How to create a bootable macOS Big Sur installer drive
Apple has a brand-new variation ofmacOS It’s called Big Sur, and it’s variation 11.0. In this short article I’ll discuss how you can create a bootable macOS Big Sur setupdrive However prior to I offer directions on how to create the drive, I’ll discuss the products you’ll require and how to get them.
These directions are for the formally launched variation of macOS Big Sur, not the public/developer beta. It was carried out on Macs running macOS Catalina, and once again on Big Sur.
Macworld likewise has bootable- set up-drive directions for:
Get an external drive and possibly an adapter
The macOS Big Sur installer software application is over 12GB, so you require a USB external drive that can hold that much information. The drive can be a thumb drive, tough drive, or SSD.
I utilized this thumbdrive to create a macOS Big Sur installer You can utilize a thumb drive, external tough drive or SSD. The 32GB drive I utilized has both USB-C and USB-A (USB 2 speed, nevertheless, so it’s sluggish) adapters and is readily available on Amazon for about $5.
If you have a 2015 or more recent Mac laptop computer that has USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports, you might require Apple’s $19USB to USB-C adapter This will enable you to link a storage gadget that utilizes a USB type-A adapter. If you do not have an external drive and you have a USB-C Mac laptop computer, you might purchase the SanDisk Ultra USB Type-C Flash Drive, which has a USB-C adapter. You can get model number SDCZ450-016G-G46
You require to remove the drive and format it to Mac OS Extended (Journaled). You can do this in the Mac’s Disk Energy app, which remains in the Applications/Utilities folder.

Format your boot drive utilizing Mac OS Extended (Journaled). My drive was at first formatted as APFS, and an alert appeared stating that the drive might not be utilized as formatted.
Get the macOS Big Sur installer software application
Big Sur is readily available through the Apple’sApp Store Click the Get button on the upper right, and the Software application Update system choice will open. Click the Download button. The download might take a while.

However after the download is total and the installer launches, do not click the Continue button. Given up the installer by pushing Command-Q. Then go to your Applications folder and you must discover an “Install macOS Big Sur” app. You require to have the app there to make the bootable drive.
Utilize the Terminal to make a bootable macOS Big Sur installer drive
You’re going to utilize the Terminal to make your externaldrive a bootable macOS Big Sur installer Do not fret if you have actually never ever utilized Terminal previously, it’s simple. Here are the directions.
1. Link the external drive to your Mac. In these directions, I utilize Untitled
as the name of the externaldrive If your drive is called something else, you require to modification Untitled
to the name of your drive.
2. Introduce Terminal (/ Applications/Utilities/Terminal. app).
3. Select and copy the following: sudo/ Applications/InstallmacOS Big Sur app/Contents/Resources/ createinstallmedia-- volume/ Volumes/Untitled--/ Applications/InstallmacOS Big Sur app
4. Return to Terminal and paste the copied code at the timely. Keep In Mind to modification Untitled
to the name of yourdrive Press Return.
5. Terminal might request your password. Enter it and press Return.

6. Terminal will alert you that your external drive requirements to be eliminated. To continue, type Y at the timely and press Return.
7. An alert might appear requesting for approval for Terminal to gain access to a detachabledrive Click OKAY

8. You’ll see that Terminal eliminates your drive and after that copies the installer file to yourdrive This will take a couple of minutes.

7. After copying, Terminal is done. You must see Terminal display screen a message stating your drive is all set for usage.

Update the installer drive
1. Plug your external drive into your Mac.
2. Power up (or reboot) your Mac. Press down on the Alternative secret while the Mac boots.
3. After a couple of minutes, your Mac must show the Start-up Supervisor, which will reveal you the readily available boot drives. Click the external drive and press Return.

4. An alert appears that states,“A software update is required to use this startup disk” Click the Update button. You will require a web connection (click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar and choose a connection), and the upgrade procedure takes a number of minutes. (Note: The very first time I attempted this, after clicking Update, I saw an alert stating the Update might not be set up. I duplicated the procedure once again from action 1, and the 2nd time, the upgrade procedure ran effectively. Another time, an alert appeared specifying that the upgrade unsuccessful, however you as asked to “Try Again”.)

After the updater runs, the Mac will reboot. You still have another thing to do prior to you can boot off the external drive.

Await the updater to do its thing.
Modification security settings
The Mac might be established to not enable you to utilize an external start-up disk. You’ll require to modification this. Here’s how.
1. Reboot you Mac and hold down Command-R throughout the boot procedure. This puts the Mac into Healing Mode.
2. The Mac must boot with a “macOS Utilities” window. Click the Utilities menu and choose Start-up Security Energy

3. An “Authentication Needed” window appears. You require to verify as an administrator. This indicates you require the user name and password of an account on the Mac that is designated as an administrator. When you have that details, click Go Into macOS Password and after that get in the user name and password.

4. Numerous alternatives will appear. For our functions here, search in the Allowed Boot Media area, and examine the button for“Allow booting from external or removable media” Then close the window.

We’re practically there! Now it’s time to lastly boot from the external drive.
How to boot from the installer drive
1. With the external drive plugged in, boot/restart the Mac and hold down the Alternative secret.
2. The Start-up Supervisor must appear. Select your external drive.
3. The Mac will boot into Healing mode. You must see a window with 4 alternatives. If you desire to set up Big Sur and leave the information undamaged, choose InstallmacOS Big Sur If you desire to start over and erase the information, you require to enter into Disk Energy to reformat the internal drive initially, and after that set upmacOS Big Sur Make your choice and click Continue

The Big Sur installer will run if you chose InstallmacOS Big Sur If you remain in Disk Energy, format your drive, then stopped the app. You’ll return to the Healing mode window when you can do the OS setup.

Make a bootable installer drive: Other methods
With previous variations of macOS, I utilized a complimentary app called Install Disk Creator to make the setupdrive It has actually not yet been upgraded to assistanceBig Sur I have actually likewise utilized DiskMaker X, however the designer announced that he is not upgrading the app.