How to create a bootable USB installer for macOS?
Being able to create a bootable USB installer for macOS is a useful skill for any Mac user. Whether you’re performing a clean install, setting up multiple Macs, recovering a system that won’t boot, or simply want a reliable offline installer, a bootable USB drive gives you far more control than relying on macOS Recovery alone.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through creating a bootable macOS USB installer, covering the latest versions of macOS as well as older ones. We’ll explain what you need before you begin, how the process is different for Intel and Apple silicon Macs and how to use your installer once it’s ready. By the end, you’ll have a reusable macOS installer that can save your time, bandwidth and frustration.
Why do you need a bootable installer?
You don’t need a bootable installer to upgrade macOS or reinstall macOS. However, a bootable installer can be useful:-
- When other macOS installation methods are unsuccessful
- When you want to install macOS on multiple computers without downloading the installer each time
Requirements to make a bootable USB
You need to have the following things in order to make a bootable USB:-
- Flash Drive (Minimum 32 GB)
- Compatible Mac
- Internet Access
- macOS Installation Files
Download the full macOS installer
Note:- If you installed macOS from the AppStore then you only need to download it, not install it. If the installer opens automatically after downloading, simply quit the installer.
⭕️ Get the full installer by downloading it through the App Store:-
⭕️ Get the macOS full installer database by downloading it through the below link (you can also download from Mr. Macintosh website) :
macOS Tahoe PUBLIC Full Installer
| macOS Tahoe | Version | Build | Signed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
26.4 |
25E246 |
YES |
|
|
26.3.1 |
25D2128 |
YES |
|
|
26.3.2 |
25D2140 |
YES |
|
|
26.3 |
25D125 |
YES |
macOS Sequoia PUBLIC Full Installer
| macOS Sequoia | Version | Build | Signed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
15.7.5 |
24G624 |
YES |
|
|
15.7.4 |
24G517 |
YES |
|
|
15.7.3 |
24G419 |
YES |
|
|
15.7.2 |
24G325 |
YES |
macOS Sonoma PUBLIC Full Installer
| macOS Sonoma | Version | Build | Signed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
14.8.5 |
23J423 |
YES |
|
|
14.8.4 |
23J319 |
YES |
|
|
14.8.3 |
23J220 |
YES |
|
|
14.8.2 |
23J126 |
YES |
macOS Ventura PUBLIC Full Installer
| macOS Ventura | Version | Build | Signed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
13.7.8 |
22H730 |
YES |
|
|
13.7.7 |
22H722 |
YES |
|
|
13.7.6 |
22H625 |
YES |
|
|
13.7.5 |
22H527 |
YES |
macOS Monterey PUBLIC Full Installer
| macOS Monterey | Version | Build | Signed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
12.7.6 |
21H1320 |
YES |
|
|
12.7.6 |
21H1317 |
YES |
|
|
12.7.4 |
21H1123 |
YES |
macOS Big Sur PUBLIC Full Installer
| macOS Big Sur | Version | Build | Signed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
11.7.11 |
20G1443 |
YES |
|
|
11.7.10 |
20G1427 |
YES |
⭕️ Get the full installer by Terminal using the following instructions:-
You can use Terminal to download the installer for compatible macOS versions no earlier than the version that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.
- Make sure that your Mac is using macOS Catalina 10.15 or later.
- Open Terminal, which is in the Utilities folder of the Applications folder. Or use Spotlight in the menu bar to find and open Terminal.
- Type the following command in Terminal, replacing “[number]” with the latest macOS version number for the compatible macOS that you want to download:
softwareupdate –fetch-full-installer –full-installer-version [number]
⇒ Example: softwareupdate –fetch-full-installer –full-installer-version 26.3
⇒ Example: softwareupdate –fetch-full-installer –full-installer-version 15.7.4 - Press Return to enter the command. As macOS downloads to the Applications folder, Terminal shows the percentage it’s installing (downloading). If Terminal says update not found, that version of macOS is not available for your Mac. You can enter softwareupdate –list-full-installers to get a list of macOS versions that are currently available for your Mac.
- When Terminal says that the install finished successfully, the download is complete. Open the Applications folder and double-click the macOS installer, named Install [Version Name], then follow the onscreen installation instructions. Or leave the installer in the Applications folder for later use.
