Do you want to install the latest version of macOS on your Mac but don’t know how to do it from a USB drive? Fear not! We have the answers you need to get the job done.
In this article, we’ll discuss what you need to install macOS from USB, how to download the latest version of macOS, how to format the USB drive, how to copy the macOS install file to the USB drive, how to boot your Mac from the USB drive, and how to follow the installation steps.
Finally, we’ll walk you through the process of installing the new macOS.
So, if you’re ready to get started, let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Short Answer
To install MacOS from a USB drive, you’ll need to have an 8GB or larger USB flash drive and the macOS installer.
First, you’ll need to download the macOS installer from the Mac App Store.
Once the download is complete, connect your USB drive to your computer and open the Disk Utility app.
Select your USB drive in the sidebar and then click Erase.
Choose the Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format and click Erase.
Finally, open the macOS installer and click “Show All Disks” to select the USB drive as the installation destination.
What You Need to Install macOS From USB
Installing macOS from a USB drive is a great way to keep your Mac up-to-date and protect it from malicious software. To get started, you’ll need a few items:
1. A compatible Mac: To install macOS from a USB drive, you’ll need a Mac with an Intel processor. This includes the Mac Pro, iMac, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air models from mid-2012 or later.
2. A USB drive: You’ll need a USB drive with at least 8GB of storage. We recommend using a USB 3.0 drive for the fastest speeds.
3. The macOS install file: You’ll need to download the latest version of macOS from the App Store. This file is around 5GB in size and will be saved to your Applications folder.
Once you have these items, you can begin the installation process.
The first step is to format your USB drive, which will erase any existing data on the drive.
To do this, open the Disk Utility app on your Mac and select the USB drive from the sidebar.
Select the “Erase” tab and choose the “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” format.
Finally, click the “Erase” button to begin formatting the drive.
Next, you’ll need to copy the macOS install file to your USB drive.
To do this, simply open the Applications folder and drag the install file onto your USB drive.
This process can take up to an hour, depending on the speed of your USB drive.
After the file has been copied to the USB drive, you can start the installation process by booting your Mac from the USB drive.
To do this, restart your Mac and hold down the Option key as it boots.
This will open the Startup Manager, where you can select the USB drive to start your Mac from.
Once your Mac has booted from the USB drive, you’ll be able to install the new macOS.
The installation process is straightforward and should only take a few minutes.
After the installation is complete, you can start using the new macOS right away.
By following these steps, you can easily install macOS from a USB drive.
This is a great way to keep your Mac up-to-date and protect it from malicious software.
Downloading the Latest Version of macOS
Before you can install macOS from a USB drive, you need to make sure you have the latest version of macOS downloaded.
You can do this by visiting the App Store and searching for the version you need.
Once you find the version that you want, you can click the Buy button and follow the instructions to download it.
After the download is complete, you can move on to the next step in the installation process.
It is important to make sure you download the correct version for your Mac.
The App Store will provide information about which version of macOS is compatible with your Mac.
For example, if you have an older Mac, you may need to download an older version of macOS.
If you download the wrong version, you may not be able to complete the installation process.
Additionally, you should also check your Mac’s system requirements to make sure that your Mac meets the requirements for the version of macOS you are downloading.
The App Store will provide information about the system requirements for each version of macOS.
If your Mac does not meet the system requirements, you may not be able to install macOS from the USB drive.
Once you have the correct version of macOS downloaded, you can move on to the next step in the installation process.
Make sure you have the USB drive and the macOS install file ready before you continue.
Formatting the USB Drive
Formatting the USB drive is an important step in the process of installing macOS from a USB drive.
This will ensure that the drive is ready to accept the macOS install file and other necessary files.
To format the USB drive, you will need to open your Macs Disk Utility application, located in the Applications folder, or by typing Disk Utility in the search bar.
From the Disk Utility window, select the USB drive you wish to format and click the Erase button.
Select the drives file format, such as Mac OS Extended (Journaled), and name the drive.
Finally, click the Erase button again to begin formatting the drive.
Formatting the USB drive helps to ensure that all the necessary data is transferred correctly to the drive, so that the macOS install file can run smoothly.
It is also important to note that formatting will erase all the data that was previously stored on the drive, so be sure to back up any important files before you begin formatting.
Copying the macOS Install File to the USB Drive
Once you have downloaded the latest version of macOS from the App Store, you will need to copy the install file to your USB drive.
