This article guides you lot through the process of performing a make clean installation of macOS 10.xiv Mojave using the bootable USB drive method, rather than upgrading your Mac using Apple tree'south standard installation package, which retains existing user data and any user-installed apps.

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Creating a bootable USB drive provides y'all with a convenient way to install a fresh copy of macOS Mojave on multiple Macs. Performing a clean install can also remove annoying quirks and foreign behaviors that your Mac may have inherited over fourth dimension, and often helps to repossess disk infinite caused by junk files left by 3rd-political party apps.

The post-obit procedure works with the latest public beta of macOS Mojave, which you can download by enrolling in the Apple Beta Software Program. It volition as well work with the final version of Mojave, once it's released in the autumn. To follow the steps, you'll need an empty 8GB or larger USB thumb drive (USB-C or USB-A, depending on your Mac) and an 60 minutes or two of reanimation while the installation procedure completes.

Also, be sure to perform a full backup of your Mac beforehand using Time Machine, so that you can restore your original system from the Recovery sectionalization if something goes wrong.

Compatibility Check

macOS Mojave is a major update that introduces a range of new features similar a Nighttime Fashion, Desktop and Finder improvements, new apps, and a revamped Mac App Store, but not every Mac that tin run macOS High Sierra will run macOS Mojave. The full list of compatible Mac models is every bit follows:

  • MacBook (Early 2022 or newer)
  • MacBook Air (Mid 2022 or newer)
  • MacBook Pro (Mid 2022 or newer)
  • Mac mini (Late 2022 or newer)
  • iMac (Late 2022 or newer)
  • iMac Pro (2017)
  • Mac Pro (Late 2022, plus mid 2022 and mid 2022 models with recommended Metal-capable GPU)

To bank check if your Mac is compatible, open the Apple tree () menu in the upper left corner of your Mac's screen and select About This Mac. Expect just below the Bone 10 version number in the Overview tab – if the Mac model name is the same or a later model yr than the ane shown in the compatibility list in a higher place, your Mac is uniform with macOS Mojave.

How to Perform a Clean Install of macOS Mojave

  1. Download macOS Mojave, either via Apple's Public Beta Program or from the Mac App Store (once it's available).
  2. Once the download is complete, shut the installer window by selecting the Quit Install macOS option in the bill of fare bar or using the keyboard shortcut Command (⌘) + Q.
    mojave clean install 1
  3. Launch the Last app (found in Applications/Utilities/Final).
  4. At the Terminal command prompt, type sudo followed by a space.
    mojave clean install 2
  5. Next, open a Finder window, navigate to your Applications binder, right-click (or Ctrl-click) on the macOS 10.xiv installer, and select Show Package Contents from the contextual dropdown menu.
    mojave clean install 3
  6. Navigate to Contents -> Resources inside the installer parcel.
  7. Drag the createinstallmedia file into the Last window.
    mojave clean install 4
  8. Nevertheless in the Terminal window, type --volume followed past a space.
    mojave clean install 5
  9. Click the open Finder window to bring information technology to the front, and in the Finder bill of fare bar select Go -> Get To Folder....
  10. In the Get to the folder input box, type /Volumes and click Go.
    mojave clean install 6
  11. Connect your USB thumbnail drive to your Mac.
  12. Drag the USB drive'due south icon from Finder into the Terminal window.
    mojave clean install 7 1
  13. Press the Enter central on your keyboard to run the completed Final command.
  14. Enter your administrator countersign when prompted.
    mojave clean install 8
  15. Type Y and press Enter when prompted, and the control will create your bootable Mojave installer on the USB drive. This will take a few minutes to complete, so get out it running. Notation that if you're asked whether you want to install Xcode during this fourth dimension, you can safely click Non At present and the procedure volition complete successfully regardless.

Restart and Install

One time the USB installer has been created, restart your Mac and hold downwards the Option (⌥) key as shortly as y'all hear the reboot tone. Then follow these steps:

  1. Use the mouse pointer or the arrow keys on your keyboard to select the disk called Install macOS Mojave in the drive list that appears on the screen.
  2. One time the USB drive has booted, select Disk Utility from the Utilities window, choose your Mac'south startup bulldoze from the list, and click Erase.
  3. When your Mac'south startup disk is formatted, return to the Utilities window and select Install macOS, choose your freshly erased startup drive when asked where to install the Os, and follow the onscreen prompts to complete the installation.

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