Start up from macOS Recovery
Determine whether you're using a Mac with Apple silicon, then follow the appropriate steps:
Apple silicon
User profile for user: brbo brbo User level: Level 5. Aug 26, 2021 Dec 21, 2020. Filed to: Solve Mac Problems. Proven solutions. Bootable USB Stick - macOS X El Capitan 10.11 - Full OS Install, Reinstall, Recovery and Upgrade. Step Three: Reinstall macOS. With your information wipe complete, you are now ready to reinstall macOS. Feb 09, 2016 Remember, this method is not the same as a clean install, and it only reinstalls the version of OS X that is currently running on the Mac (shown here with El Capitan), whereas Internet Recovery will reinstall the version of OS X that shipped with the Mac (in this case it would have been Yosemite) instead. Obviously the versions of OS X will. Since installing El Capitan has failed, would you consider installing Catalina, just to get to Disk Utility? Create the USB installer on another Mac. Boot on your 2012 iMac Install Catalina to the external SSD. After installing, wipe out the internal HDD to reinstall El Capitan or High Sierra to it. I recommend High Sierra. How to reinstall macOS Start up from macOS Recovery. Turn on your Mac and continue to press and hold the power button until you see the startup. Reinstall macOS. Select Reinstall macOS from the utilities window in macOS Recovery, then click Continue and follow the. Other macOS installation.
Turn on your Mac and continue to press and hold the power button until you see the startup options window. Click the gear icon labeled Options, then click Continue.
Intel processor
Make sure that your Mac has a connection 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.
Reinstall macOS
Installing Mac El Capitan
Select Reinstall macOS from the utilities window in macOS Recovery, then click Continue and follow the onscreen instructions.
Follow these guidelines during installation:
- If the installer asks to unlock your disk, enter the password you use to log in to your Mac.
- If the installer doesn'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.
After 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 setup.
Other macOS installation options
When you install macOS from Recovery, you get the current version of the most recently installed macOS, with some exceptions:
- On an Intel-based Mac: If you use Shift-Option-Command-R during startup, you're offered the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available. If you use Option-Command-R during startup, in most cases you're offered the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac. Otherwise you're offered the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.
- If the Mac logic board was just replaced, you may be offered only the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac. If you just erased your entire startup disk, you may be offered only the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.
Factory Reset El Capitan Imac
You can also use these methods to install macOS, if the macOS is compatible with your Mac:
How To Download El Capitan
- 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.