Will "Option + Cmd + R" install Big Sur on a 2018 MBP or will it install another version?

[Yoms]

Hi,

I already observed unexpected results in the past. I tried to clean install Catalina using Option+Cmd+R and ended up downloading Mojave. So I prefer checking with you before this time.

I have a 2018 MBP and want to clean install Big Sur via Internet. Will Option+Cmd+R install it? Or will it install another version?

Thanks.

 

[SmOgER]

It should install the OS version your Mac originally came with.

 

[VineRider]

Option command R will install Big Sur
shift option command R will install the version that came on your mac

From https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904

On an Intel-based Mac, you can use Option-Command-R at startup to upgrade to the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac


On an Intel-based Mac that previously used macOS Sierra 10.12.4 or later, you can use Shift-Option-Command-R at startup to install the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.

 

[Yoms]

Yeah I had read that support document from Apple website, but as I said earlier that's what I did last year and it didn't work out. Maybe that was a bug at the time on Apple's side. Anyway, didn't want to take the risk and decided to go with create install media instead.
Thanks.

 

[Jack Neill]

I just did a clean 11.0.1 20B50 on a MBA 2020 i5/8/512 using CMD+ R. It was very convenient.

 

[Airsculpture]

Yes. I did it on a 2017 iMac, worked perfectly and very happy with the install.