How to Download Usb on Mac

How to Download Usb on Mac

How to create a bootable USB macOS installer

Brand a macOS installer with createinstallmedia and install Monterey or another macOS on multiple Macs, do a clean install, or admission a faulty Mac.

In this commodity nosotros'll run through the steps necessary to create a bootable installer of the Mac operating system, whether it's then you tin can install the latest version of the macOS on multiple Macs, install the latest macOS beta, perform a clean install of macOS, or merely to be prepared with an emergency disk if your Mac experiences issues and you don't want to connect to the internet or in Recovery mode (or you can't access Recovery way).

If you want to find out how to brand a bootable install of macOS Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, or an older version of Mac Os X or macOS, you've come to the correct place.

Y'all can also use your bootable installer to install macOS on a divide volume of your hard drive (or on a partition if you are running an older version of the Mac OS). It's besides a hassle-free way to go back to an older version of macOS and a great selection if you found downloading the installer took a long time and y'all don't fancy spending the next few days downloading it multiple times on multiple Macs. In one case is quite enough!

Luckily, making a bootable installation of the Mac operating system became a whole lot easier when Apple launched OS Ten Mavericks back in 2013. With that version of Mac OS X, and all versions since, it'due south been possible to utilise the Terminal command createinstallmedia to create a bootable installer of the macOS, in this commodity we'll show you how.

We will run through the post-obit steps to create a bootable USB for Mac:

1. Go the macOS installer files
2. Create a bootable installer for macOS
3. Cull the right createinstallmedia control

If y'all want to run macOS on an external bulldoze, which is slightly different, we take a separate article.

What you demand to brand a bootable USB for Mac

At that place are two primary things you lot'll need to make your bootable install bulldoze: a USB stick (or a Thunderbolt drive) and the installation files. Once yous have those 2 things the process shouldn't take very long.

one. A 15GB Flash Drive (at least!)

We recommend a 15GB (or more) drive - in fact more would be advisable: the installer for Monterey was 12GB while Big Sur's installer was 13GB.

We recommend a Flash retentiveness stick, rather than a standard hard drive, as it will be quicker. You lot'll too do good from USB 3, or USB Type C - this may be your only option if you have a newer Mac (otherwise yous volition need an adapter). If yous have an M1 Mac you might actually be better off with a Thunderbolt bulldoze because there take been some bug with using USB drives with the M1 Mac. Read our circular upwardly of the all-time SSD drives for Mac where we recommend the LaCie Portable SSD.

Note: If you lot accept data on the bulldoze that yous plan to utilise you will demand to transfer it to some other drive, or get a new drive, as information technology will exist completely formatted and erased.

two. The installation files

Depending on which version of macOS you lot are running, and the version you want to to install, you volition either exist able to get the installation files from Software Update in Organization Preferences, the Mac App Store, or yous will have to obtain them from elsewhere.

The Mac App Shop is probably the easier option, simply there tin nevertheless exist difficulties depending on which version of macOS your auto is running, and if you were hoping to grab older installation files that tin be tricky - nosotros have some other article discussing how to become older versions of macOS.

It goes without saying that yous will need an internet connection to download the software and y'all may need it while installing the version of macOS if it needs to check for firmware or confirm your iCloud credentials.

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How to get macOS installer files

Equally we said already, how you get the installation files will depend on the version of macOS you lot are running currently and the version y'all want the installer for. Below nosotros'll wait at how to get Monterey installers besides as how to get older versions of the macOS or fifty-fifty Mac Os X. We do have a dedicated article about How to download old Mac Bone X and macOS versions.

How to get macOS Monterey installer

macOS Monterey, which became available to install on 25 October 2021, is available to download from the Mac App Shop here. You volition also be able to download the installer via Software Update if you haven't withal installed it.

Download the installation files, only make certain you end before the actual installation starts. When the installation starts the files will exist disposed of, so you need to stride in before hand!

Once the installation files for Monterey are downloaded you will be able to discover them in the Applications folder via the Finder. It will wait something similar this:

Y'all demand to use these installation file to brand the bootable installer on your USB stick. Instructions for that beneath.

How to get a macOS beta installer

If you desire to endeavor out the latest beta you'll need to sign up for the beta program, you volition and then be able to download the installer files.

Nosotros explain how to become and install the macOS beta hither. We also accept included the createinstallmedia code y'all'll need for installing the latest beta via a USB below.

How to get Big Sur or older installer

To get the installer for macOS Big Sur follow these steps:

1. If you lot are already running Big Sur on your Mac go to the Mac App Store - click this link to become directly to the relevant folio.
2. Click on Get and the installation files will showtime to download.

If it's Catalina you are later on you lot tin still go the installation files from the Mac App Store:

1. Open the Mac App Store.
2. Get to the Catalina folio, you tin click this link to Catalina on the Mac App Store.
3. Now, if you lot click on Get, your Mac will offer to download the installers.

Just don't click on install as you need the installation file for the adjacent stage of this tutorial...

With macOS Catalina, Mojave or High Sierra installed it'southward a little catchy to become the installation files for older versions of macOS. This is because when High Sierra launched Apple stopped making older versions of the Bone available to download via the Mac App Shop.

Luckily it tin notwithstanding exist done, and nosotros explicate how to become former versions of macOS here. If information technology is already open up make certain that yous close the Mac App Store earlier clicking on whatsoever of these links or they won't work.

• Y'all can get macOS Mojave via this link.
• Download Loftier Sierra hither.

