Reinstall macOS Not Working: 4 Tested Ways to Fix It

Brithny updated on Jan 11, 2024 | Home >Computer Instruction

Are you facing a similar situation? Several Mac users have reported that reinstall macOS not working error. This guide will discuss the possible fixes for the "reinstall macOS not working" issue.

Workable Solutions Step-by-step Troubleshooting
Fix 1. Check Mac Internet Connection The simplest solution for reinstalling macOS Not Working is to check the internet connection...Full steps
Fix 2. Reinstall macOS in Safe Mode Turn off the system, and hold the power button. Release it when the startup options appear...Full steps
Fix 3. Repair Disk to Reinstall macOS Open Disk Utility, select View, choose Show All Devices, and select the disk you want to repair...Full steps
Fix 4. Reinstall from Recovery Mode Enter Recovery Mode. Select reinstall macOS X in Utilities. Follow the instructions...Full steps
Other Practical Fixes Erase your Mac to reinstall macOS, and resetting PRAM to reinstall macOS can be useful...Full steps

Various reasons can explain the occurrence of reinstall macOS not working. Knowing more about these issues is vital to apply the right solution.

Causes of Reinstall macOS Not Working

Multiple reasons explain why the reinstall macOS not working problem occurs. Let's take a look:

🎭Malware attack: Virus attacks can be deadly and often create several problems within the system. It could lead to reinstalling macOS not working.

📂Corrupt installer files: It is vital to ensure that the installer files are not corrupted. That can interfere with the reinstallation not working.

💾Lack of storage space: macOS requires 22 GB or more, depending on the version. The installation will not be completed if the disk has insufficient space.

🍎System errors: Temporary glitches or errors within your MacBook Pro/Air can also hamper reinstallation. You can run "First Aid" and see if there are any issues.

How to Fix Reinstall macOS Not Working

Do you want to know how to fix the reinstall macOS not working error? Well, here are some amazing solutions. Check them out:

Fix 1. Check Mac Internet Connection

The simplest solution for reinstalling macOS Not Working is to check the internet connection. To reinstall macOS, you need strong and stable internet connectivity. If the net connection is poor, interference while reinstalling macOS might happen. That is why it is advisable to check the connection.

You can also switch to a Wi-Fi connection if you want. However, if nothing resolves the problem, contact the internet service provider.

Fix 2. Reinstall macOS in Safe Mode

Another solution is to reinstall macOS in Safe Mode. However, it is important to note that the steps to enter Safe Mode differ based on the Mac model.

For Apple Silicon Macs, here are the steps:

Step 1. Turn off the system, press and hold the power button.

Step 2. Release it when you can see the startup options window.

Silicon macOS Reinstall macOS

Step 3. Choose the Mac startup disk (Macintosh HD). Press and hold the "Shift" key.

Step 4. Now, click on "Continue in Safe Mode".

Step 5. Log into the system.

For Intel-based Macs, check out these steps:

Step 1. Turn off your Mac.

Step 2. Turn on your Mac, press and hold the "Shift" key simultaneously.

Step 3. When you come across the login window, release the key.

Step 4. Log in. You will see "Safe Boot" in the upper-right section of the screen. Now, you can reinstall macOS.

Reinstall macOS on Intel-based

Fix 3. Repair Your Disk to Reinstall macOS

Issues with the disk can prevent the reinstallation of the macOS. That is why it is better to get it repaired first. Here are the steps you need to follow:

Step 1. Open "Disk Utility" and select "View".

Step 2. Choose "Show All Devices".

Step 3. Go to the disk you want to repair.

Step 4. Select the "First Aid" tab.

Select First Aid Tab

Step 5. Click "Run". When the process completes, select "Done".

After you are done, close Disk Utility. Now, try to reinstall macOS and see if the issue is fixed.

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Fix 4. Reinstall macOS from Recovery Mode

The easiest solution to fix the reinstallation macOS is not working is to opt for reinstallation from the Mac Recovery Mode. To help you out, we have attached a video.

  • 00:43 - Press the Command + R keys to enter Recovery Mode
  • 01:10 - Turn on Mac and press and hold Command and R keys
  • 01:15 - Release the keys when you see the Apple logo.
  • 01:40 - Choose Reinstall macOS from macOS Utilities window.

Check out these easy steps:

Step 1. Enter the "Recovery Mode".

Step 2. In the "Utilities" window, select "reinstall macOS".

reinstall macOS

Step 3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Here, you should remember that the steps to enter Recovery Mode differ based on the model.

For Silicon Macs:

Step 1. Turn on the system.

