Link: canonicalLink: amphtmlClose AdLink: http://www.macworld.com* Subscribe▲Learn more about Macworld's Digital Edition Macworld Magazine Cover  _____________________ [ search ] 🔎Home* News* Reviews* How-To* Video* Macs* Mac Desktops* MacBooks* Displays* Networking* Storage* iPhone/iPad* macOS* iOS* Apps* Accessories* Business* Entertainment* Subscribe* Resources* Macs* MacBooks* Mac Desktops* iPhones* Blogs* iPads* Accessories* Apps* Audio* Business* Cameras* Components* Development Software* Displays* E-readers* Home Theater* iOS* iPhone Accessories* iPad Accessories* iPods* macOS* Printers* Networking* Productivity Software* Smartwatches* Storage* Styluses* Mac Desktops* MacBooks* Displays* Networking* Storage* Home* MacsHow-To

Instructions for making an external drive that you can use to install macOSSierra.

Jul 31, 2020. Aug 21, 2020. Oct 30, 2019. Oct 07, 2019.

Roman Loyola By Roman Loyola Ash grey pokemon.

Senior Editor, Macworld Jul 3, 2017 1:32 PM PT

macos sierra installer iconMore like this* macos high sierra iconHow to create a bootable macOS High Sierra installer drive* imac blank screen stockInstalling macOS or OS X: What to do when ‘the installer payloadfailed..* Mavericks installer iconHow to make a bootable Mavericks install drive* Macworld Podcast Episode 586VideoiMac Pro, Apple and Shazam, holiday wish lists, 2018 predictions:Macworld..

Apple uses its App Store to distribute its software, like new Macoperating systems. It’s convenient, but sometimes it can take a while fora download to finish. And if you have multiple Macs, it’s inefficient todownload the new OS to each and every Mac.

sierra external icon

That’s why I like to make a bootable external drive for the sole purposeof installing the Mac operating system. When I need to tend to a bunch ofMacs, it’s much faster to use a bootable drive instead of going to eachMac, launching the App Store, searching for the operating system,downloading it (after entering my Apple ID), and then running theinstaller.

You can create a bootable USB flash drive with the macOS Sierra installerthat’s now available. The installer software will take up nearly 5GB ofstorage space. Here’s how to create a bootable macOS Sierra installerdrive.

Download the macOS Sierra installer

Guardianedge mac access utility download. GuardianEdge Removable Storage Access is utility to encrypt data on removable storage devices or media. It supports FIPS 140-2 certified and AES 128 bit/256 bit encryption. This entry is for the distributable, standalone utility that installed on removable devices to be used on computers that do not have the full software suite installed.

Launch the App Store app, then look for macOS Sierra in the store. (Here’sa link.) Click on the Download button, and your Mac will download theinstaller to your Applications folder. If it automatically launches afterdownload, quit the installer.

sierra beta installer app folder sierra gmKeep the installer in theApplications folder.

If you’ve already upgraded your Mac to Sierra, the installer is removedfrom the Applications folder. You can download it again if you go toPurchased in the App Store. Look for macOS Sierra in the list of apps thatyou’ve bought, and click on the Download button. If it automaticallylaunches after download, quit the installer.

Get an external drive

You can use a USB flash drive or a hard drive with room for the installersoftware. I’ve used different drives with success, including a VisionTek120GB USB 3.0 Pocket Solid State Drive ($83 on Amazon) and an old 8GBIomega Micro Mini Hard Drive.

Don’t worry if the drive isn’t formatted for the Mac. The drive will bereformatted automatically as part of the process. Change the name of yourdrive to Untitled; you need to do this for the steps below.

The quick and easy way

The process detailed below involves the Terminal. If your really don’twant to use Terminal, there are a couple of free apps you can use.

Use the Terminal to create a boot disk

terminal mac el capitan icon

So you have your external drive, and the Sierra beta installer is inplace. Now you’re going to use Terminal to create a boot drive. If you’venever used Terminal before, don’t worry. This is pretty easy.

App

Here are the steps to create a macOS Sierra beta boot disk. (Apple alsohas these instructions.)

How to boot from the installer drive

sierra installstartup option

To comment on this article and other Macworld content, visit our Facebookpage or our Twitter feed.Related:* Macs* Operating Systems* MacOS Hints* MacBooks* Mac Desktops* macOS* MacOS Sierra

Roman has covered technology since the early 1990s. His career started atMacUser, and he's worked for MacAddict, Mac Life, and TechTV. He's alsowritten for MacRumors and Realtor.com.

Follow* * * * You Might LikeShop Tech Products at AmazonMacworld

Macworld is your best source for all things Apple. We give you the scoopon what's new, what's best and how to make the most out of the productsyou love.

Macworld Categories

IDG Network Sites

Macworld Magazine Cover

How To Download Older Macos From App Store

Try Macworld Risk-Free

Subscribe NowFollow us   

Visit other IDG sites:

Download Macos App Store

[ ] Select One[ ] CIO[ ] Computerworld[ ] CSO[ ] Gamestar[ ] Greenbot[ ] IDG Connect[ ] IDG.tv[ ] InfoWorld[ ] IT News[ ] ITworld[ ] JavaWorld[ ] Macworld[ ] Network World[ ] PCWorld[ ] TechHive[ ] The Industry Standard

Mac App Store Online

Copyright © 2018 IDG Communications, Inc.

IFrame: __bkframe