macOS installation
To support Mac users effectively, you need quick, reliable information, like how users back up their data using organization-approved tools. If a user’s Mac becomes unresponsive, this guide outlines how to reinstall or restore macOS to get the device back in working order. It also covers how to manage software updates based on your organization’s settings. With this guide, you have practical solutions at your fingertips to resolve common Mac issues and support users with confidence.
Setup Assistant
Setup Assistant is the built-in utility that guides users through the initial configuration of a Mac, including language, network, and account setup. You may need to walk users through this process remotely or ensure it’s completed according to organization policies.
If a Mac is being deployed in a managed environment, some steps may be automated or skipped using device management. It’s important to verify that required settings, such as network configuration and user credentials, are correctly applied during this process. For information about Setup Assistant in a managed environment, see Manage Setup Assistant for Apple devices in Apple Platform Deployment.
Migration Assistant
Migration Assistant helps users transfer data from another Mac, a backup, or a Windows PC. It’s useful when replacing a device or recovering from a reinstall. You should ensure that users connect both devices to the same network or use a direct connection for faster transfers. Migration Assistant is user-friendly, but issues like incompatible file formats or corrupted data can arise, so be prepared to troubleshoot as needed.
Users might contact you with any of the following concerns while migrating their Mac:
Large transfers might seem to pause occasionally and need hours to complete.
Migration Assistant transfers email, but to access it, the user might first need to set up their email account again in the email app.
Rename the old user account before transferring it to the new Mac. This keeps both accounts, so that users can log in to them separately on the new Mac.
Install the latest software updates on each Mac.
Turn off antivirus, firewall, or VPN software until finished.
Transfer from a Mac with a larger storage drive than the destination Mac.
Reinstall macOS
Reinstalling macOS is often necessary when a system becomes unresponsive or encounters persistent software issues. This reinstall is done using macOS Recovery, either from the internal storage or through internet recovery. You should ensure users back up their data before initiating a reinstall, even though macOS Recovery attempts to preserve files and user settings intact when reinstalling.
Important: Mac must be connected to the internet to reinstall macOS.
To provide the appropriate support, become familiar with the following macOS reinstall options:
Feature | Standard Reinstall | Erase and Install |
|---|---|---|
Attempts to preserve user data |  |  |
Attempts to preserve apps and settings | | |
Attempts to fix system issues | Minor to moderate issues | Severe to persistent issues |
Best for transferring Mac to new owner | | |
Bootable installer
You can use an external storage device or other secondary volume as a startup disk from which to install macOS. These steps are primarily for system administrators and other experienced users.
You don’t need a bootable installer to upgrade macOS or reinstall macOS. However, a bootable installer can be useful when those or other macOS installation methods are unsuccessful, or when you want to install macOS on multiple computers without downloading the installer each time.
Here’s what you need:
An external storage device or other secondary volume with at least 16GB of storage.
A Mac to download the macOS installer.
A compatible version of the macOS installer downloaded from the Mac App Store or the Apple website.
For a step-by-step procedure, see Create a bootable installer for macOS.