Skip to content

Instantly share code, notes, and snippets.

@miku
Last active August 19, 2023 21:24
Show Gist options
  • Save miku/a331a80e24c2741c0c48f36b0e88eed0 to your computer and use it in GitHub Desktop.
Save miku/a331a80e24c2741c0c48f36b0e88eed0 to your computer and use it in GitHub Desktop.
MacOS Sierra App Store Link

https://itunes.apple.com/de/app/macos-sierra/id1127487414?l=en&mt=12

Link: canonical Link: amphtml Close Ad Link: 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 * Macs How-To

         How to create a bootable macOS Sierra installer drive

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

 * [IMG]
 * [IMG]
 * [IMG]
 * [IMG]
 * [IMG]
 * [IMG]
 * [IMG]

Roman Loyola By Roman Loyola

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

macos sierra installer icon More like this * macos high sierra icon How to create a bootable macOS High Sierra installer drive * imac blank screen stock Installing macOS or OS X: What to do when ‘the installer payload failed... * Mavericks installer icon How to make a bootable Mavericks install drive * Macworld Podcast Episode 586 Video iMac Pro, Apple and Shazam, holiday wish lists, 2018 predictions: Macworld...

Apple uses its App Store to distribute its software, like new Mac operating systems. It’s convenient, but sometimes it can take a while for a download to finish. And if you have multiple Macs, it’s inefficient to download 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 purpose of installing the Mac operating system. When I need to tend to a bunch of Macs, it’s much faster to use a bootable drive instead of going to each Mac, launching the App Store, searching for the operating system, downloading it (after entering my Apple ID), and then running the installer.

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

 Macworld also has bootable-install-drive instructions for:

   * mac OS High Sierra (10.13)
   * El Capitan (OS X 10.11)
   * Yosemite (OS X 10.10)
   * Mavericks (OS X 10.9)
   * Mountain Lion (OS X 10.8)
   * Lion (OS X 10.7)

Download the macOS Sierra installer

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

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

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

Get an external drive

You can use a USB flash drive or a hard drive with room for the installer software. I’ve used different drives with success, including a VisionTek 120GB USB 3.0 Pocket Solid State Drive ($83 on Amazon) and an old 8GB Iomega Micro Mini Hard Drive.

Don’t worry if the drive isn’t formatted for the Mac. The drive will be reformatted automatically as part of the process. Change the name of your drive 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’t want to use Terminal, there are a couple of free apps you can use.

 * Install Disk Creator is a straightforward way to create a boot disk. I
   was able to make a macOS Sierra external USB boot disk in a few
   minutes, and the installation worked without a hitch. Also works with
   older versions of OS X.
 * Diskmaker X is a popular app. It also supports older versions of OS X.

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 in place. Now you’re going to use Terminal to create a boot drive. If you’ve never used Terminal before, don’t worry. This is pretty easy.

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

1. Connect the external drive to your Mac. (In the Terminal command you
   will use, I use Untitled to represent your external drive. If your
   drive is named something else, you need to change Untitled to the name
   of your drive.)
2. Launch Terminal (/Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app).
3. Copy the following:
   sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\
   Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume
   /Volumes/Untitled --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\
   Sierra.app
4. Go back to Terminal and paste the copied code at the prompt. sierra
   install disk terminal 01
5. Terminal will ask for a password. This is your user password. Terminal
   doesn’t display characters when you type it in. Hit Return.
6. Terminal will tell you that it will erase your drive. To confirm that
   you want to continue, type Y and hit Return. sierra install disk
   terminal 02
7. You’ll see that Terminal erases your drive. When that part is done,
   your Mac may ask you if you want to use the drive for Time Machine.
   Click Don’t Use. sierra drive time machine
8. Terminal will copy the installer file to your drive. This will take a
   few minutes. sierra install disk terminal 03
9. After copying, Terminal is done. You should see Terminal display a
   “Copy complete” and Done notice. You can quit Terminal and your drive
   is ready for use. sierra install disk terminal 04

How to boot from the installer drive

1. Plug your external drive into your Mac.
2. Power up (or restart) your Mac. Press down on the Option key while the
   Mac boots.
3. After a few moments, your Mac should display the Startup Manager,
   which will show you the available boot drives. Click on the external
   drive and hit Return. (You don’t need to select a network to proceed.)
4. Your Mac will display an OS X Utilites window. If you want to install
   Sierra and leave the data intact, select Install OS X. If you want to
   start over and wipe out the data, you need to go into Disk Utility to
   reformat the internal drive first, and then install macOS Sierra.

sierra installstartup option

 What to do when ‘this copy of the install OS X application cannot be
 verified’ or ‘the installer payload failed signature check’

To comment on this article and other Macworld content, visit our Facebook page 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 at MacUser, and he's worked for MacAddict, Mac|Life, and TechTV. He's also written for MacRumors and Realtor.com.

Follow * * * * You Might Like Shop Tech Products at Amazon Macworld

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

 * About Us
 * Contact Us
 * Mac OS X Hints
 * Ad Choices
 * Digital Magazines
 * Newsletters
 * Privacy Policy
 * RSS
 * Terms of Service Agreement
 * E-commerce Affiliate Relationships

Macworld Categories

 * Business
 * Creative
 * Entertainment
 * iOS Apps
 * Mac Apps
 * MacCentral
 * iPhone/iPad
 * OS X
 * Podcasts
 * Video

IDG Network Sites

 * Advertise
 * Permissions
 * PCWorld
 * Tech Advisor
 * TechHive
 * IDG TechNetwork
 * IDG
 * IDG Blog
 * Careers at IDG

Macworld Magazine Cover

Try Macworld Risk-Free

Subscribe Now Follow us   

Visit other IDG sites:

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

Copyright © 2018 IDG Communications, Inc.

IFrame: __bkframe

@gerard1021
Copy link

It's hard to find a copy right now because it's been removed from the store, I think I may have installed it on one of the older iMac's but I'm pretty sure I never purchased it... I'm working on a 2011 27 inch iMac right now as a project. I'm trying to bring it into 2019 with newer tech...Nvme sata drives in raid 0, over spec'd ram and upgraded graphics. I need a copy of sierra for the first working boot of 980gtx and then with some changes it shouldn't matter after that... I'll checkout some of these other sites you have listed and see what information is there.... Gerard

Sign up for free to join this conversation on GitHub. Already have an account? Sign in to comment