How to Create a Bootable Installer for macOS
Creating a bootable installer for macOS is a crucial task for developers, system administrators, and power users who need to install macOS on multiple computers or create a backup of their system. A bootable installer allows you to install macOS on a computer that doesn’t have an operating system installed or needs a fresh installation. In this article, we will guide you through the process of creating a bootable installer for macOS on your Mac.
1. Choose the Right macOS Version
Before you start creating a bootable installer, it’s essential to choose the right macOS version. Ensure that you have the necessary files for the version of macOS you want to install. You can download the macOS installer from the Apple Developer website if you have a developer account, or you can use the installer that came with your Mac.
2. Prepare Your USB Drive
To create a bootable installer, you’ll need a USB drive with at least 16GB of storage space. Format the USB drive using the Disk Utility app on your Mac. Choose the “ExFAT” format to ensure compatibility with both macOS and Windows systems.
3. Open the Terminal
Open the Terminal app on your Mac. You can find it in the Applications > Utilities folder. The Terminal will be used to run commands that will create the bootable installer.
4. Run the Terminal Commands
To create a bootable installer, you need to run a series of Terminal commands. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
1. Connect your USB drive to your Mac and note its device name. You can find it by running the following command in the Terminal:
“`
diskutil list
“`
2. Open a new Terminal window and run the following command to create a new partition on the USB drive:
“`
diskutil partitionDisk /dev/rdiskX 1 GPT MS-DOS
“`
Replace “/dev/rdiskX” with the device name of your USB drive. In this example, the device name is “/dev/rdisk2.”
3. Select the new partition you just created and format it with the “ExFAT” file system:
“`
diskutil formatDisk /dev/rdiskXs1 ExFAT
“`
4. Unmount the USB drive:
“`
diskutil unmountDisk /dev/rdiskXs1
“`
5. Create a new directory on your Mac and navigate to it:
“`
mkdir -p /Volumes/InstallMacOS
cd /Volumes/InstallMacOS
“`
6. Run the following command to create the bootable installer:
“`
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/InstallMacOS –applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app
“`
Replace “Install macOS Big Sur” with the name of the macOS installer you downloaded.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
8. Verify the Bootable Installer
After the process is complete, verify that the bootable installer is working correctly. Insert the USB drive into a computer that needs to be installed with macOS, restart the computer, and hold down the Option key during startup. Select the USB drive from the list of available boot devices to start the installation process.
Conclusion
Creating a bootable installer for macOS is a straightforward process that requires a few Terminal commands and a USB drive. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create a bootable installer for your desired macOS version and install it on multiple computers or create a backup of your system.
