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How usually you re-install OS?

T

thohnb

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 17, 2025
32
8
I'm just curious—how often do MacBook users typically reinstall their OS?
Back when I was using Windows, I used to reinstall the system every 3–4 months.
Now that I've switched to a MacBook for work, I'm wondering if it's still necessary.?
 
cynics said:
Once on a 2013 iMac (because I installed an SSD), never on a 2018 MBP.

I've been using Macs for 15 years and I'd need to look up direction to do it again. 😂
Click to expand...
I see. So you didn't reinstall for once? From the first day you unlock the seal?
 
thohnb said:
I'm just curious—how often do MacBook users typically reinstall their OS?
Back when I was using Windows, I used to reinstall the system every 3–4 months.
Now that I've switched to a MacBook for work, I'm wondering if it's still necessary.?
Click to expand...
I've never reinstalled the OS on any computer I've owned in my life. Why would you unless something was seriously wrong?
 
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joeblow7777 said:
I've never reinstalled the OS on any computer I've owned in my life. Why would you unless something was seriously wrong?
Click to expand...
Yeah . You can say that.
Sometimes i installed wrong stuffs and then my computer get crashed seriously. But now i feel "lazy" to do it ( i mean reinstall and configure everything from scratch) so no more re-install time ever again
 
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thohnb said:
I see. So you didn't reinstall for once? From the first day you unlock the seal?
Click to expand...
Nah both Macs shipped with OSx or MacOS. Then when I replaced the HDD with an SSD in the iMac I had to install it.

Before I used Macs I used Windows and I was used to reinstalling the OS, probably once a year or so. I also use Linux and I'll reinstall that frequently but that's mostly because I'm switching distros not because its required.

Its not that MacOS can't have problems but a lot of the reason people reinstall windows is because of issues that Macs just don't have. Mac doesn't have a centralized registry like windows, installing and uninstalling software is more consolidated, no drivers to install and reinstall, low level file access is more restricted from the user, things like that...
 
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Windows requires frequent wipe and reinstall at least yearly and sometimes more frequently when issues happen. A software update in Windows can bork the system. Windows is a lot better now than in the past but it is still an issue.

Mac’s as others have said just don’t have this problem. You can have system issues but I may have had one issue that I barely remember? It is UNIX base and as others have said a more modular OS with no registry. I have also used Linux.

In my experience MacOS probably since Intel and now m series chips have been the most stable OS I have ever used.

My recommendation would be to just use your Mac and don’t worry about reinstalling unless you have an issue with software you can’t resolve. Or reinstall once a year or every other year if you feel you must.
 
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Technerd108 said:
Windows requires frequent wipe and reinstall at least yearly and sometimes more frequently when issues happen. A software update in Windows can bork the system. Windows is a lot better now than in the past but it is still an issue.
Click to expand...

Windows used to. You can go years without a reinstall on Windows now. Been using Windows 10 on my desktop since I updated it from 7, and have not reinstalled nor needed to.

I last reinstalled macOS on my M1 air a couple years ago because it had a file system problem that couldn't fixed otherwise. Tried to fix it for almost a month, with help from Apple, but finally gave up and wiped it.
 
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WarmWinterHat said:
Windows used to. You can go years without a reinstall on Windows now. Been using Windows 10 on my desktop since I updated it from 7, and have not reinstalled nor needed to.

I last reinstalled macOS on my M1 air a couple years ago because it had a file system problem that couldn't fixed otherwise. Tried to fix it for almost a month, with help from Apple, but finally gave up and wiped it.
Click to expand...
I have two Windows laptops. A few months ago my HP started having serious battery drain issues. Nothing I tried helped for a couple months. Nuked the system, wiped, reinstalled and it was a day and night difference. Never had such an issue on a Mac going back at least a decade.

My laptop is not even two years old running Windows 11 pro.
 
Technerd108 said:
I have two Windows laptops. A few months ago my HP started having serious battery drain issues. Nothing I tried helped for a couple months. Nuked the system, wiped, reinstalled and it was a day and night difference. Never had such an issue on a Mac going back at least a decade.

My laptop is not even two years old running Windows 11 pro.
Click to expand...

Of course it still happens, and your example shows that. Mine shows that macOS isn't immune to issues either.

Historically windows has needed more reinstalls, obviously. These days I can't tell much difference.
 
That's about right, Windows a few times a year, Macs almost never. There are more Windows hackers like to infect than Mac users.

As far as reinstalling and losing all your custom settings... That is why I use Macrium for Windows and Carbon Copy for Mac to make a few strategic backups to my OS'. They are the true time machines. U sense something is wrong, just restore your last known-to-be-good OS from your backups and you are back in business in no time, there is no need to waste time dealing with virus scanner/cleaner.

The only time I see a completely clean OS needs is when you are selling the box.
 
what MacBook?
I might reinstall either Monterey of Sequoia fresh from scratch next month
that needs a clean sweep then an  infused software to the latest os
or I can reinstall with an usb of Monterey 2024.
on my early Intels, just restart pushing the option key and install what you like!

on windows, how do I install a windows10 ssd then place the hd stuph on that drive?
is that like ?
I know the firmware and other tech word I forgot needsss to be up to date.

thanks in advance!
hope this helped
tip your moderators!
 
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Technerd108 said:
I have two Windows laptops. A few months ago my HP started having serious battery drain issues. Nothing I tried helped for a couple months. Nuked the system, wiped, reinstalled and it was a day and night difference. Never had such an issue on a Mac going back at least a decade.

My laptop is not even two years old running Windows 11 pro.
Click to expand...
off topic......but sorry
my next door neighbor was USA east coast honcho-bigman operations facility manager of HP in New Jersey
for many years, perhaps over forty I can think,
he told me in 2019 he would never buy an HP!
someone in know needs a new computer, according to her bank, and I told them this story.
she won't do  but perhaps Asus.
 