Step 2. Press and hold the power button.

Step 3. Release it when you see the startup options window.

Step 4. Go to "Options".

Step 5. Click "Continue".

For Intel-based Macs:

Step 1. Turn on the system.

Step 2. Press and hold the "Command + R" keys.

Step 3. Release the keys when you see the Apple logo.

Fix 5. Erase Your Mac to Reinstall macOS

If the above solutions do not work, you can erase the Mac. After that, you can reinstall macOS. Here are the steps you need to erase Macs:

Step 1. Enter the "Recovery Mode".

Step 2. Select "Disk Utility".

Step 3. Choose "Continue".

Step 4. Select "Macintosh HD".

Step 5. Go to the "Erase" button.

Erase Disk

Step 6. Enter name and format.

Step 7. Select "Erase Volume Group" or "Erase". If asked, enter the Apple ID.

Step 8. After the process is done, quit "Disk Utility". Now, try to reinstall macOS and see if the issue is fixed.

However, note that data loss can occur while erasing Mac. In that case, you can opt for professional data recovery software for Macintosh HD recovery.

The EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is an efficient data recovery tool. With this software, you can restore different data types, such as audio, video, email, etc. Besides, the interface is user-friendly and helps both beginners and experts.

The EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac helps in recovering data from a wide variety of situations. These are:

  • Virus attack: Malware attacks can have a devastating effect on the device.
  • Formatting: Formatting the system might lead to data loss.
  • Accidental deletion: Human error is one of the primary reasons for data loss.
  • System crash: Temporary bugs or glitches can cause the device to crash.

Follow the steps below to quickly recover deleted files on Mac:

Note: You can create a backup by clicking the "Disk Backup" on the left first. The software will recover the deleted files from the backup image. It can prevent further damage to your disk and data, making it safer and more reliable.

Step 1. Scan for deleted files

Select the hard drive, external drive, or SSD where your important data & files were deleted and click "Search for lost files".

select a location and scan for deleted files on Mac

Step 2. Filter the lost files

The software will run quick and deep scans and work hard to find as many deleted files as possible on the selected volume. Filter wanted files through the "Type" and "Path" options.

Filter and select the lost files

Step 3. Recover deleted files

Double-click the deleted files to preview. Then, click the "Recover" button to get them back.

recover deleted files from Mac

Fix 6. Reset PRAM to Reinstall macOS

PRAM, or Parameter Random Access Memory, stores information related to the startup disk, speaker volume, and more. If there is an issue with PRAM, it can lead to problems with macOS reinstallation.

PRAM reset on M2 Macs might solve the problem. So, here are the steps to follow:

Step 1. Turn down the system.

Step 2. Press and hold the "Command + Option + P + R" keys.

Step 3. When you hear the startup sound twice, release the keys.

Conclusion

Reinstalling macOS Not Working can become quite frustrating. However, multiple solutions can help you fix the issue. For instance, you can reset PRAM or reinstall macOS via the Recovery Mode. You can also erase your Mac or use Safe Mode.

Using any of these solutions might lead to data loss. However, you can use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac. It is one of the best data recovery tools aiding users to easily restore data.

Reinstall macOS Not Working FAQs

To know more about reinstalling macOS not working, read the questions and answers listed below:

1. How do I force reinstall on Mac?

To force reinstall an application on a Mac, follow these steps:

Step 1. Quit the application that stops the process, and uninstall it by dragging it to the Trash or using "Move to Trash".

Step 2. Delete related files in the Library folders, such as Application Support, Caches, Preferences, and Saved Application State.

Step 3. Hard restart MacBook and reinstall the application by downloading it from the developer's website or using the Mac App Store.

2. Why is my macOS Monterey not installing?

Multiple reasons explain why your macOS Monterey won't install. These could be due to low storage space, issues with internet connectivity, software incompatibility, problem with the Apple server, etc.

3. What to do when macOS don't reinstall?

When macOS don't reinstall, you can apply various solutions. For starters, you can reset PRAM. You can also reinstall macOS using the Recovery Mode. Another solution is to erase Mac and then reinstall macOS.

4. Why won't it let me install macOS?

Various reasons might prevent the installation of macOS. The reasons include virus attacks, temporary errors, bugs, lack of disk space, etc. Pinpointing the exact reason might not be possible.

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Updated by Brithny

Brithny is a technology enthusiast, aiming to make readers' tech lives easy and enjoyable. She loves exploring new technologies and writing technical how-to tips. In her spare time, she loves sharing things about her game experience on Facebook or Twitter.

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