Connect and Rename a USB flash drive
Connect a USB flash drive or other secondary volume directly to your Mac. When you create the bootable installer, this flash drive will automatically be erased using the appropriate format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
Check the storage capacity of the flash drive. A 32GB flash drive has more than enough storage space for any macOS installer, and 16GB is enough for most earlier versions of macOS. If more space is needed, Terminal will let you know.
Change the name of the flash drive to MyVolume, which is the name expected by the Terminal commands below.
Copy the appropriate command
Tahoe
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Tahoe.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/MyVolume
Sequoia
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sequoia.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/MyVolume
Sonoma
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sonoma.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/MyVolume
Ventura
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Ventura.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/MyVolume
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
EI Captain
sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/MyVolume –applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app
Enter the command in Terminal
Follow the below instructions:-
Open Terminal, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder. Or use in the menu bar to find and open it.
Paste the command that you copied above into Terminal, or type the command. Then press Return to enter the command.
When prompted, type your administrator password and press Return. Terminal doesn’t show any characters as you type.
If you get a message that the installer does not appear to be a valid installer application, delete the installer, use Disk Utility to repair your startup disk, then download the installer again.
If you get a message that the command was not found, make sure that you’re using the correct command, and that the installer is in your Applications folder and named Install [Version Name]. If creating the bootable installer on a Mac that is using macOS Sierra 10.12.6 or earlier, append –applicationpath to the command, followed by the appropriate installer path, similar to what is shown at the end of the command for El Capitan.
When prompted, type Y to confirm that you want to erase the volume, then press Return. Terminal shows the progress as the volume is erased.
If you get a message that Terminal would like to access files on a removable volume, click OK to allow Terminal to proceed.
If Terminal can’t erase successfully, use Disk Utility to erase the volume using Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format, then try again.
When Terminal says that the install media is now available, your USB flash drive should have the same name as the installer, such as Install macOS Tahoe.
Quit Terminal, eject the flash drive, and disconnect it from your Mac. You can now remove and delete the installer from your Applications folder.
⭕️ This example shows the creation of a bootable installer for macOS Ventura:
Use the bootable installer
Follow the steps based on whether you’re using the bootable installer on a Mac with Apple silicon.
Note: Your Mac must be connected to the internet so that the installer can get firmware and other information specific to this Mac model. If the macOS you’re installing is incompatible with your Mac, installation might not complete or your Mac might start up to a circle with a line through it.
Mac with Apple Silicon
Shut down or turn off your Mac.
Connect the bootable installer directly to your Mac.
Press and hold the power button on your Mac. As you continue to hold, your Mac starts up and loads startup options, which shows your bootable volumes, including the bootable installer.
Select the bootable installer, then click Continue.
When the macOS installer opens, follow the onscreen instructions.
Mac with Apple Intel
Shut down or turn off your Mac.
Connect the bootable installer directly to your Mac.
Turn on your Mac, then immediately press and hold the Option (Alt) key.
Release the Option key when you see a screen showing your bootable volumes, including the bootable installer.
Select the bootable installer, then click the onscreen arrow or press Return.
If you’re using a Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip and you can’t start up from the bootable installer, make sure that Startup Security Utility is set to allow booting from external or removable media.
Choose your language, if prompted.
Select Install macOS (or Install OS X) from the Utilities window, then click Continue and follow the onscreen instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What do I need to create a bootable macOS USB installer?
You’ll need a USB flash drive with at least 16GB of storage, a compatible Mac, a stable internet connection, and the macOS installer file downloaded from the App Store or Apple’s official website.
How long does it take to create a bootable macOS USB installer?
The process usually takes 20–40 minutes, depending on your USB drive speed and system performance. Downloading the macOS installer may take additional time based on your internet speed.
Why isn’t my Mac recognizing the bootable USB drive?
This can happen if the USB wasn’t created correctly, isn’t formatted properly (it should use Mac OS Extended or APFS with GUID Partition Map), or if the startup security settings prevent external booting. Double-check your steps and try recreating the installer.
Can I create a bootable macOS USB installer on Windows?
It’s possible, but not straightforward. macOS installers are designed to be created on a Mac using Terminal. On Windows, you’ll need third-party tools and additional steps, which can be more complex and less reliable.