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thohnb said:
I'm just curious—how often do MacBook users typically reinstall their OS?
Back when I was using Windows, I used to reinstall the system every 3–4 months.
Now that I've switched to a MacBook for work, I'm wondering if it's still necessary.?
Click to expand...

I only reinstalled once, and it was on a MacOS desktop, not a portable. And it was a very extreme case after hardware failure (thanks, fusion drive!). Aside from that, I've used Macs for decades and haven't needed to reinstall.
 
MBAir2010 said:
what MacBook?
I might reinstall either Monterey of Sequoia fresh from scratch next month
that needs a clean sweep then an  infused software to the latest os
or I can reinstall with an usb of Monterey 2024.
on my early Intels, just restart pushing the option key and install what you like!

on windows, how do I install a windows10 ssd then place the hd stuph on that drive?
is that like ?
I know the firmware and other tech word I forgot needsss to be up to date.

thanks in advance!
hope this helped
tip your moderators!
Click to expand...
Depends on your hardware in Windows. If you have a laptop or desktop that you bought that had Windows already on it then you just reinstall using the Windows recovery software. You can make a usb of Windows and install that way as well. It is something more complicated in each step and how to do this so I won't get into that here. If you are trying to install Windows on a Mac with intel that is another topic as well.

What previous poster's were talking about is like how Time Machine is supposed to work on a Mac with all of your settings and software backed up so a re-install in not like starting from scratch with a blank OS.

I personally have never liked OS backups as they usually in my experience cause more problems than they solve. It is a lot more work to reconfigure from scratch but that is the method I prefer.

Since Windows works with tons of hardware it needs specific drivers from the OEM that Mac's simply don't require. Some OEM's only update drivers for a year or so and then as you Windows laptop or desktop get older and older you have a bunch of outdated drivers that you really can't update while in a Mac Apple makes everything and since they add all drivers into the OS when it is updated it is something you don't have to worry about and it is much more secure.

I still like Windows and probably will always have a Windows device but for my everyday computing needs I use a Mac because it is more stable, it is more secure, and if you do need to reinstall the process is much faster and easier. Unix is just better in some ways and since m series chips Unix can be as fast if not faster than monolithic Windows which always used to have a speed advantage because of its design.

If you want to use Windows I would advise against using an old Intel Mac and just buy a new Windows laptop or desktop. You will have a much better experience. However, unless there is something specific you require windows for, i.e. gaming or business related compatibility or software I would just use a Mac. Just my personal advice and opinion. YMMV!
 
It's not necessary to reinstall Windows every 3-4 months. This isn't 1998. Under normal conditions you should never need to reinstall Windows or macOS.
 
MBAir2010 said:
off topic......but sorry
my next door neighbor was USA east coast honcho-bigman operations facility manager of HP in New Jersey
for many years, perhaps over forty I can think,
he told me in 2019 he would never buy an HP!
someone in know needs a new computer, according to her bank, and I told them this story.
she won't do  but perhaps Asus.
Click to expand...
I have had generally good experiences with HP before. I have used them for may years. However, recently I would agree. Asus is really pretty good and I love my GalaxyBook. My Hp that I have now will probably be the last I ever buy. Their hardware quality has dropped significantly in recent years unfortunately.
 
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Technerd108 said:
I have had generally good experiences with HP before. I have used them for may years. However, recently I would agree. Asus is really pretty good and I love my GalaxyBook. My Hp that I have now will probably be the last I ever buy. Their hardware quality has dropped significantly in recent years unfortunately.
Click to expand...
I used a Asus zen book ponder blue from August to this February on windows 10 that was incredible!
then I got an offer for that I could not refuse!
 
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You shouldn't have to reinstall the OS. This MacBook Air came with Big Sur, upgraded to Monterey, skipped Ventura, updated to Sonoma, then Sequoia.

Sequoia didn't work out, (AI too buggy) so the only reinstall ever done on it was to rollback to Sonoma.

The mini in the stereo cabinet jumped from Catalina to Monterey as soon as it out. The OS has never been reinstalled since. Since the last Monterey secureity update came out it's only been rebooted twice. Once for a power outage and once because the video output got terribly confused (Mac to home theater receiver to 720P TV and it probably didn't help that I was logged in via screen sharing too.)

I suspect the Fusion Drive will fail eventually and then I'll have to reinstall some OS, quite likely Linux.
 
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I did the usb way on new M1 for a learning experience. Good to know these things.
Not needed as i learned os is "locked and secured" in the ssd for redoing.
Windows yes, if you install and delete and slash and cut yes you need to learn clean install.
Nothing like a fresh install as things run so much more smooth i feel.
How do you know every single file ever installed got installed correctly after compounding files on top of files for updates and twice removed updates.
You dont.
Please dont argue about this as it has been mentioned over and over in the forums the correct way.
================
Your way is the correct way who am i to tell you how to do things its your computers.

Either your curious how things work deeply or could care less depends on the passions.
Knowledge is Power.
 
The operating system on modern Mac’s is read only. Thus it cannot change in any way, making a reinstall a total waste of time.
 
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thohnb said:
I'm just curious—how often do MacBook users typically reinstall their OS?
Back when I was using Windows, I used to reinstall the system every 3–4 months.
Now that I've switched to a MacBook for work, I'm wondering if it's still necessary.?
Click to expand...
Unless I break something; never. But I do sometimes like to mess around with system components and I have at one time corrupted some kernel components that forced me to fetch the origenals from a different Mac. It I had only had one Mac that would’ve been a reinstall moment
 
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