Create bootable USB Mac: easy way

Posted By Volodymyr Chubei | 18 Mar 2025

Apple laptop users often face the need to reinstall their operating system. This is most commonly required when the drive is replaced with a new one, when the macOS operating system fails to recover after a serious error, or when a user simply wants to switch to another operating system. This can be done using a macOS bootable USB flash drive.

This article explains how to create a bootable USB for Mac for different kinds of operating systems for MacBooks without any additional software.

For the process, you will need:

Flash drive.
MacBook.

Also: How to Reset the SMC on MacBook: Step-by-Step Guide

How to Create a Bootable USB for Mac Flash Drive

It is easy to create a bootable USB for Mac even without technical skills if you follow the instructions. All you have to do is download the necessary file and correctly transfer it to the USB flash drive.

1. Downloading the Installation File

Go to the Mac App Store and download the installation file of the operating system you need. If you need files you’ve previously downloaded, click on "Purchase", but keep in mind that older versions are not available for macOS Mojave.

Once the file is downloaded, the automatic installation of the operating system will start. Click "Continue" and then immediately click "Quit OS X Installer".

2. Preparing to Create a Bootable Mac USB Flash Drive

Insert the flash drive into a USB port on the Mac. If there is important information on it, transfer it to another device, as all data will be erased during the formatting process when creating the bootable flash drive.

Go to Applications/Utilities or use Spotlight’s built-in search to find and run the Terminal. A black window will open where you will need to enter the line with the path to the installation file:

El Capitan: sudo /Applications/Install OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app
Yosemite: sudo /Applications/Install OS\ X\ Yosemite.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install OS\ X\ Yosemite.app
Mavericks: sudo /Applications/Install OS\ X\ Mavericks.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install OS\ X\ Mavericks.app
Sierra: sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app
High Sierra: sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app
Mojave: sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Mojave.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
Catalina: sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Catalina.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
Big Sur: sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
Monterey: sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Monterey.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
Ventura: sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Ventura.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume

If the device shows the error "Not an acceptable application to install the OS", delete the installation file and download it again to the MacBook.

Next, in the address line, replace the path /Volumes/MyVolume with the path to the bootable flash drive.

3. Creating a Bootable Mac Flash Drive

After entering the new path to the flash drive, press "Enter", confirm the action (enter your password), and click "Enter" again.

To start creating a bootable drive, verify that the path and name of the flash drive are correct. If everything is correct, type "y" and begin the writing process by clicking "Enter".

After a while, the Terminal will report that the operation was completed successfully. To boot from the USB Mac flash drive, press the "alt" key while booting the MacBook.

All computer equipment, including Apple computers, needs to be upgraded and repaired over time. It is important to choose only original parts that do not conflict with other components. Certified spare parts are tested, so they go on sale with optimally adjusted parameters for operation.

If you need to replace components in your Apple devices, please contact the Techtoro.io shop. We offer a wide range of genuine parts at competitive prices. We will ship within 1–7 days for domestic and international orders. You can track the status of your order in your personal account on the website of the online shop.

FAQ

1. How to create a bootable Mac USB without a tool?

Simply download the installation file from the Mac App Store to your MacBook and use the Terminal to write it to the USB flash drive. Before you start writing, you need to specify the path to the USB stick.

2. Can all USBs be made bootable?

Yes, any external drive can be bootable. Simply follow the instructions on how to create a media that can be used to automatically install an operating system.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Volodymyr Chubei
Computer Repair Specialist at TechToro.io

Volodymyr was born in Ukraine and has found his passion for electronics from his childhood. At the age of 13, he was capable of soldering some basic elements of a logic board and today he is one of the co-founders of TechToro.io