How to Download and Create a Bootable macOS El Capitan USB Installer
macOS El Capitan was the eleventh major release of macOS and was released in 2015. If you are looking to install or upgrade to this version of macOS, or need a bootable USB installer for troubleshooting, follow the detailed steps below.
Steps to Download and Create a Bootable USB Installer for macOS El Capitan
To download and create a bootable USB drive for macOS El Capitan, you need to follow several steps. These steps will guide you through the entire process, from downloading the installer to creating and booting from a USB drive.
Step 1: Download macOS El Capitan
The first step is to download the macOS El Capitan installer. There are two methods to do this:
Method 1: Using the App Store
To download macOS El Capitan using the App Store, follow these steps:
Open the App Store.
Search for macOS El Capitan.
Click on the Download button.
Method 2: Using the Direct Link
If you can't find it in the App Store, you can use this direct link to access the download:
Download El Capitan
This will take you to Apple's support page.
Step 2: Prepare the USB Drive
To prepare the USB drive, follow these steps:
Insert the USB flash drive.
Open Disk Utility.
You can find it by navigating to Applications Utilities Disk Utility.
Format the USB Drive:
Select your USB drive from the list on the left.
Click on the Format dropdown.
Choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
Select GUID Partition Map as the scheme.
Click the Options button and choose your preferred format settings (e.g., first sector).
Click on Apply and then Format to format the drive.
Name your USB drive (e.g., "ElCapitan").
Step 3: Create a Bootable USB Drive
To create a bootable USB drive, follow these steps:
Open Terminal.
You can find it by navigating to Applications Utilities Terminal.
Run the Create Install Media Command:
Copy and paste the following command and press Enter:
sudo /Applications/Install OS X El --volume /Volumes/ElCapitan --applicationpath /Applications/Install OS X El --nointeraction
Replace "ElCapitan" with the name of your USB drive if you chose a different name.
Enter Your Password:
When prompted, enter your administrator password. You will not see the password on the screen, but type it in and press Enter.
Wait for the Process to Complete:
The process will take some time. When it's finished, you will see a success message in Terminal.
Step 4: Boot from the USB Drive
To boot from the USB drive and install or use macOS El Capitan, follow these steps:
Restart Your Mac:
With the USB drive plugged in, restart your Mac.
Hold the Option Key:
Immediately hold down the Option key while your Mac is booting up.
Select the USB Drive:
Choose the USB drive from the boot options that appear on the screen.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How long does the download take?
A: The download time depends on the speed of your internet connection and the size of the file (which is around 4-5GB).
Q: Can I use any USB drive?
A: Yes, you can use any USB drive with a capacity of at least 8GB.
Q: Can I reuse the USB drive?
A: Yes, you can reuse the USB drive by following the steps to erase it and reformat it.
Conclusion
Creating a bootable USB drive for macOS El Capitan is a straightforward process once you understand it. Follow these steps carefully to ensure a smooth installation or troubleshooting experience.