3 Things to Know About Reinstalling macOS With an External Keyboard

Connect the external keyboard before booting Plug in any USB or Bluetooth keyboard before turning on the Mac. Then hold Command + R on the external keyboard to enter macOS Recovery.

The external keyboard works for the entire process Use Disk Utility to erase the drive, then select “Reinstall macOS.” The installer never requires the built-in keyboard.

A stuck internal keyboard can interfere If the built-in keyboard is sending stuck keys, it may override external inputs. Unplug the internal keyboard’s ribbon cable if possible, or cover the built-in keyboard to prevent accidental key presses.