How to Install MacOS on a New SSD | 3 New Ways

Is it possible to install MacOS on a new SSD? Sure! This post introduces installing macOS on a new SSD using Internet Recovery and a bootable MacOS installer.

1. Way 1. Install macOS on a New SSD with Recovery Mode
2. Way 2. Install macOS on a New SSD with a Bootable Installer
3. Way 3. Install macOS on a New SSD by Cloning

Installing an SSD can make your old, slow-running Mac decent again. If you already have an SSD installed, you may also want to upgrade it to a larger, faster SSD. In whatever situation you are in, installing macOS onto this new SSD is critical. Since the SSD alone is of little use, you'll need to install macOS on it to get your Mac up and running again. This post shows you three ways to install macOS to a new SSD. If they are helpful to you, please share them with more people.

How to Install macOS on a New SSD - 3 Ways

Can I install macOS on a new SSD? Sure, you can install macOS on an internal or external SSD via Recovery Mode, bootable installer, or cloning.

🚩Apply to:

• Upgrade to a larger SSD due to slow performance
• Install a new SSD for your Mac
• Install Catalina/Big Sur/Monterey/Ventura/Sonoma/Sequoia on a new SSD
• Install new SSD on MacBook Pro without cloning
• Install macOS from USB

🚩Preparations:

A compatible SSD

Way 1. Install macOS on a New SSD with Recovery Mode

Any Mac manufactured after 2009 has a built-in recovery system feature. This allows you to boot your Mac into the Recovery Mode and reinstall macOS on a new SSD without cloning.

Here's how to install a Mac on a new SSD using Recovery Mode:

Step 1. Install a compatible SSD on your Mac computer, depending on your Mac model, and turn on Recovery Mode:

• For Intel-based Macs, press the Power button to start your computer, then immediately press and hold the Cmd + Option + R keys simultaneously.
• For Macs with M-series chips, press and hold the Power button until you see "Loading boot options. Keep holding until the option appears, then select Options > Recovery.

Step 2. Once you see Recovery Mode starting, release the key you pressed. In Recovery Mode, you will see the macOS Utilities window. Select Disk Utility to erase the new SSD you installed.

Step 3. Select your SSD in the left sidebar of the Disk Utility window and click the Erase button on the top toolbar. Rename the new SSD and select the appropriate format in the Format box. (APFS is recommended, but note that APFS does not work with macOS Sierra and older macOS versions).

Step 4. In the Scheme box, select a GUID partition map for the blank SSD. When formatting is complete, exit the Disk Utility window.

Step 5. Click Reinstall macOS in the main menu. Follow the on-screen wizard through the steps and make sure to select the new target SSD as the macOS installation destination.

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Way 2. Install macOS on a New SSD with a Bootable Installer

A bootable macOS installer is a USB drive or external disk that contains the complete macOS installation files. It allows users to boot their Mac from media and install different macOS versions (including Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina, and more) without having to download the installer each time.

But if you don't already have one, create one and then start the macOS installation process.

Stage 1. Create a Bootable macOS installer

EaseUS Partition Master for Mac is one of the easiest options for users who are not familiar with macOS or the process of creating bootable installers. With a simple interface, this tool helps you create bootable macOS installers with just a few clicks instead of a complicated command line.

Here is how to create a bootable macOS installer:

Preparation:

• Flash drive/external disk drive with at least 16 GB of available space
• Format it as Mac OS Extended

Note: This procedure will automatically erase your USB drive to a compatible format. Due to all data on the USB drive will be erased during the process, create a backup if needed.

Step 1. Connect an external disk like a USB drive to your Mac.

Step 2. Launch EaseUS Partition Master for Mac and navigate to the macOS Installer Creator.

Step 3. Select the macOS you want and the tool will download it from Apple automatically. Also, you can use the local pkg package if you already have one on your device.

Step 4. Then, select the target USB drive to create a bootable media.

Step 5. Finally, perform the operation and wait patiently till the macOS installer is created successfully.

Step 6. Once the bootable installer creation is completed, you can restart your Mac from the USB drive for new macOS installation.

For Apple Silicon Macs:

• Shut down your Mac and press and hold the power button until you see the startup options window.
• Select the bootable installer drive and click "Continue."

For Intel Macs:

• Restart your Mac and immediately hold the "Option (Alt)" key.
• Release the key when the Startup Manager appears.
• Select the bootable installer drive and press "Return."

