If you want to use this USB installer with newer Macs as they are released, you'll want to periodically re-download new Sierra installers and make new install drives periodically. There are other apps out there that do this, but this one is quick and simple. If you want a GUI, we're recommending a different app than last year-take a look at Ben Slaney's Install Disk Creator from MacDaddy.The installer will delete itself when you install the operating system, but it can be re-downloaded if necessary. The macOS 10.12 Sierra installer from the Mac App Store in your Applications folder.For newer Macs, use a USB 3.0 drive-it makes things significantly faster. An 8GB or larger USB flash drive or an 8GB or larger partition on some other kind of external drive.We've created Sierra USB stick from both El Capitan and Sierra, but your experience with other versions may vary. A Mac that you have administrator access to, duh.There's the super easy way with the graphical user interface and the only slightly less easy way that requires some light Terminal use. Whatever the reason, you're in luck, because it's not hard to make one.Īs with last year, there are two ways to get it done. Or, maybe you need a recovery disk for older Macs that don't support the Internet Recovery feature.

For instance, if you find yourself doing multiple installs, a USB drive may be faster than multiple downloads (especially if you use a USB 3.0 drive). Things have proceeded remarkably smoothly since version 10.7 switched to download-only installers, but there are still good reasons to want a reliable old USB stick. It was 2009 when Apple last released a new operating system on physical media. Further Reading macOS 10.12 Sierra: The Ars Technica review

How to install macos from usb drive