MacOS Big Sur elevates the most advanced desktop operating system in the world to a new level of power and beauty. Experience Mac to the fullest with a refined new design. Requires a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air with Touch ID, an iPhone 6 or later with iOS 10 or later, or an Apple Watch with watchOS 3 or later. Requires Microsoft Office.

  • Whether it’s time for you to sell your old MacBook Pro, want a fresh start to your old machine or just want this damn thing to work again. Wiping and reinstalling macOS is definitely the way to go! Luckily for MacBook Pros, it’s just a simple 3-step process (recovery, wipe, reinstall)!
  • Run the installer, but make sure you select the new volume you created and install the alternative macOS on that - not your main volume. Now wait while your Mac installs the new OS on that volume.

Start up from macOS Recovery

Determine whether you're using a Mac with Apple silicon, then follow the appropriate steps:

Apple silicon

Turn on your Mac and continue to press and hold the power button until you see the startup options window. Click the gear icon labelled Options, then click Continue.

Intel processor

How to install new operating system on macbook pro 7

Make sure your Mac is connected to the internet. Then turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold Command (⌘)-R until you see an Apple logo or other image.

If you're asked to select a user you know the password for, select the user, click Next, then enter their administrator password.

How To Install New Operating System On Macbook Pro 14

Reinstall macOS

Download Macbook Pro Os Disk

Select Reinstall macOS from the utilities window in macOS Recovery, then click Continue and follow the onscreen instructions.

Follow these guidelines during installation:

How To Install New Operating System On Macbook Pro Download

  • If the installer asks to unlock your disk, enter the password you use to log in to your Mac.
  • If the installer can't see your disk, or it says that it can't install on your computer or volume, you might need to erase your disk first.
  • If the installer offers you the choice between installing on Macintosh HD or Macintosh HD — Data, choose Macintosh HD.
  • Allow installation to complete without putting your Mac to sleep or closing its lid. Your Mac might restart and show a progress bar several times, and the screen might be empty for minutes at a time.

When the installation is complete, your Mac might restart to a setup assistant. If you're selling, trading in or giving away your Mac, press Command-Q to quit the assistant without completing setup. Then click Shut Down. When the new owner starts up the Mac, they can use their own information to complete the setup process.

Other macOS installation options

When you install macOS from Recovery, you get the current version of the most recently installed macOS, with some exceptions:

Upgrade Macbook Pro Operating System

  • On an Intel-based Mac: If you use Shift-Option-Command-R during startup, you'll be offered the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version that is still available. If you use Option-Command-R during startup, in most cases you'll be offered the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac. Otherwise you'll be offered the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version that is still available.
  • If the Mac logic board was just replaced, you may only be offered the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac. If you've just erased your entire startup disk, you may only be offered the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version that is still available.

You can also use these methods to install macOS, if the macOS is compatible with your Mac:

System
  • Use the App Store to download and install the latest macOS.
  • Use the App Store or a web browser to download and install an earlier macOS.
  • Use a USB flash drive or other secondary volume to create a bootable installer.