How to create a bootable macOS Monterey USB Install drive 

Perfect tutorial! very easy to follow, perfect speed, very clear sound and very good video quality. Very appreciate for making this video

Absolutely the clearest instructions I've come across. I got things wrong trying to follow two other sets of written but ambiguous instructions elsewhere before coming across Jeff's video. Nailed it in one. Very grateful. Truly excellent job.

I always do a fresh install of on my macs and even sometime after a few years of use will do one too. The awesome thing now is that macOS Monterey has a built in “Erase all contents and Settings” similar to iOS where instead of going through this process it will just wipe everything and put a clean copy of macOS just like a fresh install just without the hassle of booting from drive etc. maybe you should do a video on that! Pros and cons etc

This is by far, the best tutorial for doing this. The speech is clear and concise, knowledgeable and the video is easily referred to when confirming that you are doing it right. Thank you!

His instructions for installing Big Sur video and Monterey video are totally different. why??

A clear tutorial without unnecessary information, thanks!

I did it! It worked. I'm so exited, I know nothing about computers, accidentally erased my harddisk completely and needed to get it working again. Bought an USB drive and followed these instructions and it worked!! Thanks a million for these good to follow and clear instructions!! My Mac mini has a new lease on life. Thank you!!!

Very easy to follow. I agree with the comments below. I did this on a Mac Book Air about 4 years old. Like he says be patient it took over an hour to do this.

@9to5Mac Excuse me, it gives me error when I type all the sudo command "/Applications/Install\ macOS\ Monterey.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/USB" and put my password then appear me this message: "Couldn't mount dmg /Applications/Install macOS Monterey.app/Contents/SharedSupport/SharedSupport.dmg (error code 110)/Applications/Install macOS Monterey.app does not appear to be a valid OS installer application." Idk why this appears to me, what can I do?

Is it possible to create an OTG version of the Mac OS, what I mean is install the entire Mac os on a pendrive and boot it from there? Windows has the wintousb software which does this. But what about Mac?

Excellent tutorial. Clear, concise and well articulated and presented. Thank you very much.

As many others have said, super easy tutorial with easy to follow steps. This will be my go-to when recommending these instructions to others!

‘MacOS Monterey does not appear to be a valid OS installer application.’ I get the same message when trying to create a catalina bootable drive. Both downloaded directly from the App Store.. Edit: I know why now.. you need a full (12gb) installer. Not the App store small ..mb file. I don't understand why it's shown this way in the video.. but anyway, look for a full installation file!

Wow, this is the most helpful tutorial! I am in Ethiopia helping a friend who had a 2015 Macbook air running on Mavericks (10.9). Ethiopia has no relationship with Apple, so there was no way for her to use an Apple ID. Plus, Mavericks is so old that no MacOS was showing up in the App store. Her machine can run on Big Sur, but she had no way of getting there without help. Your tutorial solved the problem! I have no technical skills to speak of but I was able to use your tutorial to install Big Sur so that she can download new apps and stay on a supported version of Apple's OS. She is now able to login with her apple ID, etc. THANK YOU! This would have cost her $100 USD at a shop to do, which is 1/3 of the average young college grad's monthly salary.

What about booting into MacOS from an external thunderbolt 3 ssd? Does this still work similar to Intel Macs?

I have a mid-2015 MacBook Pro and upgraded SSD to new 1TB. I started the reinstall process but don’t see much change in progress bar after about 30 minutes. How long should it take to reinstall?

Can I do this to my M1 MacBook air to prevent heavy swap usage?

now i just gotta hope it works on this giant ass desktop mac (thank you)

After creating the bootable disk, what is to be done with the 12 Gb installer that we downloaded? Will it remain there in applications as it is?

Monterey is not on the App Store

Wow! Windows reinstall using a USB is soooo simple and faster!! Using the Microsoft provided media creation tool!!! This 'computer for the rest of them' is so archaic

I have just followed your instruction and have created a bootable Monterey USB. Your tutorial is quite clear and easy to follow. Thanks.

Watching this on the new 14" M1 Pro and....damn. Dat HDR though.

A little late, I used your video from last year of how to install Big Sur to install Monterrey 😅

what if i create a bootable big sur to a flash drive and install to my macbook running on monterey. it will delete my personal files and settings in that drive or just replace the OS? pleease let me know. Thanks

Does this work if you want to use Mac OS on a Windows machine?

