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Instructions for making an external drive that you can use to install macOSSierra.
Roman Loyola By Roman Loyola
- Change Allow apps downloaded from: to App Store and identified developers. Note: For Mac High Sierra (10.13.x), you will need to click on Allow too. Click the lock icon again to prevent any further changes. Installing the Zoom application. Visit our Download Center. Under Zoom Client for Meetings, click Download. Double click the downloaded file.
- The new Mac operating system offers more than a name change. MacOS Sierra version 10.12 moves Apple's desktop OS closer to its mobile counterpart, gaining Siri, Apple Pay, and more.
Senior Editor, Macworld | Jul 3, 2017 1:32 PM PT
I have a MacBook Pro running El Capitan that I need to upgrade to Sierra 10.12 (not High Sierra) for development reasons. I have previously upgraded my personal computer as follows: El Capitan - Sierra - High Sierra. Knowing that, I should be able to see the previous version in the App Store.
macos sierra installer iconMore like this* macos high sierra iconHow to create a bootable macOS High Sierra installer drive* imac blank screen stockInstalling macOS or OS X: What to do when ‘the installer payloadfailed...* Mavericks installer iconHow to make a bootable Mavericks install drive* Macworld Podcast Episode 586VideoiMac Pro, Apple and Shazam, holiday wish lists, 2018 predictions:Macworld...
Apple uses its App Store to distribute its software, like new Macoperating systems. It’s convenient, but sometimes it can take a while fora download to finish. And if you have multiple Macs, it’s inefficient todownload the new OS to each and every Mac.
sierra external icon
That’s why I like to make a bootable external drive for the sole purposeof installing the Mac operating system. When I need to tend to a bunch ofMacs, it’s much faster to use a bootable drive instead of going to eachMac, launching the App Store, searching for the operating system,downloading it (after entering my Apple ID), and then running theinstaller.
You can create a bootable USB flash drive with the macOS Sierra installerthat’s now available. The installer software will take up nearly 5GB ofstorage space. Here’s how to create a bootable macOS Sierra installerdrive.
Download the macOS Sierra installer
Launch the App Store app, then look for macOS Sierra in the store. (Here’sa link.) Click on the Download button, and your Mac will download theinstaller to your Applications folder. If it automatically launches afterdownload, quit the installer.
sierra beta installer app folder sierra gmKeep the installer in theApplications folder.
If you’ve already upgraded your Mac to Sierra, the installer is removedfrom the Applications folder. You can download it again if you go toPurchased in the App Store. Look for macOS Sierra in the list of apps thatyou’ve bought, and click on the Download button. If it automaticallylaunches after download, quit the installer.
Get an external drive
Download Macos App Store For Windows
You can use a USB flash drive or a hard drive with room for the installersoftware. I’ve used different drives with success, including a VisionTek120GB USB 3.0 Pocket Solid State Drive ($83 on Amazon) and an old 8GBIomega Micro Mini Hard Drive.
Don’t worry if the drive isn’t formatted for the Mac. The drive will bereformatted automatically as part of the process. Change the name of yourdrive to Untitled; you need to do this for the steps below.
The quick and easy way
The process detailed below involves the Terminal. If your really don’twant to use Terminal, there are a couple of free apps you can use.
Use the Terminal to create a boot disk
Download Macos Sierra On Windows
terminal mac el capitan icon
So you have your external drive, and the Sierra beta installer is inplace. Now you’re going to use Terminal to create a boot drive. If you’venever used Terminal before, don’t worry. This is pretty easy.
Here are the steps to create a macOS Sierra beta boot disk. (Apple alsohas these instructions.)
How to boot from the installer drive
sierra installstartup option
To comment on this article and other Macworld content, visit our Facebookpage or our Twitter feed.Related:* Macs* Operating Systems* MacOS Hints* MacBooks* Mac Desktops* macOS* MacOS Sierra
Roman has covered technology since the early 1990s. His career started atMacUser, and he's worked for MacAddict, Mac|Life, and TechTV. He's alsowritten for MacRumors and Realtor.com.
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Cannot update and install latest macOS Sierra 10.12.1 in your Mac computer? Don't worry. Here in this article, we'll offer you effective methods to assist you fixing complex macOS Sierra update error such as fail to download or update stuck issue in Mac. You can simply follow below offered steps and solutions to fix this issue with ease now.
- Step 1. Backup important Mac data in advance
- Step 2. Fix macOS Sierra fail to download or 'An error has occurred' issue
- Step 3. Solve macOS Sierra update stuck issue or install freeze error
- Step 4. Download and install macOS Sierra 10.12.1 update
- Tip: Restore lost data after macOS Sierra 10.12.1 update
Now let's follow to update and install macOS Sierra 10.12.1 in Mac computer without any obstacles or losing any data now.
Step 1. Backup important Mac data in advance
In order to avoid unexpected data loss error or problems while installing new macOS Sierra in Mac, it's highly necessary to create data backups in advance.
You may directly apply Time Machine as a free tool to full backup your important Mac data with simple clicks.
If you don't have a backups and lost some data while installing new macOS Sierra update, you can try professional Mac data recovery software to get all lost data back.
Step 2. Fix macOS Sierra fail to download or 'An error has occurred' issue
If your Mac shows a error message that 'An error has occurred' or 'Failed to Download' while you are trying to downloading a new update for macOS Sierra. And this has become a common issue that many users have to face while upgrading Mac to a new operating system. And you may follow below tips to fix this issue:
- Open Launchpad > Delete 'Install macOS Sierra' file with a question mark on it;
Reboot Mac and retry to download a new macOS Sierra update 10.12.1:
- Click Apple Menu > Select App Store > Click Update next to macOS Sierra in the Update section.
Then the new update of macOS Sierra 10.12.1 will be downloaded automatically for you. Then you can try to install the latest macOS update in Mac computer now. If you get stuck or frozen while installing macOS Sierra 10.12.1, you can jump to Step 3 to find solution.
Step 3. Solve macOS Sierra update stuck issue or install freeze error
If your Mac computer gets stuck or freezes up while installing macOS Sierra 10.12.1, don't worry. You may try below tips to fix this issue with ease now:
- Disable or uninstall any Anti-virus software on your Mac;
- Ensure Mac computer has a proper and reliable internet connection;
- Install macOS Sierra in Safe Mode:
Unable To Download Macos Sierra From App Store Windows 10
Hold Power till Mac shuts down > Turn Mac on and hold Shift key > Release Shift when Apple logo appears > Then Mac shall be booted into the Safe Mode.
Step 4. Download and install macOS Sierra 10.12.1 update
Now you can continue to download and install macOS Sierra 10.12.1 in Mac.
How? You can try to get a update in Mac by the follow clicks:
Macos High Sierra Free Download
Click Apple Menu > Select App Store > Click Update next to macOS Sierra in the Update section.
Or you can directly download it by click below link:
Download macOS Sierra 10.12.1 Update
Then you can run macOS Sierra 10.12.1 update and follow the on-screen instruction to install the new update in Mac computer with ease now.
And don't worry about losing any data if you have created backups in Step 1. If you don't have any backups and lose data while installing macOS Sierra 10.12.1, don't worry. Next we'll offer you effective tip to restore lost data due to macOS Sierra 10.12.1 update.
Tip: Restore lost data after macOS Sierra 10.12.1 update
Here we'd like to recommend you try professional Mac data recovery software - EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac which fully supports all macOS systems including the newest macOS Sierra 10.12.1, El Capitan, Yosemite etc. It allows you to restore all lost data due to macOS update or other reasons within 3 steps.
Just apply this software and follow this tutorial to restore files on Mac now.