You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

User profile for user: Peugeot208
Peugeot208 Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Format laptop and reinstall catalina from USB stick?

Laptop: Macbook 12" early 2016.


Hello! I know this question is asked so so so many times, and I think that is also the reason why now I feel a bit confused about all of the answers!


I checked out https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251236312, which seemed to be the closest to my question, however the answer provided to the OP is to donwload the latest macOS from the recovery, and I would like to stick to Catalina.


So, my question being: I upgraded to Catalina from El Cap; however all of my files, and some old apps I installed manually (like Outlook and etc etc) have remained the same. I installed these apps manually because on El Cap they weren´t available on the App Store. So now that I have a relatively new macOS, I would like to format my whole disk and system files, and start from scratch.


However, I find myself in the situation that I cannot simply download Catalina as a file, since now that it is in fact installed, my Macbook prompts me to install an upgrade, not Catalina itself.


Where can I find the Catalina installer that will work with my laptop? I am guessing that if I do a system reset, it will either want to go to El Cap or look for the latest (Big Sur) and I would like to keep Catalina.


Any help would be greatly appreciated! I did look on the internet, but most stuff points to downloading Catalina installer, and I can´t seem to be able to get a hold of such installer without having to visit shady sites.


Thanks in advance!

MacBook, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jul 25, 2021 5:30 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: K Shaffer
K Shaffer
User level: Level 8
35,338 points

Posted on Jul 25, 2021 3:24 PM

To answer your last question, use an Apple support site link to get the downloadable installers of choice.


These installers are just that. They only work to get the installer from Apple; then they install a macOS.

Some of these can take hours to build the system in your Mac; & may restart more than twice to do it.


• How to get old versions of macOS - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683


Within newer macOS, past High Sierra; these new upgrades may be called updates.

Have and use multiple backups, beyond & include Time Machine on external drives.

Look into and learn how to use Clone utilities; those may be useful to boot older OS.


How to create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372


No shady sites would have 'correct downloadable installers' from Apple, as you know.

Unless the undesired consequences of doctored content, should be found by accident.


View in context

Similar questions

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: K Shaffer
K Shaffer
User level: Level 8
35,338 points

Jul 25, 2021 3:24 PM in response to Peugeot208

To answer your last question, use an Apple support site link to get the downloadable installers of choice.


These installers are just that. They only work to get the installer from Apple; then they install a macOS.

Some of these can take hours to build the system in your Mac; & may restart more than twice to do it.


• How to get old versions of macOS - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683


Within newer macOS, past High Sierra; these new upgrades may be called updates.

Have and use multiple backups, beyond & include Time Machine on external drives.

Look into and learn how to use Clone utilities; those may be useful to boot older OS.


How to create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372


No shady sites would have 'correct downloadable installers' from Apple, as you know.

Unless the undesired consequences of doctored content, should be found by accident.


Reply
User profile for user: PRP_53
PRP_53
User level: Level 10
92,533 points

Jul 27, 2021 4:44 AM in response to Peugeot208

To perform this action will require booting from a Bootable Installer. This will have to be performed from a Qualifying Computer to run the version of macOS to be made on the Bootable Installer. Example : Bootable Installer of Big Sur would have the done on a computer that Qualifies to run Big Sur.


Once that is done read on for preparing the Destination computer  >> Special Notation - works on Intel Based Apple Computers & May on Apple Silicon M1 CPU


Extra Special Notation regarding the Touch ID equipped Apple Computer. About Startup Security Utility and Must Enable from Recovery Mode the ability to boot from External Drive Before Attempting 


Shutdown computer and disconnect all external drive Except the newly created Bootable Installer. Restart and immediately hold the OPTION key until the Startup Manager appears and choose the USB Drive. It will present options >> Disk Utilities >> View >> View ALL attached Drives. Choose the Upper Most Drive ( not the volumes indented and list below ). The drive normally is called Apple Media or Apple SSD - that is the drive to Erase and format as APFS with the GUID Partition Map. Once that is done >> backup out of Disk Utilities and choose install macOS. Follow the prompts and it may automatically reboot several time. Upon a final reboot - Setup Assist will present with the newer version of macOS.

Reply

Format laptop and reinstall catalina from USB stick?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up