Guys please help me, I've done everything until 4:38 ( The Terminal said install media now available ) but when I tried to access USB drive, the Install macOs Monterey icon showed the icon of white prohibition instead of purple Monterey icon, when i clicked onto that icon, it said " You can't open the application " Install macOS Monterey" because it may be damaged or incomplete " ", what should I do guys ? I'm using Macbook air early 2015 Catalina 10.15.7 version

I’ve watched many videos and used different usb drives but every time I’m getting the same error msg in terminal after it’s erased the disk, it’s ’copying to disk’ but I get… IA app name cookie write failed. The copy of the installer app failed. I have no idea to get around this… any help is hugely appreciated as Big Sur has so many bugs and I want to put Mojave back on so I can also use my software. I should also add when I open terminal it has a msg stating… The default interactive shell is now zsh . To update your account to use zsh, please run ‘chsh -s /bin/zsh’. I don’t understand that but have ran that code so no longer get that msg but still it fails as copying to disk. When it’s erased 0 - 100% etc it doesn’t state making disk bootable but states copying to disk but doesn’t progress from 0% then get fail msg!😭

This sets the standard for instructional videos. If people could see the dislike button still, they'd see this video with no dislikes.

Not sure why but I go through all the steps, type in the password and then nothing happens. Takes me back to a clear terminal line with the user name, and that's it. Never get the erasing disk warning, just a blank line. Suggestions, anyone?

you've really fine tuned your directions -- excellent

It says it’s not a valid OS installer because they don’t want to guve me the shared support damn file.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!! this was so easy to follow, pause and play! better than the apple instructions on their website!!! bravo, sir!!! BRAVO!!!

Never saw better explanation and clarity. I am a IT pro and this is the best video I saw on bootable creation.

I have just resuscitated and formatted a 2015 MacBook Pro retina into Yosemite OS. I am trying to update it to Monterey OS but it won’t let me log in with my Apple ID. It tells me that my password is wrong, but I get prompt on my other devices for the two step verifications because the password is actually correct so I’m going in circles here. What can I do?

I have a new Mac Studio (2202) M1 Max 32GB, macOS Monterey 12.6.1. Purchased I have a SanDisk 4TB Extreme Pro Portable SSD/formatted to APFS. I installed MacOS Monterey 12.6.1 on the SanDisk 4TB Extreme Pro Portable SSD, using my Macbook Air. When I try to boot off the Sandisk drive via my Mac Studio, I am not able or allowed to do so. When I attempt to use Startup Disk in System Preferences, I am able to select the SanDisk drive, "HOWEVER", when I press restart, I get this message..."Unable to set startup disk An error occurred while setting “Untitled” as the startup disk: The operation couldn’t be completed. (SDErrorDomain error 108.)" When I turn on my Mac Studio, while holding the power button for 30sec, I see both the Mac internal drive, and my external Sandisk drive, but I am NOT able to boot from it. Selecting the options logo puts me in recovery mode. I have already selected the Utilities Drop Down menu and selected "Startup Security Utility'', I have "Reduced Security" Checked off, "Allows any version of signed operating system software ever trusted by Apple to run" Can you tell me how to set my Mac Studio to boot off of the SanDisk 4TB Extreme Pro Portable SSD without all these roadblocks....

Superb job. This is how instruction videos should be done. Nio annoying music. No begging. Straight to the point. Every step clearly explained. Thanks. again.

I am using a M2 MacBook with Sonoma. My need is to create a Monterrey bootable disk for an old Intel. While trying to download using AppStore APP I got the message "The requested version of macOS is not available. Please check if your Mac is compatible with this software." .... Is there any alternative ?

this is great step by step. Thank you. If anyone knows how to insert a few Local Accounts into this Bootable Installation drive please let me know. The reason is we need to install Monterey on many computers in the school MAC lab. Each computer should have one Teacher-Admin local account, to manage other accounts. And also about ten student local account (non-admin of course) something like student1, student2 and so on. Adding eleven accounts manually on 30 computers is a half a day work. Would be so good to have these accounts already present in the Bootable Installation Drive. Thank you.

Hey Jeff I do everything exactly as you instructed. The last windows shows me my ssd drive and Macintosh folder. I choose the Mac folder and nothing happens. Just a window showing Retrieving device owners, but that's it. What's wrong? ://

FAR better than Apple. Apple, good grief, once the easiest, smoothest OS to maintain, now almost as bad as Micros@!t, almost (not quite as bad as MS - MultipleSclerosis - but getting closer). Anyhow, outstanding vid, great job.

