Internet Recovery to wiped SSD

[bill99]

Hello,

played around with Internet Recovery. On my iMac27" (year 2020) only Catalina can be selected to be installed.
Probably because at the moment still Catalina is installed (I am using one single app, no Internet usage)

Soon I have to update macOS.. Some people suggest "updating" others "wiping the SSD and fresh install"

Question:
For the case the SDD is wiped* before, does Internet Recovery offer fifferent version of macOS or only the latest supported
on this type of Mac?

Thank you!

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.
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PS.
For erasing the SSD I am considering the following steps:


1.
-> Power on the Mac -> asap Apple Logo is shown, press -> Command-Taste + R -> macOS-Utilities -> Disk Utilities



or:

2.
# diskutil secureErase freespace 0 "/Volumes/Macintosh HD"

 

[Fishrrman]

What single app do you use?

To which version of the OS do you want to upgrade?

You don't necessarily have to erase the drive to upgrade the OS.

But we need to know the above info before advising you further.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Use Command-Option-R and it'll offer macOS Sequoia.
Use Command-Shift-Option-R and it'll offer whatever the Mac shipped with (Catalina for a 2020 iMac)
Use Command-R and it'll offer whatever it's running now (Catalina)

If you want something other than Sequoia or Catalina, links are in this article for other versions.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

Freakin points the way to getting Sequoia, if that's what you want.

If you want "something in between" Catalina and Sequoia, the best way to install that will be to create a bootable USB flash drive installer and use that.

There is an INCREDIBLY EASY way to obtain the installer AND create the flashdrive now.
It's a free utility called "Mist".
Get it here:

Release 0.20.1 · ninxsoft/Mist

Fixed a bug that resulted in macOS installers being created that were only ~500MB in size Thanks hronro, weegie247, gjoris, EAZYBLACK, tifredfr, clickoncentral, dordal and A00736470!

github.com

(download the ".dmg" file).

Have at-hand a USB flashdrive 32gb or larger (16gb MIGHT work if that's all you have).
You will see a fairly long list of OS installers you can choose from.
Then turn Mist loose, and it will "download and prep" the flashdrive for you.

Then boot the Mac from the flashdrive (hold down the option key continuously after pressing the power on button).

Once booted from the flashdrive you have a choice.
Either erase and start "from scratch" (YOU BETTER HAVE A GOOD BACKUP)
or
Just install "over" the existing OS. This usually works well enough.

 

[Grumpus]

There is an INCREDIBLY EASY way to obtain the installer AND create the flashdrive now.
It's a free utility called "Mist".

Unfortunately for the OP, Mist needs to be run on Monterey or higher.