How to create a bootable installer for macOS

You can use an external drive or secondary volume as a startup deejay from which to install the Mac operating arrangement.

These avant-garde steps are primarily for arrangement administrators and others who are familiar with the command line. You don't need a bootable installer to upgrade macOS or reinstall macOS, but it can be useful when you desire to install on multiple computers without downloading the installer each time.

What you need to create a bootable installer

  • A USB flash bulldoze or other secondary volume formatted as Mac OS Extended, with at least 14GB of bachelor storage
  • A downloaded installer for macOS Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, High Sierra, or El Capitan

Download macOS

The installer for macOS Monterey, macOS Big Sur, macOS Catalina, macOS Mojave, or macOS High Sierra downloads to your Applications binder as an app named Install macOS [version name]. If the installer opens afterward downloading, quit it without standing installation. To become the correct installer:

  • Download on a Mac that is compatible with that version of macOS.
  • Download on a Mac that is using macOS Sierra x.12.5 or afterward, or OS X El Capitan x.xi.6.
  • Enterprise administrators: Download from Apple, not a locally hosted software-update server.

The installer for OS X El Capitan downloads to your Downloads folder as a disk paradigm named InstallMacOSX.dmg. To get the installer:

  • Download using Safari, and open the disk image on a Mac that is compatible with Os X El Capitan.
  • Inside the disk image is an installer named InstallMacOSX.pkg. It installs an app named Install Bone Ten El Capitan into your Applications folder. Yous will create the bootable installer from this app, non from the disk prototype or .pkg installer.

Utilise the 'createinstallmedia' command in Terminal

  1. Connect the USB flash drive or other book that you lot're using for the bootable installer.
  2. Open up Terminal, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder.
  3. Type or paste one of the following commands in Terminal. These assume that the installer is in your Applications folder, and MyVolume is the proper name of the USB wink drive or other volume you're using. If information technology has a different name, replace MyVolume  in these commands with the name of your volume.

Monterey:* 

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Monterey.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume

Large Sur:* 

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume

Catalina:* 

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Catalina.app/Contents/Resource/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume

Mojave:* 

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Mojave.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume

High Sierra:* 

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume

El Capitan: 

sudo /Applications/Install\ Bone\ X\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume                --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app

* If your Mac is using macOS Sierra or earlier, include the--applicationpath statement and installer path, similar to the style this is done in the command for El Capitan.


Later typing the command:

  1. Press Return to enter the command.
  2. When prompted, type your ambassador password and printing Return again. Terminal doesn't show whatsoever characters as y'all type your countersign.
  3. When prompted, typeY to confirm that you want to erase the volume, and so press Return. Terminal shows the progress as the book is erased.
  4. After the volume is erased, you lot may see an alarm that Final would similar to admission files on a removable volume. Click OK to permit the copy to proceed.
  5. When Last says that information technology's done, the volume volition have the same name as the installer yous downloaded, such every bit Install macOS Monterey. You can now quit Final and eject the volume.
    Terminal window showing completed process

Use the bootable installer

Apple silicon

  1. Plug the bootable installer into a Mac that is connected to the internet and uniform with the version of macOS you're installing.
    • The macOS version that came with the Mac is the earliest version information technology can use.
    • A bootable installer doesn't download macOS from the net, but it does require an net connection to get firmware and other data specific to the Mac model.
  2. Turn on the Mac and continue to concur the ability button until you see the startup options window, which shows your bootable volumes.
  3. Select the volume containing the bootable installer, and then click Continue.
  4. When the macOS installer opens, follow the onscreen instructions.

Intel processor

  1. Plug the bootable installer into a Mac that is connected to the internet and compatible with the version of macOS you're installing.
    • The macOS version that came with the Mac is the earliest version it can utilise.
    • A bootable installer doesn't download macOS from the cyberspace, but it does crave an cyberspace connection to get firmware and other information specific to the Mac model.
  2. Press and hold the Choice (Alt) ⌥ primal immediately after turning on or restarting the Mac.
  3. Release the Option key when you see a dark screen showing your bootable volumes.
  4. Select the volume containing the bootable installer. And so click the up pointer or printing Return.
    If yous can't first upward from the bootable installer, make sure that Startup Security Utility is fix to allow booting from external or removable media.
  5. Choose your language, if prompted.
  6. Select Install macOS (or Install Os X) from the Utilities window, so click Continue and follow the onscreen instructions.

Acquire more than

For data nigh the createinstallmedia control and the arguments yous can use with it, make sure that the macOS installer is in your Applications folder, so enter the appropriate path in Terminal:

/Applications/Install\ macOS\ Monterey.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia              
/Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia              
/Applications/Install\ macOS\ Catalina.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia              
/Applications/Install\ macOS\ Mojave.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia              
/Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia              
/Applications/Install\ Bone\ X\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resource/createinstallmedia

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