FAILED!!!! followed everything. was successful in creating a bootable pendrive. after inserting the pendrive and launching the affected mac in recovery mode, I did see the option "install mac". after initiating it, I waited for 10 mins and then it took me to screen where disk utility options are there.

What if your mac operating system is broken, and internet recovery doesn't work? I have a macbook air 2015, with a samsung 970 evo plus ssd (1tb). I also have an asus zephyrus g14 on Windows

Hi, I downloaded the latest version of Monterey a few days ago, thing is I got a .PKG file. With these kind of files, there is no "Show Package Contents" choice under the contextual menu. How can I extract the "createinstallmedia" file from the package. Thanks a million for your video, Apple does not mention that step on his site .

Hi, I ran into an error while trying to reinstall MacOS, after I erased my macbook Macintosh HD-Data Disk. Its showing to install the Sierra OS, when I click on continue, it displays a msg "your computer eligibility will be verified". I clicked on continue then it shows a msg. " the installer information on the recovery server is damaged"..... The wifi is connected on the MacBook during this entire process... I don't know what to do now. Can you help me with this issue?

is this a clean install which is what I want, and just load apps as I need them so it is like a new computer, hoping this will speed up my comp as it is a late 2015 27inch screen, I have tons of hard drive and memory, but am going to try this before I forego my big screen and get the 24 inch with max build am I on the right track cheers wendy

I do everything like you but the MBP don’t recognise my ssd with his adapter (Chinese). Do you retorn the adapter or buy a external case for ssd?. I’m using a Crucial P3 for extend the storage. Saludos 🇲🇽

I’ve tried to download macOS Monterey and it’s come up with this message : The package InstallAssistant.pkg fails to meet Gatekeeper policy. An error occurred while installing the selected updates. ??!!!

Great video. I must say the improved Hold down the power button is a step backwards taking much longer than the Option button for Intel Macs. Come on, Apple, we are wasting time here or we would not like you to use any other OS!

I am trying to create a usb installer for my Mac Min 2014 model which only support the monterery. I am using my laptop which has sonoma (higher version) but its not working. what is the best way to make a usb from higher version

I logged into the Apple Store on a MacBookPro and did not see the macOS monterey as a downloadable utility. Stuck at 30 seconds into the video and I'm following it letter by letter. Soooo much easier to reinstall Windows 10/11.

Hello. I am trying to downgrade from Sonoma to Ventura and everything here has worked just fine up until it asks me to select where to install. My disc says: this disk cannot be downgraded. Please help!

ever have terminal hang up when getting to "making disk bootable..."? the erasing 0%=100% went quick.....the making disk bootable hasn't shown any % in 5 minutes

Hi, i have managed to go through the whole process ...when we get to Making disc bootable" i ha bve waited up to 120 minutes without completion,.....should I keep waiting or have i duffed it?

So would this help if I do this in another MacBook so then I can boot my MacBook Air? I tried to erase Mac but it got stuck on the internet recovery. So I’m wondering if this would work? I really don’t want to take it to apple and pay like 200+ 😭

I just bought a 2013 Mac secondhand. Turns out it’s so outdated I can’t update because it can’t establish a connection to any website. Will this work if I get the OS from another Mac?

What if you have a non apple ssd drive because I have Catalina and it sez a required firmware update couldn’t be installed and compatible internal storage required and I have more than enough storage? Will this work with your process

I couldn't erase my disk in terminal, it says "error number (69832, 0)

I get the following error in the terminal; Applications/Install macOS Catalina.app does not appear to be a valid OS installer Application. Could anybody help me?

I already Monterey version of macOS installed in my MacBook Air.. Then how can I get the Installer file ? Mac says "You already have Monterey version." please help

tell me whats the wrong < when i press turn in terminal i get this line (Password: zsh: killed sudo --volume /Volumes/UNTITLED ) help me please

MascOS Monterey doesn't show up for me :-(

Thanks. Just one question. Sudo. Permissions... I have need to select root user to use sudo ... as an admin user. Have you done anything to your user account so that you can do your terminal work flow?

It always sends me to choose network for internet recovery. Even when I click on install mac Os Montrey from my USB, it still goes automatically to internet recovery. :( What to do?

Running into an error in terminal no matter what I try, "Monterey. app does not appear to be a valid OS Installer application" and this is my last hoorah at fixing a mac stuck in recovery mode. Does anyone have any idea what to do, or what's wrong?

