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How to Make a Bootable macOS High Sierra USB Install Key

How to Make a Bootable macOS High Sierra USB Install Key

Posted October 1, 2017 at 6:22pm by iClarified
These are instructions on how to make a bootable macOS High Sierra USB key.

Step One
Connect a 8GB or larger USB key to your computer then launch the Mac App Store from your dock.
How to Make a Bootable macOS High Sierra USB Install Key

Step Two
Navigate to the macOS High Sierra application page and click the Get button. If you are already on, or have already downloaded High Sierra, you may need to click the Download button.
How to Make a Bootable macOS High Sierra USB Install Key


Once the installer launches, press the Command+Q keys on the keyboard to exit.
How to Make a Bootable macOS High Sierra USB Install Key

Step Three
You may notice that download is very quick. Unfortunately, users have reported that the App Store is providing them with a stub installer that downloads the files it needs during the installation process.

It appears as though the full installer is only being provided to those on the latest version of Sierra 10.12.6 and users already on High Sierra 10.13.

Open your Applications folder and select the 'Install macOS High Sierra app. Press Command+i on the keyboard and verify its size.
How to Make a Bootable macOS High Sierra USB Install Key

If it's over 5GB, skip to the next step.
How to Make a Bootable macOS High Sierra USB Install Key

If it's tiny (~20MB), you can either run it to install High Sierra and then redownload the installer or delete it, upgrade to the latest version of Sierra from the Mac App Store Update tab, then redownload the installer.
How to Make a Bootable macOS High Sierra USB Install Key

Step Four
Once you've verified that you have the full installer, launch Terminal from the Applications:Utilities folder.
How to Make a Bootable macOS High Sierra USB Install Key

Step Five
Note the name of your USB key.
How to Make a Bootable macOS High Sierra USB Install Key

Execute the following command in the Terminal window replacing 'Untitled' with the name of your USB key. Please note this will erase the entire USB key.

sudo '/Applications/Install macOS High Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia' --volume '/Volumes/Untitled'
How to Make a Bootable macOS High Sierra USB Install Key

You will be asked to enter your Administrative account password.
How to Make a Bootable macOS High Sierra USB Install Key

Type Y and press enter to begin.
How to Make a Bootable macOS High Sierra USB Install Key

Step Six
After about 30 minutes the creation of your USB Install Key for macOS High Sierra will be complete.
How to Make a Bootable macOS High Sierra USB Install Key

Step Seven
You may now restart your Mac and hold down the Option key after hearing the boot sound. You'll be presented with a list of bootable drives. Select the USB install key to begin.
How to Make a Bootable macOS High Sierra USB Install Key

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Comments (4)
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Tony
Tony - October 2, 2017 at 11:00am
How can i use it to boot from any laptop?
D4xM4Nx
D4xM4Nx - October 2, 2017 at 1:11am
Or if the time capsule fails, and you're forced to do a clean install (provided you've got a backup of your personal stuff.)
Jon Ivy
Jon Ivy - October 1, 2017 at 6:29pm
Why would I need that !?
Frank75
Frank75 - October 1, 2017 at 9:41pm
To install macOS on an empty hard drive for one
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