In this article we'll run through the steps necessary to create a bootable installer of the Mac operating organization, whether it's so yous can install the latest version of the macOS on multiple Macs, install the latest macOS beta, perform a clean install of macOS, or just to be prepared with an emergency deejay if your Mac experiences problems and yous don't desire to connect to the internet or in Recovery manner (or you tin can't access Recovery mode).

If you lot want to find out how to brand a bootable install of macOS Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, or an older version of Mac Bone 10 or macOS, you've come up to the right place.

You can likewise use your bootable installer to install macOS on a carve up volume of your difficult drive (or on a partition if y'all are running an older version of the Mac Bone). It's also a hassle-costless way to become dorsum to an older version of macOS and a neat pick if you constitute downloading the installer took a long time and you don't fancy spending the adjacent few days downloading information technology multiple times on multiple Macs. Once is quite enough!

Luckily, making a bootable installation of the Mac operating system became a whole lot easier when Apple launched Os 10 Mavericks back in 2013. With that version of Mac Os X, and all versions since, it's been possible to use the Concluding command createinstallmedia to create a bootable installer of the macOS, in this commodity nosotros'll prove you how.

We will run through the following steps to create a bootable USB for Mac:

  1. Get the macOS installer files
  2. Create a bootable installer for macOS
  3. Choose the right createinstallmedia command

If you desire to run macOS on an external bulldoze, which is slightly different, nosotros have a divide article.

Install macOS bootable

What you need to brand a bootable USB for Mac

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

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

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

Nosotros recommend a Wink retention stick, rather than a standard hard drive, as information technology will be quicker. You'll likewise benefit from USB iii, or USB Blazon C - this may be your merely option if you have a newer Mac (otherwise you volition demand an adapter). If you accept an M1 Mac you lot might actually exist better off with a Thunderbolt drive considering at that place accept been some issues with using USB drives with the M1 Mac. Read our round up of the best SSD drives for Mac where we recommend the LaCie Portable SSD.

Note: If you have data on the drive that yous programme to employ you volition need to transfer it to some other drive, or get a new bulldoze, every bit it will be completely formatted and erased.

2. The installation files

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

The Mac App Store is probably the easier pick, but in that location can still be difficulties depending on which version of macOS your machine is running, and if you were hoping to grab older installation files that tin be tricky - we have another article discussing how to become older versions of macOS.

Information technology goes without saying that you volition need an cyberspace connection to download the software and yous may need it while installing the version of macOS if it needs to bank check for firmware or ostend your iCloud credentials.

How to get macOS installer files

As nosotros said already, how you get the installation files will depend on the version of macOS you are running currently and the version you want the installer for. Below we'll await at how to get Monterey installers equally well as how to get older versions of the macOS or even Mac Os Ten. We practice have a dedicated article about How to download old Mac Os X and macOS versions.

How to become macOS Monterey installer

macOS Monterey, which became bachelor to install on 25 October 2021, is available to download from the Mac App Store hither. You will also be able to download the installer via Software Update if y'all haven't nonetheless installed it.

Download the installation files, but brand sure you stop before the bodily installation starts. When the installation starts the files will be disposed of, so you need to pace in before manus!

Once the installation files for Monterey are downloaded y'all volition be able to find them in the Applications folder via the Finder. Information technology will look something like this:

Find install files

You need to use these installation file to make the bootable installer on your USB stick. Instructions for that below.

How to go a macOS beta installer

If you desire to try out the latest beta you'll need to sign up for the beta programme, you lot will then exist able to download the installer files.

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

How to get Large Sur or older installer

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

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

If it'due south Catalina you are after y'all tin can yet become the installation files from the Mac App Shop:

  1. Open the Mac App Store.
  2. Go to the Catalina page, yous can click this link to Catalina on the Mac App Store.
  3. Now, if you click on Get, your Mac volition offer to download the installers.

Only don't click on install every bit you need the installation file for the next stage of this tutorial...

With macOS Catalina, Mojave or High Sierra installed information technology's a little tricky to get the installation files for older versions of macOS. This is considering when High Sierra launched Apple stopped making older versions of the OS bachelor to download via the Mac App Shop.

Luckily information technology tin yet exist washed, and we explain how to get old versions of macOS here. If it is already open up make sure that you lot shut the Mac App Store before clicking on whatever of these links or they won't work.