I accidentally erased everything from my Mid 12 MacBook Pro hard drive now it showing flashing folder question mark what should I do now ?

Hey, after following this, when it comes to booting, when selecting the USB I just get a circle with a line through it, and a link to apple support, it won't let me load it. Anyone else had this?!

Way to make an instructional video, but never show the final steps for people that have Intel Macs, which is still 95% of the population. This video is a big fail!

Once I add my USB to the terminal verbiage and hit enter, I am not getting the prompt to enter my password. Instead it says something about "this tool must be run as root".

really nice tutorial that still holds up two years later. Thanks a lot!

You sir earned a subscriber

Is there other download places for Big Sur? My Mac Mini is running Sonoma and I need a copy for my Macbook Pro.

Hi, thank you for this tutorial. I did everything that in this video but everytime I got internet recovery. How can I fix this issue?

I followed every steps and it kept saying, 'this tool must be run at root'. I did enter 'sudo ' (without quotes). Help.

This is the most easyest way to create a MacOS installer. He was little bit fast on the video. So people can pause the video and follow the instruction.

If I boot and install macOS from a usb drive , do I lose any files in the destination computer after installation? I have a 2020 iMac stuck on loading screen that does not respond to internet recovery or first aid. I was thinking my last choice is usb installation. But I’m afraid of losing files

Hi mate. Im stuck in "zsh killed sudo --volume /Volumes/sandisk" after hitting the return button after I dragged the volume (my flashdrive). Any idea on how to resolve this?

How do I downgrade from Ventura if the App Store link doesn't work because it's an older version?

I can't find out how to download the installer from Apple Store. I don't want the update just download the OS file.

i tried this, but i got error in terminal "zsh : killed " after executing the command so you have any solution for it ??

Having a hard time doing this with El Capitan for some reason. It keeps giving me an error message after I put my password in and hit enter.

It download and update my macOS autometically. I not give me option to quit from system preferences

could you use this USB drive lets say on a windows computer would it install macOS monterey

For some reason, I am not getting an option to download the file, It brings me to "software update", and then tells me my software is up to date.

great video except that part after the disk is erased and it will not copying the files and make it bootable in the terminal, whats wrong?

This worked great, I almost never use terminal unless a tech is telling me what to do. My mac is getting a new OS with the new bootable Monterey Install drive. Question is I used a 250GB thumb drive and I suppose its fine to use it for storage as well as long as I don't mess up the instll package? Please confirm

@9to5Mac Thanks a lot! Will it erase my disk completely or only overwrite system files?

☠BLACK BARON☠ installation: Less than a minute. The installation process feels like hours with lots of progress bars running from left to right.

silly question: if I make the usb install drive on a m1 macbook, will it run also on an intel mac?

@9to5Mac Please help - When we installing showing error - Permission denied😰

appreciate you big dawg, way easier to follow than the instructions on apples website!

I try to type password but it’s not working can please help how to type password because it’s locked

Thanks, going to hopefully get my 2017 iMac working with this

I already install latest macos so now how can i make macos bootable drive ? Anyone know please help me?

Thank you so much for the perfect easy instructions that worked like a charm and first time using terminal! I've used DiskMaker X to create bootable disk drives starting with El Capitan, I believe and support has ended with Catalina. ):

Hi. I have a mac book air 2014. I tried to do a factory reset and I ended up with an older macos (OS X 10...) I downloaded and successfully created a bootable USB stick with MACOS Bigsur 11 on it since the machine supports it. After successful boot into the recovery mode, I selected the option to install MACOS bigsur but, it simply doesn't go further, and no error message is being displayed. I had already erased the ssd using disk utility. Please what could be the cause of this issue and how do I fix it?

by creating a bootable USB drive with terminal using the sudo-command line it leads me into the following issue (3 lines)... (1)sudo: /etc/sudoers is world writable (2)sudo: no valid sudoers sources found, quitting (3)sudo: error initializing audit plugin sudoers_audit -- what am I doing wrong? - did every previous step like in this video without having any problems - how to fix it? THANK YOU for helping! (running a macMini 2018 intel i3 with 11.6 Big Sur)

is there a reason why it wont show the right click option "show package contents" on a pkg file? thanks

Hi! I have a MacBook Pro 13 2016 and when I tried to install, a thing called "CLOVER" showed up. I bought it used. Its an I5. Does this mean this Mac is a knockoff? I dont know how to install the OS, Im totally lost. Thanks for your videos!

its easy that way... why not showing it on a formated macbook or mac computer ??