The Version of macOS Needs to Be Reinstalled: What Is It & How to Fix It?

Have you seen a message saying, “The version of macOS needs to be reinstalled” or “The version of macOS on the selected disk needs to be reinstalled”?

Maybe you’ve recently installed a new macOS, just bought a used Mac, or the message has appeared unexpectedly. Whatever the reason, it sounds like a serious issue, and you’re worried about what’s gone wrong—and what to do.

In this article, I’ll explain what the message means, reasons why you might see “The version of macOS needs to be reinstalled,” and how to fix the issue.

What is “the version of macOS needs to be reinstalled” message

If you see “The version of macOS needs to be reinstalled” or “The version of macOS on the selected disk needs to be reinstalled,” it’s a sign of a pretty serious problem. And, as the message says, you’ll probably need to reinstall macOS or, at the very least, repair your disk.

It might mean that there’s a problem with macOS or your startup disk. If you see the message when you try to boot from an external drive, it might mean that there’s a problem with that disk.

Common causes for macOS reinstallation requirement

There are a few reasons why you might see this message and need to reinstall macOS. I’ll explain them all here.

1. Corrupted macOS installation

When you installed (or updated) macOS, the installation might have been corrupted somehow. Most updates to macOS install and run smoothly, but every so often, there are issues.

Sometimes, issues with macOS installation happen when:

• You don’t have enough disk space for the installer to work properly.
• Your internet connection was interrupted during the installation.
• The installer didn’t download properly.

If you’ve just installed a macOS update, this is the most likely reason you’re seeing “the version of macOS needs to be reinstalled.”

2. System file or disk problems

There may be a problem with your hard disk or a corrupted system file on your Mac. Sometimes, a disk can develop problems. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including:

• Physical damage to your disk
• Application conflicts
• Lack of storage space
• Corrupted system files

System files can get corrupted when your MacBook isn’t turned off properly. If you need to shut down your Mac, make sure that you always do it by going to Apple menu > Shut Down.

3. Incompatible macOS version

Did you know that not all Apple computers are compatible with all versions of macOS? In general, a Mac can’t run an older operating system than the one it shipped with. And some older Macs may not be able to handle the newest versions of macOS.

If you’ve tried to update a very old Mac to the latest macOS or tried to roll back to an older macOS on a newer Mac, this might be the reason you’ve seen “the version of macOS needs to be reinstalled”.

If you want to use an older operating system, follow our guide on how to safely install an older version of macOS.

How to fix “the version of macOS needs to be reinstalled” error

Now you know what might have caused the issue, you need to fix it. You’ll probably only see two options in the error message box: Startup Disk and Recovery (or, on older versions of macOS, macOS Utilities). Maybe you’ve already tried them both and not been able to fix the issue.

So what should you do now? There are a few solutions you can try.

Alternatively, you might feel able to fix the error yourself. But before you start trying to fix “the version of macOS needs to be reinstalled” errors, check whether your Mac is running an Intel Processor (including the T2 Security Chip) or an Apple silicon chip (such as M1, M2, or M3). Some of these instructions might be slightly different depending on whether your computer has an Intel Processor or Apple Silicon.

To check whether your Mac has an Intel Processor or an Apple Silicon chip:

1. Go to Apple menu > About This Mac.
2. Check if it says Chip or Processor.

However, if you can’t access menus on your MacBook currently, you can also check on Apple’s website—they have a list of Mac computers with Apple Silicon. If your Mac isn’t listed there, it’s an Intel-based Mac.

1. Running Disk First Aid

Let’s try running Disk First Aid to fix the disk before we do anything else. You’ll need to use Recovery Mode on your Mac to run Disk First Aid if your Mac is showing “the version of macOS needs to be reinstalled”.

When you’re in Recovery Mode, you can access Disk Utility to run Mac First Aid and fix your disk. To run Disk First Aid:

1. Select Disk Utility from the Recovery app, and click Continue.
2. Choose your disk, and click the First Aid button.
3. Click Run and follow the on-screen instructions.
4. If you need to use Disk First Aid on more than one disk, repeat these instructions for each disk.
5. When you’re finished, go to Disk Utility > Quit Disk Utility.
6. Restart your Mac.

If Disk Utility can’t repair your disk, this could be a sign of a hardware problem—and your Mac may need physical repairs.

2. Use macOS Recovery mode

You may be able to access Recovery Mode by clicking the Recovery button in the error message, but if you can’t, here’s how you should do it.

To access Recovery Mode on an Intel-based Mac:

1. Turn off your Mac.
2. Turn your Mac back on, and immediately press and hold Command R. (Alternatively, press and hold Command Option R to enter Internet Recovery on Mac—this will be useful if you want to download and install a new version of macOS.)
3. Enter your password if requested.
4. Select your disk and click Next.
5. Choose your administrator account, enter your password, and click Continue.

To access Recovery Mode on a Mac with Apple Silicon:

1. Turn off your Mac.
2. Hold down the Power button until you see your disk and Options.
3. Click Options and then choose Continue.
4. Select your disk and click Next.
5. Choose your administrator account, enter your password, and click Continue.

Once you’re in Recovery Mode, you can choose whether to try and repair your disk, as I mentioned above, or reinstall macOS.

3. Reinstalling macOS

You can reinstall macOS from Recovery Mode. To reinstall macOS:

1. Start up in Recovery Mode.
2. Click Reinstall macOS and then choose Continue.
3. If you’re asked to select a disk, choose your current macOS disk.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall macOS.

4. Perform clean macOS installation

A clean macOS installation means erasing everything on your Mac, and then reinstalling macOS. This ensures any corrupted files are removed. Unfortunately, this does mean that you’ll lose the files stored on your Mac.

To perform a clean macOS installation:

1. Start up in Recovery Mode.
2. Choose Disk Utility and click Continue.
3. Select the disk you want to wipe, and click Erase.
4. Type a name for the disk in the name field, and choose APFS from the Format menu. Click Erase Volume Group.
5. When the disk is formatted, go to Disk Utility > Quit Disk Utility.
6. In the Recovery app, choose Reinstall macOS and click Continue. Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall macOS.

5. Contact reliable Apple support

Sometimes, though, you might try all of the methods I’ve explained, and you’re still struggling. Or you might not feel comfortable trying these instructions. That’s why there are Apple experts there to support you.

Depending on where you live, you could contact Apple Support. You might be able to ask for advice on their online forums or contact them for phone, email, or in-person support. If you suspect that there’s physical damage to your disk, you may need to take it in for repair.

And, of course, you can always contact the team at MacKeeper’s Premium Services. All it takes is a few clicks, and you can chat directly with Mac experts, who can talk you through solutions to your issue.

Conclusion

When you see the message “The version of macOS needs to be reinstalled,” it can be worrying. It’s often a sign that there’s something wrong with your macOS installation, or your disk. To fix it, you may need to run Disk First Aid, or even wipe your computer and reinstall macOS.

But if you’re worried about how to fix issues with your Mac, you aren’t alone. The team at MacKeeper’s Premium Services can support you, offering personalized assistance and advice for your situation, whether it’s unexpected error messages, software glitches, or even hardware problems.

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