Clean install your Mac without hesitation

November 19, 2023 · View on GitHub

Checklist for clean install your Mac. For full article see: Medium

0. Requirement

  • An external drive with available space larger than your Mac for Time Machine and backup data
  • An USB larger than 16GB for bootable disk

1. Backup Data

  • Backup your Mac with Time Machine, just in case anything go wrong
    • Connect to your Time Machine drive and run a full backup for your Mac
  • Backup Software Data and Configuration
    • Check installed Software
      • Dump a list installed via homebrew to Brewfile file with brew bundle dump
      • Check apps in Application folder and compare with Brewfile
      • For apps found only in Application folder, brew cask search {app_name}
      • For apps found only in Brewfile, google and find if you need it anymore
    • Keychain Access
      • Turn on iCloud Keychain sync
    • Safari
      • Turn on iCloud Safari sync
      • Backup Browse History from ~/Library/Safari/History*
    • iTunes
    • Photos
      • Turn on iCloud Photo Library
      • Backup Photos Library file Photos Library.photoslibrary from ~/Pictures
    • Messages
    • Voice Memos
      • Turn on iCloud sync
    • Notes
      • Turn on iCloud Notes sync
    • Fonts
    • 1Password
      • Enable Sync
      • Backup backup files from ~/Library/Group\ Containers/2BUA8C4S2C.com.agilebits/Library/Application\ Support/1Password/Backups
    • Day One
      • Enable Sync
    • Money Pro
      • Enable Sync
      • Manually backup from iOS app
    • dotfiles
      • ~/.ssh
  • Backup Personal Data
    • ~/Desktop
    • ~/Documents
    • ~/Downloads
    • ~/Movies
    • ~/Music
    • ~/Pictures

2. Create macOS Bootable USB and Clean install macOS

  • Bootable USB
    • Download macOS Mojave
    • Format USB drive with Mac OS Extented (Journaled) format and Untitled name
    • Create bootable macOS USB with sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Ventura.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Untitled --nointeraction
  • Backup everything again
    • Connect your Time Machine drive and run a full backup of your Mac
  • Make sure you have these ready
    • Your Mac was properly backed up
    • Your dotfiles was ready
    • Your personal data was ready
  • WARNING: YOU ARE GOING TO DELETE EVERYTHING ON YOUR MAC IN THE NEXT STEP!!! You won’t be able to to open your Mac until macOS is installed.
  • Format and Install your Mac
    • Plug in the bootable USB
    • Restart & hold down the Option(⌥) key
    • Choose Install macOS Mojave(the bootable USB)
    • Select Disk Utility from the menu and erase you Startup Disk(usually named Macintosh HD) with APFS
    • Go back to the main menu; select Install macOS and choose your HDD when prompted

3. Migrate Backup Data

  • dotfiles
    • git clone dotfiles repository, run ./install via dotbot
  • Migrate Software data
    • Safari
      • Migrate history
    • iTunes
    • Photos
      • Migrate Photos Library
    • Messages
      • Migrate Message folder
    • Voice Memes
      • Enable Sync
    • Notes
      • Turn on iCloud sync
    • Fonts
      • Migrate Fonts
    • 1Password
      • Enable Sync
      • Migrate backup files
    • Day One
      • Enable Sync
      • Migrate backup files
    • Money Pro
      • Enable Sync
    • dotfiles
      • ~/.ssh
  • Migrate static files
    • ~/Desktop
    • ~/Documents
    • ~/Downloads
    • ~/Movies
    • ~/Music
    • ~/Pictures
  • Restore Settings
    • System Preferences
      • General
        • Recent items: None Documents, Apps, and Servers
      • Desktop & Screen Saver
        • Start after 2 Minutes
      • Dock
        • Minimize windows into application icon: on
        • Automatically hide and show the Dock: on
      • Mission Control
        • Group windows by application: on
        • Hot Corners
          • Top Right: Desktop
          • Bottom Left: Start Screen Sleep
      • Security & Privacy
        • Require password immediately
        • Turn on FileVault
        • Turn on Firewall
        • Enable location for Weather, Siri
        • System Service: Show location icon in menu bar
      • Keyboard
        • Specify shortcuts for Spotlight, Input Method, Show Notification
        • Add Zhuyin to input sources
        • Dictation: add English, Chinese
      • Trackpad
        • Turn on Look up & data detectors, Tap to click, App expose
        • Tracking speed: 3/4
      • Time Machine
        • Select backup drive
        • Show icon in menu bar
    • Finder
      • New finder window show Home folder
      • Sidebar: Movies, Music, Pictures, Home folder
    • Safari
      • Search engine: DuckDuckGo
      • Show full website address, Status Bar
      • Show Develop menu in menu bar
    • iTunes
      • iCloud Music Library: on
    • Photos
      • iCloud Photo Library: on
    • Sublime Text 3