Boot Mac from USB Flash Drives [Everything You Need to Know]

Why Need to Boot Mac from USB?

Before delving into how to boot a Mac from a USB, it's crucial to comprehend the reasons behind this process. Occasionally, updates don't proceed smoothly, leading users to desire a fresh installation of macOS Ventura. Alternatively, individuals might be seeking to eliminate viruses or errors from their Mac device.

Now, it's crucial to comprehend that a new macOS installation contributes to a flawless experience in multiple ways. For example, if an application is malfunctioning, reinstalling macOS would resolve that issue. However, let's address the question with a few reasons:

"To prevent any errors or issues with applications"

• To dual boot macOS Ventura and Monterey: Dual Boot macOS Ventura & Monterey Guide
• To enhance the performance and smooth operation of your Mac device
• To run applications that are not compatible with your current macOS version
• To install a new macOS version without upgrading, allowing for preliminary testing

These are some of the most typical reasons why users opt to boot a Mac from a USB drive. Hence, executing this process correctly is crucial. However, aside from personal preference, there may be instances where a fresh macOS installation via USB is the only viable option. Here's why:

• Corrupted operating system files
• To locate a swift solution
• The macOS is failing to boot entirely
• Access internal drives when the primary boot drive is unbootable

Therefore, learning how to boot a Mac from a USB drive saves you the trouble of taking your Mac device to a repair shop. Furthermore, booting from a USB enables you to try out various macOS versions before selecting the one you prefer most.

And last but not least, no Mac devices support disk drives anymore. So, booting from a Mac USB is the only option left.

Necessary Preparations Before Booting Mac from USB

Before commencing the process, it's crucial to take the proper precautions. Therefore, you must attend to the necessary preparations before booting your Mac from a USB drive. While we will discuss two primary methods, we will also provide you with a video tutorial for guidance.

In this video, you can discover essential information at various points, such as:

• 04:15 Why it's crucial to refrain from upgrading through the Apple store if you're using a USB.
• 05:30 Locate the macOS Ventura file after downloading it from the Apple Store (without installing it).
• 06:22 How to examine installation packages and copy them to a USB drive.

Thus, watching the video will help you grasp the process more clearly. To prepare your Mac for booting from a USB drive, follow these two steps:

1. How to Prepare and Format a USB Drive on a Mac

It's crucial that your USB drive is empty before you begin. Hence, you must ensure it's properly formatted. To do this, the first step is to prepare your USB device with the correct format. Here's how:

Step 1. Open Finder from your Mac desktop.

Step 2. Next, go to Applications.

Step 3. Then select "Utilities."

Step 4. Under Utilities, locate and click on the "Disk Utility" option.

Click Disk Utility.

Step 5. In Disk Utility, select your USB drive.

Step 6. After selecting the USB drive, click "Erase" in the top menu bar.

Step 7. In the following prompt, rename the USB device as per your preference.

Step 8. Select the "APFS format" to make it bootable.

Step 9. Tap Done to start formatting.

Step 10. Press Done when finished.

This will format your USB drive in the APFS format, which is the correct one needed to create a bootable macOS USB. Proceed to the next step.

2. How to Create a Bootable USB Drive Using Terminal on Mac

The following step involves creating a macOS Ventura bootable USB using the Mac Terminal. For this, you'll need to access the Mac Terminal on your device and the freshly formatted USB drive. After connecting the USB, follow these instructions to utilize the Terminal:

Step 1. Open Terminal from the Applications folder.

Step 2. Open the folder where your macOS Ventura is downloaded.

Step 3. Right-click on the "macOS package" and select "Show Package Contents."

Step 4. Inside the package, find and select the "createinstallmedia" file.

Step 5. Switch to the Terminal and type "Sudo" followed by a space, then switch back to the folder.

Step 6. Click on the createinstallmedia file, then drag and drop it into the Terminal window.

Step 7. Let the Terminal detect it, then type "-volume".

Step 8. Next, drag and drop the macOS Ventura/Monterey installer file from your desktop into the Terminal.

Step 9. Press Enter/Return and enter your password if prompted.

Step 10. When the "Ready to start" prompt appears, press Y and Return.

Step 11. Wait for it to finish making your disk bootable.

This will transform your USB device into a bootable disk. And, since it's formatted in APFS, it will be prepared for booting on a Mac device once you restart your Mac. So, let's proceed.

How to Boot Mac from USB Installer

Now that you've created a bootable USB for Mac, you'll need to turn off your Mac device to proceed with the installation. However, before you do this, make sure to back up any important data, as the process will erase everything from your main drive.