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

How to create a bootable installer for macOS

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

Note, the createinstallmedia method described here doesn't work under Bone X 10.half-dozen Snow Leopard or earlier - it requires Bone 10 x.7 Lion or later. As well, the processes have changed slightly since Mavericks so if your looking to create an installation of one of the 'Cat' versions of Mac OS X you should read this older article instead.

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

Note that the createinstallmedia command erases anything on your external deejay though, so brand certain in that location's null on it that y'all need.

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

  1. Plug in an external drive with at least 15GB infinite as that'south how much the installer will require.
  2. Launch Disk Utility (press Command + spacebar and start to type Disk Utility).
  3. Before this next footstep, note: if yous are running High Sierra or after you volition need to click on the View driblet down below the close minimise buttons. Cull Show All Devices from the options. Now you will run into the external root bulldoze in improver to the volume below it.
  4. Select the root drive in the sidebar (the next step won't piece of work if yous only select the volume).
  5. Click on Erase.
  6. Cull Mac Os Extended (Journaled) as the Format.
  7. Choose GUID Sectionalisation Map as the Scheme.
  8. Your drive will probably exist called 'Untitled' past default, you lot could give your bulldoze a name such equally 'macOS' or 'USB'. (Note you will need to supersede the term 'MyVolume' in the createinstallmedia command below with whatever proper name you give your bulldoze).
  9. Click on Erase.
  10. Wait while Deejay Utility creates the partitioning and sets upward the bulldoze (this can take a few minutes).
  11. Then click Done.
  12. At present open up Final (the easiest mode is to press Command + spacebar so start typing Terminal. Otherwise you'll detect information technology in the Utilities binder).
  13. Re-create the text that corresponds to the version of macOS you lot are installing into Last - you'll find the text in the department below. Make sure that you use the name you have given your bulldoze - e.g. change Untitled to MyVolume.
  14. Click Enter/Return.
  15. Terminal will inquire for a password. This is your user countersign. Note you won't see characters appear equally you type it in, that'south fine. After typing in your password, printing Enter.
  16. Terminal volition warn that information technology is nigh to erase the drive (so make sure there wasn't anything important on information technology - there shouldn't exist if y'all already formatted it as per the instructions above). If you desire to continue printing Y and so Return. The process tin take a while, you'll see "Erasing Disk: 0%… 10%… xx%… xxx%…100%…

    Createinstallmedia

  17. Now Terminal will spend a few minutes copying the installer file to your bulldoze. "Copying installer files to disk… Re-create complete" so on will appear in the Terminal window.
  18. When Final has finished copying the installer you volition see the words Re-create complete and Done announced.

How to employ an USB installer to update your Mac

Now you lot accept the installer on the external drive you lot can apply that to install copies of macOS on multiple Macs (as long equally they are supported by that version).

  1. Plug the external drive into the Mac that you lot want to install the macOS on.
  2. Kickoff up the Mac. If you have an Intel-powered Mac concur down the Option/Alt cardinal while information technology is booting up. If it'due south an M1 Mac then you lot simply press and agree the on switch until you come across various options.
  3. Your Mac will eventually display the Startup Manager, click on your external drive to select that every bit the startup disk. Your Mac will at present kickoff up in Recovery Mode.
  4. Click on Install macOS so click on Continue. The version of macOS on the bootable drive should kickoff to install on your Mac now. (If you want to do a clean install, wiping your Mac beginning, follow the instructions here: How to exercise a make clean install on a Mac.
  5. Eventually the Mac should restart. Expect while the update takes place and so enjoy your newly updated operating arrangement.

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

Note that older versions of macOS used "applicationpath" while newer ones don't - if you employ the control yous will get an error (nosotros take the code for the all versions of macOS and Mac Os X below).

createinstallmedia commands

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

Notation MyVolume may accept a dissimilar proper noun for you lot, for example information technology might be USB or Untitled. Cheque in Disk Utilities, it's the name of the external disk you 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 --book /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/Resource/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume

Mojave

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Mojave.app/Contents/Resource/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\ Bone\ X\ Sierra.app

El Capitan

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

Yosemite

sudo /Applications/Install\ Bone\ Ten\ Yosemite.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --book /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ Bone\ X\ Yosemite.app

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