Question about doing a clean install.

[Super Spartan]

Well if I do a clean install then I would just re-download any apps. I wouldn't just bring them from my backup. I would only bring over my files like documents, music or photos.



Some of the reviews on the MAS say that it blocks too many things. Plus it's a paid app with "in app purchases".

Not in my experience, I never had an issue and if you did have an issue with any site you can just disable content blocking for that particular site.

Additionally, it has no in app purchases as you claim. It simply says at the bottom Tip jar so you can donate IF you want. It doesn't pop up anything or nag you to donate.

 

[NewUsername]

When I do a clean install, I use Option-Command-R , reformat my hard drive, and then install the macOS (it automatically downloads the latest macOS compatible with your Mac). After macOS is installed, I redownload all my apps and I let iCloud download all my files (I have everything on iCloud). If you have a good internet connection, this works great, though for iCloud you need some patience (it takes hours before files start showing up).

If you do it like this, be sure not to miss any files in your Downloads folder, Movies folder etc. If you don't use iCloud, you will probably need to copy a lot of files to your external storage, as well as other things like Safari bookmarks, your passwords in Keychan etc. Or ideally, just backup everything, especially if you are not so familiar with this kind of stuff.