Once you're prepared, here's what you'll do:

Step 1. Press the Power button on your Mac and immediately press and hold the Option button on your keyboard.

Step 2. Wait for the options to appear.

Step 3. Choose "Install macOS Ventura/Monterey" from the bootable options.

Step 4. Select "macOS Ventura" once more from the subsequent menu.

This will commence the installation of macOS Ventura or Monterey on your device. It's crucial to understand that if you're seeking a clean installation, proceed to the "Options" and select "Disk Utility". From there, you should erase your main boot drive before continuing with the installation process.

Recover Data from an Unbootable Mac Using Software

Before utilizing the freshly installed macOS, you might wish to retrieve lost data. This isn't solely due to formatting the main drive; data loss can also result from a faulty installation or an unbootable Mac device.

Therefore, if you're aiming to retrieve data from an unbootable Mac device, you'll require a professional tool named tools Data Recovery Wizard for Mac.

Here's why it's your best option today to retrieve data from an unbootable Mac device:

• It's trusted by thousands of Mac users worldwide.
• It can recover data from hard drive failures or restore formatted Mac partitions.
• It can retrieve data lost due to formatting or virus attacks.
• It aids in data restoration when you accidentally reinstall macOS or if the macOS Ventura installation fails.
• It helps recover data lost from system crashes or operational errors.

Thus, this software is not only the optimal choice for retrieving your data but also for salvaging it from permanent loss. This is why you'll utilize this tool to rescue data from an unbootable Mac in the following manner:

First, you need to enter Recovery Mode on your Mac:

For Apple Silicon Macs:

• Shut down your Mac, then press and hold the power button (Touch ID) until you see "Loading startup options."
• Select "Options" and click the "Continue" button to enter the macOS Recovery Mode.

For Intel-based Macs:

• Turn off your Mac completely, then turn it on while pressing "Command + Option + R" together.
• Hold these keys until you see a spinning globe on your Mac's screen.

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Step 1. Launch the Tools Software in Recovery Mode

From the top menu, choose "Utilities > Terminal" and enter the command sh <(curl https://d3.tools.com/mac/boot.sh). Press "Return." Wait for the application to open, which may take a few minutes.

Important: If the Terminal shows "No such file or directory" or "Could not resolve host," double-check that you've typed the command correctly, make sure your Mac has a stable internet connection, and confirm that your macOS version is not below macOS 10.15.

Step 2. Select the Volume on Your Mac Hard Drive In this step, you need to choose the volume on your Mac's hard drive that you want to create a bootable disk for. This is typically the main macOS installation, usually named "Macintosh HD." 1. In Disk Utility, located in the Utilities folder within the Applications folder, select the desired volume from the list on the left-hand side. It should display the name and capacity of your Mac's primary hard drive. 2. Make sure you've chosen the correct volume, as creating a bootable disk will erase all the data present on the selected drive. Double-check your selection before proceeding. 3. Once you've confirmed the correct volume, proceed to the next step to start the process of creating the bootable disk.

Select the volume where your lost data is stored and click "Search for lost files". The tool software will promptly locate all recoverable data on the selected volume.

Step 3. Select the Lost Data You Want to Retrieve

The tool software categorizes the scanned recoverable data by file type and storage path. To locate the desired data, click on "Type" or "Path" in the left panel. Afterwards, select the checkboxes in front of the data you wish to recover.

Step 4. Recover and Save Data on an External Disk This step involves retrieving and saving your data onto an external hard drive after the recovery process. Here's a detailed explanation: 1. **Connect the External Disk**: Plug in your external hard drive to your computer using a USB cable or the appropriate connection method. Ensure that it is properly connected and recognized by your system. 2. **Open the Data Recovery Software**: Launch the data recovery software you installed in Step 2. It should display a list of available storage devices, including your external disk. 3. **Select the External Disk**: In the software interface, identify and select the external disk where you want to save the recovered files. Make sure not to choose the original damaged or lost data location to avoid overwriting any data. 4. **Start Scanning**: Initiate a scan on the external disk. Most software provides options for quick scans (for recently deleted files) and deep scans (for more extensive searches). Choose the appropriate scan type based on your needs. 5. **Preview and Select Files**: Once the scan is complete, the software will display a list of recoverable files. You can preview them to ensure they are the ones you need. Select the files you want to save. 6. **Recover and Save Files**: Click on the 'Recover' or 'Save' button to start transferring the selected files to the external disk. The process may take some time depending on the size of the files. 7. **Monitor the Progress**: Keep an eye on the progress bar and do not disconnect the external disk during the transfer process. Interrupting the process could result in incomplete recovery or damage to the files. 8. **Verify the Recovered Files**: After the transfer is complete, check the external disk to ensure that the recovered files are accessible and intact. 9. **Backup Regularly**: To prevent future data loss, make it a habit to back up your important files regularly to an external disk or a cloud-based service. By following these steps, you'll successfully recover and save your data on an external disk, providing a secure and separate location for your valuable files.

