| Workable Solutions | Step-by-step Troubleshooting |
|---|---|
| 1. Create a Bootable Installer | Go to application > utilities > terminal...Full steps |
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2. Install macOS with Bootable USB |
determine which chip your computer...Full steps |
To update macOS, you can either click on Software Update on your computer, check the system update information, and start the update, or create a bootable USB drive. This bootable macOS USB allows you to perform a clean install or reinstall the operating system even when your Mac won't boot into Recovery Mode.
Before making a bootable USB drive, you need to prepare the necessary tools, which include a USB drive with sufficient storage, a computer, a USB drive formatting tool, and a bootable USB drive creation software.
1. A macOS compatible USB drive with at least 14GB of available storage space, formatted to Mac OS Extended.
2. Click the corresponding link to download the macOS installer, which is available for various versions including Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, High Sierra, and El Capitan.
After downloading the macOS installer, plug in a prepared USB flash drive with at least 14GB of free space into your Mac. Then, use the Terminal command 'createinstallmedia' to create a bootable USB drive. Make sure your Mac is fully charged or connected to the power cord and don't turn it off during this process.
To create a bootable USB drive, go to Application > Utilities > Terminal and paste the command line for the version of macOS you want to install into Terminal.
Monterey:
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Monterey.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
Big Sur:
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/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
El Capitan:
To create a bootable installation media for El Capitan, run the command `sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app` in the Terminal, replacing `/Volumes/MyVolume` with the actual path to the external drive where you want to create the installation media. This command will create a bootable USB drive or DVD with the El Capitan installation files.
To erase a USB flash drive, enter your administrator password and confirm the process using the on-screen wizard. Press Return to enter the command, enter your password, and then press Return again. Follow the wizard to confirm that you want to erase the drive, and type Y to proceed. Click OK to start the creation process.
When the process is finished, the USB's name will be changed to the installer's name, such as Install macOS Monterey. Quit Terminal and eject your USB drive.
To use the created bootable USB on Mac, the steps vary depending on whether your computer has an Apple silicon or Intel processor chip. Determine which type of chip your Mac has, then follow the specific steps to use the bootable installer.
Mac computers with Apple silicon:
| Apple silicon | Intel processor |
|---|---|
| 1. To install macOS on a Mac, plug a bootable USB into the computer, ensuring it's connected to the internet and compatible with the intended macOS version. 2. Turn on your Mac and continue to hold the power button until you see the startup options window, which shows your bootable volumes. 3. To proceed with the installation, select the USB drive that contains the bootable installer and click the "Continue" button. 4. When the macOS installer opens, follow the onscreen instructions. |
1. To initiate the installation process, plug a bootable USB drive into a Mac that has a stable internet connection and is running a compatible version of macOS. 2. To access the Startup Manager on your Mac, press and hold the Option (Alt) key immediately after turning on or restarting your Mac. This will allow you to select which operating system to boot into, if you have multiple versions installed. 3. Release the Option key when you see a dark screen showing your bootable USB drive. Release the Option key when you see a dark screen showing your bootable USB drive. 4. The next step is to select the bootable USB drive, then click the up arrow or press Return. 5. If the bootable installer won't start up, check that the External Boot setting in Startup Security Utility is set to allow booting from external media. 6. Choose your language, if prompted. 7. Select Install macOS (or Install OS X) from the Utilities window, then click Continue and follow the on-screen instructions. |
You can install a specific version of macOS on a bootable USB drive, allowing you to choose which version to install. The process is a bit complex, but following a step-by-step guide can help.