Apple provides dmg files of these older macOS versions - you need to download them in Safari. A disk image named InstallOS.dmg will download and one time it does you demand to locate the pkg installer inside the disk image.

• Sierra is here.
• El Capitan can exist downloaded from this link.
• Yosemite is available here.

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How to create a bootable installer for macOS

Now you have the installation files, we tin move onto the process of making the bootable installer.

Note, the createinstallmedia method described here doesn't work under Os X 10.6 Snow Leopard or earlier - it requires OS X 10.7 Lion or later. Likewise, the processes have changed slightly since Mavericks so if your looking to create an installation of one of the 'Cat' versions of Mac Bone X y'all should read this older article instead.

Since Mavericks, creating a bootable installation of macOS requires a unmarried command in Terminal. The createinstallmedia command makes it possible to create a bootable copy of an installer on whatsoever drive that'southward connected to your Mac. You lot'll discover all the createinstallmedia commands below, including the Monterey createinstallmedia command.

Note that the createinstallmedia control erases anything on your external deejay though, so brand certain at that place's nothing on information technology that you need.

These are the instructions to follow to create your bootable USB - note in that location will be tiny adjustments depending on the installer you crave:

1. Plug in an external bulldoze with at least 15GB space as that'due south how much the installer will crave.
2. Launch Disk Utility (press Command + spacebar and offset to blazon Disk Utility).
3. Before this next step, note: if yous are running High Sierra or later you will need to click on the View drop down below the close minimise buttons. Choose Prove All Devices from the options. Now you will see the external root bulldoze in addition to the book below it.
4. Select the root drive in the sidebar (the next footstep won't piece of work if y'all only select the volume).
5. Click on Erase.
6. Cull Mac Os Extended (Journaled) as the Format.
7. Cull GUID Partition Map as the Scheme.
8. Your bulldoze will probably exist called 'Untitled' past default, you could give your drive a name such equally 'macOS' or 'USB'. (Note you will need to supervene upon the term 'MyVolume' in the createinstallmedia command below with whatever name you give your drive).
9. Click on Erase.
10. Wait while Deejay Utility creates the partition and sets upwards the bulldoze (this can have a few minutes).
11. Then click Washed.
12. At present open up Terminal (the easiest way is to press Control + spacebar and so start typing Terminal. Otherwise yous'll find it in the Utilities folder).
13. Copy the text that corresponds to the version of macOS you are installing into Terminal - you lot'll notice the text in the section beneath. Brand sure that yous use the proper noun yous have given your bulldoze - e.g. change Untitled to MyVolume.
14. Click Enter/Render.
15. Terminal will ask for a password. This is your user countersign. Note you lot won't see characters appear as you blazon it in, that'southward fine. After typing in your countersign, press Enter.
16. Concluding volition warn that it is nigh to erase the bulldoze (then make sure at that place wasn't annihilation important on it - there shouldn't exist if you already formatted it as per the instructions above). If you want to proceed printing Y and so Return. The process tin can take a while, y'all'll run into "Erasing Disk: 0%… ten%… 20%… 30%…100%…

    

17. Now Terminal volition spend a few minutes copying the installer file to your drive. "Copying installer files to disk… Copy complete" then on volition appear in the Terminal window.
18. When Last has finished copying the installer y'all will see the words Copy consummate and Done appear.

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How to use an USB installer to update your Mac

Now y'all have the installer on the external drive you tin can use that to install copies of macOS on multiple Macs (as long as they are supported by that version).

1. Plug the external drive into the Mac that you want to install the macOS on.
2. Start upward the Mac. If y'all have an Intel-powered Mac hold downward the Choice/Alt fundamental while it is booting up. If it's an M1 Mac then you lot just press and hold the on switch until you see various options.
3. Your Mac will eventually display the Startup Manager, click on your external drive to select that equally the startup disk. Your Mac volition now kickoff up in Recovery Mode.
4. Click on Install macOS and then click on Continue. The version of macOS on the bootable bulldoze should start to install on your Mac now. (If you want to do a make clean install, wiping your Mac first, follow the instructions here: How to do a clean install on a Mac.
5. Eventually the Mac should restart. Wait while the update takes place and then enjoy your newly updated operating system.

You lot tin as well run the Mac operating system directly from an external bulldoze rather than your congenital-in startup disk, this is handy if yous are testing new versions of the Mac Os. The process is different to the one described above though, and we cover it here: Read about How to run macOS on an external hard drive here.

Note that older versions of macOS used "applicationpath" while newer ones don't - if you lot use the command you will become an mistake (nosotros have the code for the all versions of macOS and Mac OS X beneath).

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createinstallmedia commands

The createinstallmedia command will be slightly unlike depending on which version of macOS you are wanting to use.

Note MyVolume may have a different name for you, for example it might exist USB or Untitled. Cheque in Disk Utilities, it'due south the name of the external disk you lot are using.

Monterey

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

Monterey beta

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

Big Sur

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

Catalina

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Catalina.app/Contents/Resources/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

Sierra

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ Os\ 10\ Sierra.app

El Capitan

sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ Ten\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --book /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ 10\ El\ Capitan.app

Yosemite

sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ 10\ Yosemite.app

Beware that we have heard of people copying and pasting in the -- only for them to change to a – in Final, and so exist conscientious of that.

Author: Karen Haslam, Editor

An ex-Apple PR, Karen'south career highlights include interviewing Apple's Steve Wozniak and discussing Steve Jobs' legacy on the BBC. Her focus is Mac, only she lives and breathes Apple.

How to Download Usb on Mac