Then, you need to install macOS on the new SSD using the bootable Mac installer you just created.

Stage 2. Install macOS on the New SSD

Now, it's time to install macOS on a new SSD from the USB macOS installer. The steps for installing macOS on a new SSD on an Interl-based Mac and a Mac with an M-series chip (including the M3 Apple Silicon chip) are very different. Please follow the appropriate steps for your Mac model.

1️⃣Guide 1. Intel-based Macs

For Macs with Intel-based processors, perform the following steps:

1. Install the new SSD into your Mac and insert the bootable installer you created.
2. Power on your Mac and immediately press and hold the Option key. When you see the screen display Bootable Volumes, release the Option key.
3. Select the drive containing the bootable installer and press Enter to begin installing macOS.
4. Select Language and choose Install macOS from the menu.
5. Click Continue. Then, follow the on-screen wizard to complete the installation.

2️⃣Guide 2. M-series Chip Macs

For Macs with an M-series chip soldered on (M3 Apple Silicon Chip Macs), follow the step-by-step guide below:

1. Install the SSD into your Mac and insert the bootable installer you created.
2. Press and hold the power button on your Mac. When you see the boot option, release the power button.
3. Select Bootable Drive from the menu and click Continue.
4. Follow the on-screen wizard to complete the macOS installation.

Way 3. Install macOS on a New SSD by Cloning

Before installing the new SSD, you can transfer the old SSD to it by cloning. This is the most straightforward method to install macOS on the new SSD without losing any data. EaseUS Partition Master for Mac allows you to clone macOS to a new SSD, even if you are a beginner. Without difficult command lines, you can install the macOS on the target SSD and all related data.

Here is how:

Step 1. Install and connect another new disk to Mac computer, run EaseUS Partition Master for Mac, then, click "Clone" under the Abilities section. Click the "+" icon to browse and locate the macOS disk and target new disk.

Step 2. Select the Source and the Destination disk and click "Select" to confirm.

Step 3. Confirm if you've selected the correct macOS OS disk and the new target disk you'd like to clone and upgrade the macOS disk to. Then, click "Start" and click "Yes" to confirm if EaseUS Partition Master for Mac requests you to confirm the operation.

Step 4. Wait patiently and let EaseUS Partition Master for Mac to complete cloning the old macOS disk to the new target disk.  

Conclusion

This page describes three practical ways to help install macOS onto a brand-new SSD. For users who don't want to lose any data but just want to replace their old Mac drive, method 3 is the most straightforward and quickest. If you need to install macOS on different devices frequently, don't hesitate to create a macOS bootable installer.

FAQs About How to Install macOS on a New SSD

Installing macOS on a new SSD can speed up a slow Mac. To get more info about macOS installation, check the following FAQs now.

1. Do I need to format the new SSD before installing macOS?

Yes. Formatting the new SSD before installing macOS is essential to ensure that it is properly set up for use with a Mac. It is recommended you select APFS (Apple File System). Also, Extended (HFS+) is a nice option for older macOS versions.

2. How do I transfer my Mac SSD to a new SSD before installing it?

Here is how to transfer a Mac SSD to a new SSD without losing data:

• Connect the new SSD to the target Mac.
• Format the new SSD in Disk Utility.
• Clone Mac SSD to the new SSD. (You need to download a Mac cloning software in advance.)

3. How do I reinstall Mac on a new SSD?

To reinstall macOS on a new SSD, follow these steps:

Stage 1. Install the new SSD

Physically install the SSD: If you haven't already done so, install the new SSD into your Mac. This may involve removing the back panel and securing the SSD in place, depending on your Mac model.

Stage 2. Launch Recovery Mode

• Restart your Mac.
• Immediately press and hold Command + R until you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe. This will take you to the macOS utility menu.

Stage 3. Format a new SSD

• Open Disk Utility, and from the macOS Utilities menu, select Disk Utility.
• In Disk Utility, find and select the new SSD from the list of drives.
• Click the Erase button.
• Select APFS as the format (recommended for SSDs) and select GUID Partition Map as the scheme.
• Name your drive and click Erase to format it.

Stage 4. Reinstall macOS

• After formatting, close Disk Utility to return to the main Utilities menu.
• Click Reinstall macOS and follow the prompts to continue the installation. When prompted, select the newly formatted SSD as the installation target.