How to Install macOS from USB: A Step-by-Step Guide
Installing macOS from a USB drive is a convenient and efficient way to set up a new Mac or perform a clean install on an existing one. Whether you’re upgrading your system or trying out a new version of macOS, this guide will walk you through the process step by step. Follow these instructions to install macOS from a USB drive without any hassle.
Step 1: Gather the Required Materials
Before you begin, ensure you have the following items:
– A USB flash drive with at least 16GB of storage space
– A compatible Mac computer
– A copy of the macOS installer (.pkg file)
Step 2: Format the USB Drive
To format the USB drive, you’ll need to use a third-party tool like Disk Utility. Here’s how to do it:
1. Insert the USB drive into your Mac.
2. Open Disk Utility from the Applications > Utilities folder.
3. Select the USB drive from the list on the left side of the window.
4. Click the “Erase” button in the toolbar.
5. Choose “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” as the format and “APFS (Encrypted)” as the scheme.
6. Click “Erase” to confirm the changes.
Step 3: Create a macOS Installer
You can create a macOS installer using the App Store or by downloading it from the Apple website. Here’s how to do it using the App Store:
1. Open the App Store on your Mac.
2. Search for “macOS Installer.”
3. Click the “Get” button next to the macOS version you want to install.
4. Click “Install” when prompted, and enter your Apple ID password if required.
5. Once the installer is downloaded, it will be located in the Applications folder.
Step 4: Install macOS on the USB Drive
Now that you have a formatted USB drive and a macOS installer, you can proceed to install macOS on the USB drive. Here’s how:
1. Open the macOS installer from the Applications folder.
2. Click “Continue” and agree to the terms and conditions.
3. Select the “Show all disks” option and choose the formatted USB drive from the list.
4. Click “Install” and enter your administrator password when prompted.
5. The installer will now copy the necessary files to the USB drive. This process may take some time, so be patient.
Step 5: Install macOS on Your Mac
With the macOS installer on the USB drive, you can now install macOS on your Mac. Here’s how:
1. Restart your Mac and hold down the Option (Alt) key while it boots up.
2. Select the USB drive from the list of startup disks.
3. Click “Continue” and follow the on-screen instructions to install macOS.
Step 6: Finish the Installation
Once the installation is complete, your Mac will restart with the new macOS version. Follow the setup assistant to personalize your Mac and finish the installation process.
Congratulations! You have successfully installed macOS from a USB drive. Enjoy your new or updated macOS experience.
