How to a Create Bootable Tahoe Installer. Apple’s macOS Tahoe is the latest operating system developed. It is recommended to do a fresh install on your Mac. The easiest way is to upgrade with a bootable USB to upgrade from Sequoia to Tahoe.
Before proceeding, make sure that you have backed up any important data from your USB Flash Drive, as the erasing process will delete all existing files on the drive. Double-check that you have selected the correct USB device to avoid accidental data loss.
Run InstallAssistant.pkg
Now we need to install the “InstallAssistant.pkg” which is located in the “downloads” folder.
The InstallAssistant.pkg contains the full Tahoe installer files. Now run and install by “double clicking” the file for installation.
The Apple package installer will now move the “Install macOS Tahoe app” into your Mac’s Applications folder.
Erase & Format your USB Flash Drive
Now the Install macOS Tahoe app is located in your Applications folder, you can continue to create your Tahoe USB Installer! The USB Flash Drive needs to be at least 20GB + because the Tahoe installer is about 17GB. (needs additional space to expand and create the installer)
Plug in your USB Flash Drive in your Mac!
Open up Disk Utility and then click the “View” button. Select “Show All Volumes” and click the top level USB drive name located in ‘external’ volumes.
The “Top level drive” is usually the name of the USB Drive. In this example my Flash Drive is named “Intenso USB”.
Disk Utility – Erase your USB Flash Drive for macOS installer. Use Mac OS Extended Journaled format & GUID Partition Map
Click the Erase button to erase your USB Flash drive.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The name is your preferred name but be sure to use ‘Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format & GUID Partition Map’ format.
Creation of macOS Tahoe USB Boot Disk
1. Open up the Terminal.app (from /Applications/Utilities location)
2. type in sudo then space
3. Drag your macOS Sequoia installer app to the terminal window
4. the full path is sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Tahoe\ Beta.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia
5. Add the –volume option then drag your USB Flash Drive to the terminal window.
The final full path will look like this sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Tahoe\ Beta.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/Untitled
The volume/Volumes/Tahoe. Is depending on your flash drives name! I chose Tahoe when formatting, but it can be anything.
Hit enter and then enter your account password.
Creating macOS USB Boot Disk
Now the files will start to copy to your USB flash Drive. The total time should be about 5-10 min depending on your USB Flash drive speed.
How to boot to your new Tahoe USB Installer.
To boot to the USB Installer: (steps for 2019-2024 Macs below)
2020-2025 Apple Silicon Mac = Power down your Mac. Turn it back on but continue to hold the power button until you see the Boot Picker. From here your USB installer drive will show up. All you need to do is click on it to boot.
2019-2020 Intel T2 Mac = You will need to first boot to internal recovery by holding down Command R. You need to enable “External Boot”. Once you are in recovery go to the top menu bar and select Utilities > Startup Security Utility.
You need to enable “Allow booting from external media”
Click on “Allow booting from external media” and reboot. Hold down option and then select your USB installer. You can now install macOS from your usb drive!
2016-2017 Intel Mac = Power down your Mac. Turn it back on but hold down the Option key. You will see the boot picker. Your USB drive will load, select the USB installer and click the arrow. The Mac will now boot to your USB installer.
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