How to Install macOS Sequoia Beta from USB Device[Clean Install]

Brithny updated on Jul 15, 2024 to Computer Instruction | How-to Articles

How do you install macOS Sequoia Beta from a USB device? Our easy guide provides step-by-step clean installation instructions for a seamless experience on your Mac.

The latest version of Apple's operating system, macOS Sequoia Beta, offers higher capacity, increased speed, and a refined system. It is an early test version, which gives users a sneak peek into new features to be incorporated into the system and their feedback before the actual release into the macOS terminals.

I got the installer and was able to target it at an external drive, but when I try to boot from it after the installer completes, I get an error. Does anyone know if this is possible? I'm on an Apple Silicon Mac. Possible to install Sequoia Beta on an external drive? Asked by a Mac user on Reddit.com

In this post, we will subsequently discuss the steps to install macOS Sequoia Beta on your Mac from a USB flash drive to facilitate a more refined and error-free installation. Whether you want more information about the new macOS or are a developer, we have made it simple for you to follow our detailed procedures. Let's discuss the steps to install macOS Sequoia beta USB in detail!

Workable Solutions Step-by-step Troubleshooting
Step 1. Choose a USB Device Find a 16GB USB flash drive, ensuring ample space for the macOS Sequoia Beta installer...Full steps
Step 2. Download the macOS Sequoia Installer Open Terminal by accessing Applications > Utilities, and use this command to list available installers...Full steps
Step 3. Create the macOS Sequoia USB Installer Go to Applications. Right-click Install macOS 15 beta and choose Show Package Contents...Full steps
Step 4. Install macOS from the Bootable Installer Plug in the USB drive, start your Mac, and hold the power button until you see the loading screen...Full steps

Step 1. Choose a USB Device

Firstly, you'll need a USB drive as the installation destination. A USB flash drive with a minimum of 16GB storage is suitable. Opt for one that offers USB-C and USB-A connections for flexibility across devices. You can easily find a 16GB USB flash drive at an affordable price, ensuring ample space for the macOS Sequoia Beta installer. This setup allows you to install the new operating system on your Mac smoothly, accommodating various connection types for convenience and compatibility.

Before creating a macOS Sequoia bootable USB flash drive, you should format the USB device first via Disk Utility. Go to "Disk Utility", choose the USB device, and click on the "Erase" button at the top menu.

Step 2. Download the macOS Sequoia Installer

The next step is to download the macOS Sequoia Installer to proceed with the installation process. To download the macOS 15 Sequoia installer, open "Terminal" and use the softwareupdate command. Follow these steps:

Step 1. Open Terminal by accessing "Applications > Utilities".

Step 2. Use this command to list available installers, and hit "Return" to view the macOS 15 Sequoia installer.

softwareupdate --list-full-installers

Step 3. Next, download the installer to your Applications folder with this command, and press "Return" from the keyboard to begin the download.

softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 15.0

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Step 3. Create the macOS Sequoia USB Installer

Creating a macOS USB installer allows you to install or upgrade your Mac's operating system conveniently. Follow these steps to prepare a bootable USB drive with the macOS Sequoia installer.

Step 1. Open "Finder" and go to "Applications". After right-clicking "Install macOS 15 beta", choose "Show Package Contents".

Step 2. Navigate to "Contents > Resources". Open Terminal and type sudo.

Step 3. Drag and drop the createinstallmedia file from the Resources folder into the Terminal window. Type --volume.

Step 4. Connect your USB Drive. Ensure it's empty, as all its contents will be deleted. Open Finder, access "Go > Go to Folder", type /Volumes, then press "Return" on the keyboard.

Step 5. Drag and drop your USB drive volume from Finder into the Terminal window. Press "Return". Enter your administrator password when prompted.

Step 6. Wait for the process to complete. Once done, eject the USB drive. These steps simplify the process of creating a macOS Sequoia USB installer.

Step 4. Install macOS from the Bootable Installer

To install macOS using a bootable installer, ensure you have successfully created the bootable installer by following the previous steps. Connect the bootable USB drive to your Mac to install MacOS Sequoia. Follow the steps below:

Step 1. Plug in the USB drive with MacOS Sequoia into your Mac.

Step 2. Start your Mac and press & hold the power button until the "Loading Startup Options" window displays your bootable volumes.

Step 3. Choose the volume with the bootable installer, then click "Continue". Follow the onscreen instructions in the macOS installer that opens.

If you can't install macOS Sequoia on your Mac, here's an article tutorial to fix this error.

How to Fix Can't Install macOS Sequoia? Try 9 Best Solutions

This article discusses 9 ways to fix the new macOS version, macOS Sequoai, can't install on a Mac issue. Read more >>

Bonus Tips: Back Up Your Data Before Updating to Avoid Data loss

Before upgrading your MacOS, always ensure that you have backed up your data to avoid data loss that could occur due to a failed installation, system crash, or other similar reasons. We recommend EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to back up and recover your essential lost data.

Back Up Your Mac and Never Lose Data

Back up and restore your MacBook/iMac without Time Machine, iCloud, or external hard drives.

This professional USB data recovery software for Mac can help users recover data from hard drives as well as external drives such as USB, fusion drives, SSDs, and more. Moreover, users can even recover data from the emptied trash bin. With a recovery rate of 99.7%, this data recovery tool can retrieve photos, videos, music files, documents, and more with ease. Furthermore, it ensures data integrity with advanced encryption and secure storage practices.

Here are the steps to use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to back up your data:

Step 1. Click "Disk Backup" > "Create Backup" > "Next" in EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac's main interface. You can create a drive backup image file in case the data is overwritten.

Step 2. Select an internal volume to back up, and click "Create Backup". If you want to create backups and recover data from an external hard drive, USB flash drive, or SD card, remember to connect the storage device to your Mac in advance.

Step 3. Choose a place to save your backup files, and change the name of your backup file, then click "Save". It is not wise to save backups in the same storage device that you want to recover data from.

As with any OS installation, there is a risk of data loss; EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac helps users retrieve accidentally deleted files.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a clean install of macOS Sequoia Beta from a USB drive gives your Mac a new start, guaranteeing peak performance. It is recommended that Mac data be backed up before initiating the installation procedure. For those who have lost data while installing the MacOS 15, it is recommended that they utilize EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to get the files back. This also provides mental satisfaction as you're going to test the latest macOS Sequoia Beta, knowing that your precious data is safe and easily retrievable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now, let's explore some common queries related to this topic:

1. Can you install macOS from USB?

Yes, installing macOS from a USB drive is possible. This method is often used for clean installations or when upgrading MacOS with the terminal commands.

2. How to boot USB with macOS?

For macOS to boot from a USB drive:

  • Attach the USB device with the bootable macOS to your Mac.
  • Hold down the Option (Alt) key when the startup sounds when you restart your Mac.
  • To start booting from the USB device and perform the macOS installation or troubleshooting procedure, select the USB drive from the startup screen.