Confusion about new installation methods

[Razer(x)]

Hello, recently got a M3 MBA, ever since I was a Mac user I always used an USB drive to clean install, but that does not seem to be the best solution for new macs

I understand that you can just erase everything from settings and have a clean start, but what if you need to upgrade?

Let's say I want to upgrade to Sequoia and wipe everything in the process, how do I do it? am I forced to upgrade first and erase settings later?

 

[MarkC426]

Why not just upgrade the OS……?
No need to wipe your Mac.

But if this is what you really want…

Create a bootable installer for macOS – Apple Support (UK)

You can use a USB flash drive or other secondary volume as a startup disk from which to install the Mac operating system. These steps are primarily for system administrators and other experienced users.

support.apple.com

If this is a previously owned Mac, you can just restart into recovery and re-install MacOS, selecting to erase content.

Erase and reinstall macOS

Erase your Mac, then use macOS Recovery to reinstall macOS.

support.apple.com

 

[Ray2]

I normally do clean installs when I upgrade. This time I simply upgraded the OS, the new method. In the process a camera company app crashed on open and required an update. Wretched process with a stream of security warnings from Apple. App opened fine. Mac was stuttering and laboring with nothing running. Uninstalled using an uninstaller I’ve successfully used for years. Went poking around the ~Library and found some files that didn’t get uninstalled. Trashed them, rebooted, all is well.

That’s why a clean install makes sense. The OS is pretty much sealed. It’s the user Library that has the crud in it.

 

[kitKAC]

You can absolutely wipe and reinstall macOS from a memory stick (if needed) on Apple Silicon Macs.

 

[Mike Boreham]

Let's say I want to upgrade to Sequoia and wipe everything in the process, how do I do it? am I forced to upgrade first and erase settings later?

For upgrading use Software Update, and then Erase All Content and Settings will remove the -Data volume leaving the machine in a factory new state (on Sequoia) to start all over.

You only need a bootable USB installer if you are going to be downgrading to an earlier OS.

 

[kitKAC]

You only need a bootable USB installer if you are going to be downgrading to an earlier OS.

This isn't true, you can do a full macOS upgrade from a memory stick if necessary, it's something I do at work (for various reasons).

 

[Razer(x)]

For upgrading use Software Update, and then Erase All Content and Settings will remove the -Data volume leaving the machine in a factory new state (on Sequoia) to start all over.

You only need a bootable USB installer if you are going to be downgrading to an earlier OS.

Ok and let's say I want to downgrade, do I have to do anything particular? For example I've read that on some MacBooks you need to disable the T2 chip

This isn't true, you can do a full macOS upgrade from a memory stick if necessary, it's something I do at work (for various reasons).

Same question above

 

[Mike Boreham]

This isn't true, you can do a full macOS upgrade from a memory stick if necessary, it's something I do at work (for various reasons).

I didn't mean to imply that you can't upgrade with a bootable installer, only that you don't need to use a bootable USB to Upgrade because Software Update will do it. Yes, workplace situations with many machines may well be better to use a bootable USB. I could have expressed it better.

 

[Mike Boreham]

Ok and let's say I want to downgrade, do I have to do anything particular? For example I've read that on some MacBooks you need to disable the T2 chip

Boot from a bootable USB of the macOS you want to downgrade to, erase the existing bootable volume pair, reinstall macOS.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Ok and let's say I want to downgrade, do I have to do anything particular? For example I've read that on some MacBooks you need to disable the T2 chip

T2 chip is Intel-only, so not a factor on modern Macs.