Here is a complete step by step tutorial on how to clean install macOS Big Sur 11 / 11.0.1 on your iMac, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and more.
Experience macOS Big Sur with Maximum Performance Gains by Simply Clean Installing the OS on Your Mac
There are multiple routes you can take to install macOS Big Sur right now. The most obvious, and preferred method, will be the over the air one. It's easy to follow, doesn't require creating backups or anything. But, there's a small problem with this. It can prove to be sluggish when it comes to performance.
Most of you might not even care about that at all. But, if you want to experience the best of macOS Big Sur, then it is a good idea to perform a clean install. Sure, it is a little tricky as it involves downloading the macOS Big Sur installer then creating a bootable USB out of it, but in the end, your installation of Apple's new OS will offer boss levels of performance. You can't skip that, right?
Of course you can't.
Backup All the Things
Before you event lift a finger, it’s important to know that this method will wipe your drive clean. In other words, you will lose your files and settings. Therefore it is highly recommended that you take a backup of everything before moving forward.
Create a Bootable macOS Big Sur USB
Head over to our tutorial linked below on how to create a bootable installer USB. Once you are done, return here and we will guide you till the end of the installation process.
Clean Install Big Sur
Step 1. Plug in 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 plugged in and press Return on the keyboard.
Step 4. Once the installer has loaded up, click on Disk Utility.
Step 5. Click on the drive on which you wish to install macOS Big Sur and then click on Erase.
Step 6. Do not change the default parameters and then click on Erase.
Step 7. Go back to the installer’s main screen once the drive erase is complete.
Step 8. Click on Install macOS, select the drive on which you want to install it and follow the on-screen prompts for completion.
Once the installation is complete, you can either just close down the lid or proceed to set up your Mac, restore the backup you created and so on. The whole thing does not take that long and it’s completely worth it if you want to squeeze out every ounce of performance from macOS Big Sur.
Interested in learning about the new features in macOS Big Sur? Read more below:
Read more:
About the author: Uzair has been writing about tech for a little under 10 years. Started off in the Symbian days, migrated to Android, eventually settling on iOS and Mac to make a living. Loves photography, drones, talking about the latest tech, and firmly believes that iPad is the future of computing. Served as Editor-in-Chief with Redmond Pie for five years, author at The Readers Eye and many other freelance gigs. Wccftech is now his current home.
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