To do this, connect your USB drive to your Mac and open the Finder application.
In the Finder window, locate the macOS install file and drag it onto your USB drive.
Once the file has been copied to the drive, you can disconnect it from your Mac and move on to the next step in the installation process.
Its important to make sure that the macOS install file is stored on your USB drive in a format that is compatible with your Mac.
To do this, you can right-click on the install file and select Get Info to view the file type.
The file type should read Apple Disk Image (.dmg) if youre using a Mac.
If it reads any other format, you will need to convert the file to a compatible format before copying it to the USB drive.
Once the macOS install file has been copied to the USB drive, you can move on to the next step in the installation process: formatting your USB drive. This step is essential to ensuring that your Mac will be able to boot from the USB drive. To format your USB drive, open the Disk Utility application and select your USB drive from the list of disks. Then, click the Erase button and select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) as the format. Finally, click the Erase button to begin the formatting process. Once your USB drive has been formatted, you can move on to the next step in the installation process.
Booting Your Mac From the USB Drive
Once you have all the necessary files, you can start the installation process by formatting your USB drive, copying the macOS install file to the drive, and then booting your Mac from the USB drive.
Booting your Mac from the USB drive is the final step in the installation process and will allow you to install the new macOS and start using it right away.
To boot your Mac from the USB drive, youll need to restart your computer with the USB drive connected.
During the startup process, youll be presented with a menu from which youll need to select the USB drive as the boot option.
Depending on your Mac model, this menu may be presented as either a Startup Manager or a Boot Picker.
If youre presented with the Startup Manager, youll need to use your arrow keys to select the USB drive and then press the Return key on your keyboard.
If youre presented with the Boot Picker, youll need to use your mouse to select the USB drive and then click the arrow icon to continue.
Once youve selected the USB drive as your boot device, your Mac will begin to boot from the USB drive.
Once the macOS installation process is complete, youll be ready to start using your newly installed macOS.
Following the Installation Steps
Once you have all the necessary files, you can start the installation process by formatting your USB drive, copying the macOS install file to the drive, and then booting your Mac from the USB drive.
To begin, you’ll need to format the USB drive.
This can be done by connecting the drive to your computer and opening the Disk Utility app on your Mac.
Once the Disk Utility window is open, select the USB drive and then click on the Erase tab.
From there, you’ll need to select the Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format and click the Erase button.
Once the drive has been formatted, you’ll need to copy the macOS install file to the drive.
This can be done by opening the macOS install file you downloaded from the App Store and dragging it to the USB drive.
This will take a few minutes, so be patient.
Once the file has been copied, you can start the installation process by booting your Mac from the USB drive.
To do this, you’ll need to hold down the Option key when you turn on your Mac.
This will bring up a list of bootable drives.
Select the USB drive containing the macOS install file and press the Return key.
This will start the installation process, which will take a few minutes.
Once the installation is complete, you’ll be able to start using the new macOS right away.
There may be some additional setup steps, such as setting up an iCloud account or signing in with your Apple ID.
Be sure to follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup process.
Once you’ve done that, you’ll be ready to start using your new macOS.
Installing the New macOS
Once you have all the necessary files, you can begin the process of installing the new macOS from the USB drive.
The first step is to format the USB drive.
To do this, open the Disk Utility app on your Mac and select the USB drive from the menu on the left.
Once you have the drive selected, click the Erase button and select the Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format from the drop-down menu.
Then, click the Erase button to format the drive.
The next step is to copy the macOS install file to the USB drive.
To do this, first locate the install file you downloaded from the App Store.
Double-click on the file to mount the volume and then drag and drop the file to the USB drive.
Once the file has been copied to the USB drive, you can eject the volume.
Finally, you can boot your Mac from the USB drive.
To do this, restart your Mac and hold down the Option key when it starts to boot.
This will bring up a list of bootable drives.
Choose the USB drive and the Mac will boot from it.
You will then be able to follow the on-screen instructions to install the new macOS.
Once the installation is complete, you can start using the new macOS right away.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know what you need and how to install macOS from a USB drive, you can start the installation process with confidence.
With just a compatible Mac, a USB drive with 8GB of storage, and the macOS install file, you can make sure your Mac is up-to-date and protected from malicious software.
So get started and enjoy the latest version of macOS!