Here's a complete step by step tutorial from WCCF Tech about how to clean install macOS Big Sur 11 / 11.0.1 on iMac, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and more.
Experience MacOS Big Sur with Maximum Performance Boost by Simply Clean Installing the OS on Your Mac
There are several routes you can take to install macOS Big Sur right now. The most obvious and preferred method is by air. Easy to follow, no need to back up or anything. However, there is a slight problem with this. This can prove sluggish in terms of performance.
Most of you probably don't care at all. However, if you want to experience the best of macOS Big Sur, we recommend doing a clean install. Sure, it's a little tricky because it involves downloading the macOS Big Sur installer then creating a bootable USB from it, but in the end, your new Apple OS installation will offer boss-level performance. You can't miss that, can you? Of course you can't.
Back Up Everything
Before you do anything, it's important to know that this method will wipe your drive clean. In other words, you will lose your files and settings. Hence, it is highly recommended that you back up everything before proceeding.
Create a Bootable MacOS Big Sur USB
Head over to our tutorial linked below on how to create a bootable USB installer. Once you're done, come back here and we'll walk you through the installation process.
Clean Install Big Sur
- Step 1. Plug the bootable USB into your Mac's USB port and turn on your Mac.
- Step 2. As soon as you press the power button, hold down the Option key on your Mac.
- Step 3. Select the USB drive you are plugged in and press Return on the keyboard.
- Step 4. Once the installer has loaded, click on Disk Utility.
- Step 5. Click on the drive where you want to install macOS Big Sur and then click Erase.
- Step 6. Don't change the default parameters and then click Erase.
- Step 7. Return to the main installer screen after the drive wipe is complete.
- Step 8. Click Install macOS, select the drive where you want to install it and follow the on-screen instructions to complete it.
- After the installation is complete, you can close the lid or continue to set up your Mac, restore the backup you made, and so on. All of them don't take long and are well worth it if you're looking to squeeze every ounce of performance out of macOS Big Sur.
Meanwhile, according to Redmond Pie, the steps are as follows :
Step 1: Before we start, you need to have the installation file at your disposal. You can download the installer for macOS 11 Big Sur from here: Download: Final Version of macOS Big Sur 11.0.1 Released, Update Now.
Step 2: Now we need to create a bootable USB drive. We have a guide for that - we do - of course - so make sure you follow it before moving on to the next step: How to Create a MacOS Big Sur Bootable USB Flash Drive Installer.
Step 3: With your USB stick ready to use, shut down your Mac and insert the stick into an available port. Restart your Mac while holding down the Option key. That will take you to the boot menu and allow you to select a USB drive.
If you have a Mac that supports the T2 chip, you'll need to enable booting from external storage via macOS Recovery first. Nothing will work if it doesn't.
Step 4: Finally, you will be greeted by the macOS Utilities menu. Select Disk Utility and then click Continue.
Step 5: Make sure your Mac's primary drive is selected, then click Erase. Maintain the name of the new drive as Macintosh HD and ensure that the format is set as "APFS (Encrypted)" (if you have a modern Mac with a faster SSD) or "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)". Press the Erase button to continue.
Step 6: Now you have completely wiped your drive. The next step is to fill it back in. Select Install macOS, then click Continue. Make sure your newly formatted drive is selected and follow the prompts.
The other steps according MacPaw :
Clean up & Back up your Mac
Clean
Cleaning your Mac is usually a healthy practice, but since we'll be backing up your Mac, it's a good idea to get rid of system junk first. After we clean your Mac, you'll get an updated system ready for Time Machine backups.
Time Machine will create a snapshot of your system. And as you "fix yourself" before a shoot, we'll make sure your Mac looks nice and tidy. To clean your machine automatically, you can run CleanMyMac X. This tool is the best cleaning utility ever for Mac (no joke), and is approved by Apple.
Back up your Mac
Now, you are ready to back up your computer. There are tools made just for that purpose, you guessed it, Time Machine. Time Machine needs a storage source that will be used to copy your system.
So you need an external drive. This is the first external drive we'll use to clean up the macOS Big Sur installation. This is a back up option for the worst case scenario.
- Go to System Preferences> Time Machine.
- Connect an external drive (which is wider than your current system).
- Select This Disk as the backup source at Time Machine.
Well done. The initial steps are complete, and we're ready to clean up installing macOS Big Sur.
Download the macOS Big Sur installer
Since its public release in fall 2020, macOS Big Sur can be downloaded from the Mac App Store. It can also be found in the Software Update panel in System Preferences.
So you'll find it in System Preferences> Software Updates. Click Upgrade Now
Wait for the installer to download to your drive. You'll see the macOS Big Sur intro screen. We just want to make sure that an app is named Install macOS Big Sur. The App is now firmly installed on your App.
This is the file we will use later to run a clean install of macOS Big Sur via Disk Utility. Now, and only now have we come to a clean install of macOS Big Sur. This is only a short stop on the road, so catch your breath, and let's move on.
Make a bootable Big Sur installer
Now, it's time to take another USB flash drive and connect it to your Mac. This drive must have at least 16 GB of storage space.
Clean the drive with Disk Utility
- Select this drive and click Erase on the top menu.
- Double check what you deleted.
- Make sure the USB drive is displayed as "Untitled"
- Under Format, select: Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
All data on that disk will be lost, so be careful.
Go to the Terminal (Phew, we're almost there)
This step will actually create a source disk so we can install Big Sur from a bootable USB. Launch the Terminal application 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 action.
This command creates a bootable USB installer based on macOS Big Sur.app, which we've pre-installed in Your Apps.
Delete your startup drive in Disk Utility
Time to wave at your current configuration. Remember, we've cleaned it out of trash with CleanMyMac X and backed it up to our first spare USB drive.
Now, start your Mac in Recovery mode:
- Shut down your Mac and hold down Command + R.
- Choose Disk Utility from the menu.
- Select your main startup drive and click Erase.
Voila! Your Mac is now formatted. What you can do now (in fact, it's the only thing you can do right now) is clean install macOS Big Sur 11 from the connected USB installer drive. If it doesn't connect, plug in the bootable USB installer now.
Return to the original Disk Utility screen. (If you can't get back 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 "Install macOS"
Tag :
Big Sur,
How to Clean
