Whenever there is a new macOS available, the need to reinstall macOS will surge. When you update or reinstall the macOS, the last thing you want is probably losing data on your computer. To reinstall macOS, including the latest Catalina, Mojave, without losing data, you can follow the professional guide to update the OS, which will not cause data loss in most of the case. If you still have worries, back up your Mac in advance or recover the lost files with EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.
- Will Reinstalling Macos Delete My Files
- Will Reinstalling Mac On Delete My Files And Apps Offline
- Will Reinstalling Os X Delete My Files
This page covers the full process of how to update and install the latest macOS Catalina, Mojave, etc. on Mac without losing any data. If you need a detailed guide, follow through this page to get the desired macOS installed on your computer now:
Step 4 - Reinstall. After you've cleaned your Mac of all your personal files and data, all you have to do is to reinstall OS X by closing Disk Utility and clicking on the 'Reinstall OS X' option. This free app quickly scans your disks and shows you exactly where your storage is going. How to delete files on your Mac when the startup disk is full. As counterintuitive as it sounds, your Mac still needs free space to work even when it’s deleting files. And that isn’t just when you move stuff to the Trash.
Workable Solutions | Step-by-step Troubleshooting |
---|---|
Phrase 1. Preparations | 2GB+ memory and 9GB+ storage space left on Mac > 45% + battery > Connect to internet..Full steps |
Phrase 2. Change a USB port | Start Mac from macOS Recovery > Select 'Reinstall macOS' > 'Continue'..Full steps |
Phrase 3. Recover Lost Data | After macOS installation, run EaseUS Mac data recovery software > Scan and recover lost data..Full steps |
![Will reinstalling mac on delete my files and apps free Will reinstalling mac on delete my files and apps free](/uploads/1/3/3/9/133933951/746108369.jpg)
Applies To: macOS Catalina, macOS Mojave, macOS High Sierra, macOS Sierra, or earlier Mac operating systems
The need to update or reinstall your macOS always follow the release of a new operating system, the slow performance of your Mac, or a system crash. When it comes to reinstalling macOS, users biggest concern is losing data on their computer.
The good news is that, if you follow the instructions strictly to update your Mac Operating System, the chance to lose data on your Mac is quite slim, since a reinstallation just needs to create a new copy of the OS, your existing files stored on your Mac won't be lost. Thus, as long as you don't choose to erase your startup disk during the reinstallation, you won't lose files. However, you know what 'Slim' means - it's not 100% safe and is still at the risk of losing some data.
Then how to reinstall macOS without any data loss? To provide a double guarantee to the precious data on your Mac, you can make a copy of the files on your Mac before you perform the reinstallation, or equip your Mac with a data recovery tool that can rescue your data after the reinstallation.
Preparations you Need to Make Before You Reinstall macOS
![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/3/3/9/133933951/251527139.png)
To reinstall macOS on your computer smoothly. Follow the tips below to prepare your Mac ready for the new macOS update now:
- Leave at least 2GB memory and 8.8 GB storage space on your Mac
- Leave at least 45% battery on your Mac
- Connect Mac to the internet or WiFi
- Update your Mac Apps to the latest versions
- Backup all your personal data and even create backups for your present Mac data through Time Machine
Remember to back up your Mac to an external hard drive for preventing system update failure or unexpected troubles from happening. Then follow the detailed guide below to reinstall Mac OS via macOS Recovery mode, which enables you to reinstall macOS, restore your files from Time Machine, repair or erase a disk, and more.
How to Update & Reinstall macOS Without Losing Data
*Print this page or open this page on another device so you can refer to it later.
Step 1. Start up your Mac from macOS Recovery
- Turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold 'Command + R', 'Option + Command + R', or 'Shift + Option + Command + R'.
- Release the keys when the Apple logo, a spinning globe, or a pop-up for a firmware password appears.
Step 2. Select 'Reinstall macOS' from the Utilities Window and click 'Continue'.
Step 3. Follow the onscreen instructions to select the hard drive you want to install the OS on and start the installation.
Send your stuff to it, or get stuff from it. Best mac folder sync app.
Step 4. Don't put your Mac to sleep mode or close its lid during the installation. It's normal to see your Mac restart several times or the screen is white while you reinstall the Mac OS. Just wait patiently for the process to finish.
If data loss occurred after you reinstalled macOS, you can follow the next part to recover your missing files.
Recover Lost Data After macOS Reinstallation
If you have backed up your Mac before the reinstallation, you can retrieve your data from Time Machine, an external hard drive, or somewhere else, depending on the way you used to make the backup. If you haven't created any backups for your Mac, then you'll need the professional Mac data recovery software tool - EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, to perform data recovery. With the help of this tool, you can easily recover the data lost due to macOS reinstallation:
Will Reinstalling Macos Delete My Files
Step 1. Select the disk location (it can be an internal HDD/SSD or a removable storage device) where you lost data and files. https://yellowbc.weebly.com/blog/see-all-open-apps-running-on-mac. Click the 'Scan' button.
Will Reinstalling Mac On Delete My Files And Apps Offline
Step 2. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac will immediately scan your selected disk volume and display the scanning results on the left pane.
Step 3. In the scan results, select the file(s) and click the 'Recover Now' button to have them back.
Will Reinstalling Os X Delete My Files
There are lots of data recovery tools available. But EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, one of the best Mac data recovery tools, is our pick. It fully supports all macOS systems including the newest Catalina, Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, EI Capitan, Yosemite etc. It allows you to restore all lost data with simple clicks. Office files, music, videos, emails or other archives can all be restored on your own.