Click the "Recover" button. A pop-up window will appear, asking you to "Please select a target location to save." Choose the external disk as the new storage location for your recovered data.

Conclusion

Here are the key steps you need to know about booting your Mac from a USB flash drive. It's important to note that this process works with any version of macOS, including Big Sur. Hence, ensure you download the file and do not update it before inserting the USB drive.

Next, you can attempt to recover your files using a professional recovery tool like Data Recovery Wizard for Mac. This method will spare you from considerable inconvenience and ensure that your crucial data can be retrieved efficiently and promptly.

Frequently Asked Questions about Booting Mac from USB

If you have any further questions, this section will assist in providing answers:

Can I install macOS Ventura using a USB drive?

Yes, you can. You'll need to download the macOS Ventura installer from the Apple Store. However, it's crucial to make sure you don't proceed with the upgrade immediately. When you initiate the process in the Apple Store, it will only download the file. After the download is complete, exit the installation to avoid it from upgrading automatically.

How do I boot a Mac from a USB drive? To boot a Mac from a USB drive, follow these steps: 1. **Prepare the USB Drive**: First, you'll need to create a bootable USB drive with the desired operating system or installer. For macOS, use the Disk Utility app to format the USB drive as "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" and then use the macOS Installer to create the bootable drive. 2. **Shut Down or Restart Your Mac**: Make sure your Mac is turned off or, if it's on, restart it. 3. **Insert the USB Drive**: Insert the USB drive into an available USB port on your Mac. 4. **Boot in Startup Manager**: Press and hold the `Option` (⌥) key immediately after your Mac starts up. Keep holding it until you see the Startup Manager screen, which displays available startup disks, including the USB drive. 5. **Select the USB Drive**: Using the arrow keys on your keyboard, highlight the USB drive icon, usually labeled with the name of the operating system (e.g., "macOS"). It might have a USB symbol next to it. 6. **Start Up from the USB Drive**: Press the `Enter` or `Return` key to begin the boot process from the USB drive. 7. **Follow the Installer Instructions**: Your Mac will now start from the USB drive, and you'll see the installer screen. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the operating system or perform other tasks. Remember that some newer Mac models might require you to use the `Command` + `Option` + `P` + `R` keys to enter the Startup Options menu instead, where you can choose the USB drive to boot from.

When starting your Mac, insert the bootable USB and press the Option key until the boot menu appears. If you want to erase everything, proceed to Disk Utility. Otherwise, continue directly with the installation process.

How to create a macOS bootable USB drive?

You'll require the bootable file for the macOS version you wish to install. Once you have it, insert your USB drive and format it using the APFS format. Next, open the Terminal and type "Sudo". After that, drag and drop the 'createinstallmedia' file from your macOS installer onto the Terminal window.

When finished, type "--volume" and, once more, drag and drop the entire macOS file into the Terminal. Next, allow the Terminal to transform your USB device into a bootable disk.

How do I start my Mac in boot mode? To start your Mac in a specific boot mode, follow these steps: 1. **Shut down your Mac**: First, make sure your Mac is completely turned off. Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select "Shut Down." 2. **Press and hold the key combination**: Depending on the boot mode you want to access, press and hold the appropriate key or key combination while your Mac starts up: - **Safe Boot**: Press and hold the Shift key. - **Verifying or repairing the startup disk**: Press and hold Command + R. - **Boot from an external drive**: Press and hold Option (Alt) to choose from available startup disks. - **Startup in macOS Recovery**: Press and hold Command + R. - **NVRAM/PRAM reset**: Press and hold Command + Option + P + R. - **Startup Security Utility**: Press and hold Control + Option + Command + R. - **Startup using Open Firmware**: For older Macs, press and hold Command + Option + O + F. 3. **Release the keys**: When you see the Apple logo, the progress bar, or the startup screen, release the keys. Your Mac will now continue to boot into the selected mode. 4. **Follow the on-screen instructions**: Depending on the boot mode, you'll be presented with different options or utilities to help you troubleshoot, recover, or modify your system settings. Remember that some of these modes may not be applicable to all Mac models, so ensure you have the correct information for your specific Mac.

When you press the power button, immediately press and hold the Option key on your keyboard. After 4-5 seconds, you will see the Mac device boot into the Startup Manager.