Reinstall macOS Not Working On Mac, Fix It

Quick Navigation:

• Causes of Reinstall macOS Not Working
• The Reinstallation Process
• Common Issues and How to Fix Them
• Preventing Future Issues
• Final Thought

Reinstalling macOS is often the best way to fix software problems, speed up the system, or prepare your Mac for a new user. But things don't always go as planned, and annoying problems like failed installations, locked recovery modes, or downloads that won't start can happen. These issues are frustrating, especially if you're having trouble reinstating or getting into macOS Recovery Mode or your Mac won't work.

Luckily, most of these problems can be fixed with the right method. Following this guide, you can successfully fix the issue reinstall macOS not working on Mac and get your Mac back in working. It will walk you through common problems that can stop macOS from reinstalling properly and give you step-by-step instructions on fixing them.

Causes of Reinstall macOS Not Working

Several things can cause the problem of restarting macOS and not working. Take a look:

• 🦠 Malware attack: Viruses can be very dangerous and often cause many problems in the system. They might make reinstalling macOS unusable.
• 🚫 Corrupt installer files: It is very important to ensure the setup files are not damaged. That could stop the reinstallation from working.
• 💾 Less storage space: macOS needs at least 22 GB. The installation won't finish if the disk has enough room.
• ⚠️ System errors: Problems or problems that only last a short time in your MacBook Pro or Air can also make reinstallation harder. Try running "First Aid" to see if anything is wrong.

The Reinstallation Process

Before fixing it, you need to know how to reinstall macOS normally. In most cases, you would:

• Start "Recovery Mode."
• In the macOS Utilities window, select "Reinstall macOS" and follow the instructions to install the OS again.
• Follow on-screen instructions to reinstall the macOS. The software could take a while to download and set up the files on your Mac.

🪄Note: It's important to know that the steps to get into Recovery Mode depend on the model:

For Apple Silicon Macs:

1. Start the system.
2. Hold down the power button.
3. Let go of it when you see the window with startup choices.
4. Click "Options".
5. Click the "Continue" button

For Intel-based Macs:

1. Turn on the system.
2. Hold down the "Command + R" keys.
3. When you see the Apple sign, remove the keys.

If this process doesn't work, it could be because of hardware issues, program conflicts, or issues with the network.

Common Issues and How to Fix Them

If you can't get to macOS Recovery, which is the first thing you need to do to restart macOS, try these options:

1. Check Hardware Connections:

Check to see if your keyboard is working right. If you use a wireless keyboard, try a wired one or plug it into your computer with a cable to ensure it is recognized when it starts.

2. Reset NVRAM/PRAM and SMC:

If there is no problem with the hardware connections, you can reset NVRAM/PRAM or SMC and try to reinstall macOS.

NVRAM or PRAM: At startup, hold down Option, Command, P, and R. It can eliminate any settings that are stopping macOS Recovery from starting up.

SMC Reset: If your Intel-based Mac has hardware problems that prevent macOS Recovery from working, you can fix them by restarting the System Management Controller (SMC). The steps are different if your Mac's battery can be removed:

For MacBook with Non-Removable Battery:

• Turn off your Mac and remove the power cord.
• Press and hold the power button while simultaneously holding down the Shift, Control, and Option keys for 10 seconds.
• Reconnect the power cord and restart your Mac.

For MacBook with Removable Batteries:

• Turn off your Mac and take out the battery.
• Keep the power button down for five seconds, reconnect the battery, and turn on and boot the device again.

For Mac Notebooks with A T2 Chip:

• Shut down your Mac.
• Keep the power button down for 10 seconds after the computer is shut down.
• Wait 5 seconds after letting off of the power button.
• Restart your Mac again.

For Mac Desktop:

• Turn off your Mac and remove the power cord.
• Please hold on for the next 15 seconds.
• Reconnect the power cable and restart your Mac.

After resetting NVRAM/PRAM and SMC, you can then try the macOS reinstallation and check if it works.

3. Repair Your Disk to Reinstall macOS

Problems with the disk can make it impossible to restart macOS. Because of this, it is better to fix it first. These are the steps you need to take:

Step 1: Open "Disk Utility" in recovery mode.

Step 2: Select the hard drive and click on "First Aid."

Step 3: Press "Run" and then it will start to check the disk and fix the found errors.

Step 4: Click "Done" when the process is done.

After repairing the disk, then you can go back to the macOS utilities window and select Reinstall macOS and try again.

4. Use Internet Recovery mode:

If you failed to reinstall macOS in Recovery mode, you can also try the Internet Recover mode instead. Here is how to get into Internet Recovery mode on Intel based macs:

Shut down the Mac and then start it. When you turn on your Mac, hold Option + Command + R or Shift + Option + Command + R to start it in Internet Recovery mode. This mode allows you to access recovery tools from Apple's servers, which can be useful if your recovery partition is broken.

📎 Tips: Note that this option is not applied to Apple Silicon Macs.

5. Create a Bootable macOS Installer:

If Internet Recovery also doesn't work, making a launcher run from a USB drive might be the next best thing. Get the macOS installer from the App Store on a different Mac, and then use Terminal instructions to make a bootable USB drive.

Step 1. Get a USB flash drive and ensure it has enough space to hold the macOS installer file. Also, move the important files from the USB drive to another place as the drive will be formatted.

Step 2. Format the USB flash drive in Disk Utility. Connect your USB drive to Mac and open Disk Utility, select the drive and click Erase button. Choose the file system APFS or HFS+, depending on the version of macOS.

Step 3. Download the macOS from App Store or trusted third-party website and place it into Applications folder.

Step 4. Open Terminal from Applications > Utilities. Run the following command to create the bootable USB installer:

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sequoia.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/USBName

After that, you can then restart the Mac and press the power button, then select the USB installer and try to reinstall the macOS.

6. Check for Hardware Issues

Hardware issues can sometimes make it impossible to restore macOS properly. Here's how to look for tech problems and fix them:

🔹 Use Apple Diagnostics:

Turn your Mac back on and hold down the D key while it starts up. That will open Apple Diagnostics, which can find and report hardware problems.

🔹 Run an Extended Test:

If Apple Diagnostics doesn't find any problems but thinks there might be a problem with the hardware, you should consider using TechTool Pro or DriveDx for a longer test. These tools can give you a more complete picture of your gear.

🔹 Check for Loose Connections:

If you recently upgraded your Mac's hardware, ensure all your links are safe. Installation problems can be caused by loose wires or parts that aren't seated properly.

7. Contact Apple Support

If you've done all these things and still can't restore macOS, you should contact Apple Support. In addition to basic technical help, they can also set up a repair or replacement for your Mac if needed.

Preventing Future Issues

To make it less likely that you'll have trouble when you reinstall macOS in the future, try these precautions:

• Regular Backups: Use Time Machine or another backup program to keep regular copies of your Mac. This way, if you need to erase your disk and start over, you won't lose any important files.

• Keep macOS Updated: Always have the latest version. This ensures the most up-to-date security changes and bug fixes.
• Monitor Disk Health: Check the state of your startup disk with Disk Utility periodically. Fix any problems with the disk as soon as you notice them.

Final Thought

Reinstalling macOS is usually easy, but it can be annoying when something goes wrong. By following the steps in this guide, you can find and fix the most common problems that might stop the reinstallation from working.

If something goes wrong with macOS Recovery, the installer download, or the update itself, these fixes should get your Mac back up and running. Don't hesitate to contact Apple Support for professional help if you still have problems.