sur.app, which we’ve previously placed in your Applications.
4. Erase your startup drive in Disk Utility
It’s time to wave goodbye to your current configuration. Remember, we’ve already cleaned it up from junk with CleanMyMac X and backed it up onto our first reserve USB drive.
Now, start your Mac in Recovery mode:
- Turn off your Mac and hold down Command + R.
- Choose Disk Utility from the menu.
- Choose your main startup drive and click Erase.
Voila! Your Mac is now formatted. What you can do now (actually, this the only thing you can do now) is to clean install macOS Big Sur 11 from the connected USB installer drive. If it’s not connected, connect the bootable USB installer now.
- Go back to the original Disk Utility screen
(If you can’t return to Disk Utility, restart your Mac and hold down the Option key) - Click Install macOS and choose to install it from the selected USB drive.
- Click on “Install macOS”
Install Big Sur From Usb Stick
How do I regularly install macOS Big Sur?
The regular install is done via upgrading your current macOS. That is, you don’t erase your entire disk. When the new macOS Big Sur is officially released, you just open the App Store > Updates.
Or even better, go to your System Preferences > Software Updates
How to reinstall macOS Big Sur?
If for some reason your Big Sur macOS doesn’t work as expected, you can reinstall it by sending your Mac into Recovery Mode.
- Restart your machine and hold down ⌘ + R
- Choose Reinstall macOS
That’s it.
As we’ve just seen, running a clean install of macOS Big Sur could be a crazy rabbit hole. We hope you survived. Now you’ll be rewarded with the best Apple’s operating system up to date. You’ll also have a clean Mac that works at blazing speed with a little extra help from our favorite Mac cleaner — CleanMyMac X. You can get started with a trial version — so download it here.
Apple Thursday released a patch to macOS 11.2 that aims to protect recent Macs from damage when connecting to a non-compliant powered USB-C device. Some users have reported that their Macs have gone blank and become totally unresponsive after connecting them to a USB-C dock or hub.
The issue is apparently with some third-party powered USB-C hubs that are not fully compliant with the USB-C power specs. The 11.2.2. patch is just over 2GB and the notes are brief:
Macos Big Sur Install From Usb
macOS Big Sur 11.2.2 prevents MacBook Pro (2019 or later) and MacBook Air (2020 or later) models from incurring damage when they are connected to certain third-party, non-compliant powered USB-C hubs and docks.
That’s all Apple says there is to this update. It’s probably a good idea to grab it, but if you don’t use powered USB-C devices the urgency is not as great.
How to update macOS Big Sur to 11.2.2
Before updating your Mac, it’s a good idea to back up your data, just in case the update causes problems.
To install the update, you need an internet connection of course. Also, your Mac will need to restart in order to finish the installation. Here are the steps.
Click on the Apple menu.
Select About this Mac.
In the window that appears, go to the Overview tab if it’s not already open.
Click on the Software Update button.
When you are ready to install, click on the Update Now button. The installation takes several minutes, depending on the speed of the internet connection.
You can also update your Mac by opening System Preferences and clicking on Software Update.