How to Clean Install macOS Golden Gate: 4 Steps

The official version of macOS 27 Golden Gate has been released. It always makes us excited to install and try the new features & enhanced performances of an updated macOS. Instead of upgrading, you may have decided to clean install macOS, for the reason that you want to erase your Mac for a new start, or for the reason that you are going to transfer the Mac’s ownership.

In this post, we will show you how to clean install macOS Golden Gate from a bootable USB drive, also give the solution if files lost after macOS install. And these methods also apply to clean installing macOS Tahoe, Sequoia, Sonoma and earlier versions.

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Requirements to Clean Install macOS Golden Gate

Not all Apple laptop and desktop can have a clean install of macOS 27.

macOS 27 Golden Gate can run on following models:

• MacBook New --- 2026
• MacBook Air with Apple Silicon ---2020 and later
• MacBook Pro with Apple Silicon --- 2020 and later
• iMac with Apple Silicon --- 2021 and later
• Mac Mini with Apple Silicon --- 2020 and later
• Mac Studio --- 2022 and later
• Mac Pro with Apple Silicon --- 2023

The installer of macOS Golden Gate is about 18GB, but you still need extra space to get it work properly and leave enough space to install some important apps on your Mac to check if your workflow can be elevated efficiently. So, make sure at least 30 GB available on your hard drive to clean install this new version.

Also, prepare 2 external drives, one to back up files, the other one to create a bootable installer (at least 32GB). When cleaning install macOS, we are often recommended to install from a bootable USB, which is able to install the OS from scratch, especially in the case that our current OS runs slowly/improperly, or you want to install macOS on different devices. 

How to Clean Install macOS Golden Gate on Mac from Bootable USB?

There are 4 steps to clean install macOS, the first, also the most important step is always to back up your files to external hard drive or cloud-based accounts. Now, let’s check out the steps.

Step 1. Back Up File to External Drive or iCloud

Option 1. Back up all files to external drive via TimeMachine

1. Connect the external drive to your Mac.
2. Click on Apple menu > System Preferences > Time Machine.
3. Click on Backup Disk.

Option 2. Backup important files online

1. Click on Apple menu > System Preferences > iCloud.
2. Login in with Apple ID.
3. Tweak the settings.

Step 2. Create A Bootable Installer for macOS Golden Gate on USB

1. First, download macOS Golden Gate to your Mac on Apple's official website or from AppStore.
2. Run Terminal app in Finder > Application.
3. Copy and paste the command line as following.
   For Golden Gate: sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ 27\ Golden\ Gate.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
   For Tahoe: sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Tahoe.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
   For Sequoia: sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\Sequoia.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
   You need to replace MyVolume with the name of your USB drive, check the next step.
4. Enter password and type Y to copy the macOS to your USB.

Step 3. Erase Startup Drive

1.  Turn off your Mac, then boot it into Recovery mode. Immediately hold the Power button until you see the installer drive on screen with volumes.
2. Click Install macOS Golden Gate > Continue.
3. Then Quit Install macOS.
4. Go to Disk Utility, and select internal Macintosh HD to erase first.

Step 4. Clean Install macOS Golden Gate

1. Then click on Install macOS Golden Gate and click Continue.
2. Then click Continue.
3. Select the disk where you want to install macOS Golden Gate.
4. Follow the instructions to finish the clean installation of macOS Golden Gate.

What If Files Lost After Clean Installing macOS?

Generally speaking, if you have backed up your files and do the installation properly, it is not likely to lose files. But if you get the bad luck and lost files ater macOS update, try Cisdem Data Recovery, the best mac recovery tool to get your files back.

Cisdem Data Recovery for Mac is designed to recover lost, deleted and formatted files on mac, under different situations like macOS update, downgrade, hard drive formatting, accidental file deletion, etc. It not only supports recovering files from Mac internal hard drive, but recovers files from Mac external storage devices (SD Card, USB, removable device, etc.)

Main Features of Cisdem Data Recovery

• Recover lost, deleted, formatted files
• Restore files from Mac internal and external drive
• Support recovery on 200+ files: documents, videos, audios, photos, archives, etc.
• Repair corrupted videos: mp4, mov, avi, mkv, m4v...
• Preview recoverable files (video, photo, document, audio, etc.)
• Quickly search files with filter tool
• Recover files to local drive or cloud platforms
• Fast and easy to use

How to Recover Lost File After Clean Installing macOS?

1. Download and install Cisdem Data Recovery on your Mac.
   Free Download macOS 10.15 or later
2. Choose the hard drive and click Search for lost files to start scanning the disk. 
3. Go to Type or Path to check the found files, or you can use the filter tool to quickly search specific files. Preview the recoverable files and select them.
4. Click Recover to get them all back to your Mac. 

Conclusion

If you have decided to clean install macOS Golden Gate, Sequoia or earlier versions on your device, keep in mind to back up your files before any action. A clean install macOS make your Mac brand new and run faster, but any data loss would be a tragic, so, never overlook the backup step.