How to Make a Bootable MacOS Sierra Installation USB Drive

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If you want to do a clean install of macOS Sierra, or have multiple Macs to install it, then a bootable flash drive is the best choice for an easy installation. Here’s how to do it.

Easy Option: Disc Creator

The easiest way to create a USB stick installer is to use the free Disk Creator program.

  1. Download macOS Sierra Installer and Disk Creator .
  2. Insert an 8GB (or larger) stick. If you have any other data on this stick, please make a backup now because the installer will delete everything on it.
  3. Open Disc Creator and click the Select OS X Installer button.
  4. Find the Sierra installation file. It should be located in the Applications folder.
  5. Select your USB stick from the drop-down menu.
  6. Click Create Installer.

When it’s done, insert your USB drive into any Mac, then launch the installer while holding down the Option key as you boot your computer.

DIY Option: Terminal

If you don’t want to download additional software, you can create your own installation USB stick using Terminal.

  1. Download the macOS Sierra installer .
  2. Insert an 8GB (or larger) stick and give it a name. For this tutorial, we will be using the name Untitled . Make sure the drive is formatted for OS X Extended (Journaled). If not, open Disk Utility and format it. Before doing this, back up any important data on this drive. It’s best to unplug any other external hard drives or flash drives so you don’t get confused.
  3. Open Terminal (Applications> Utilities).
  4. Type (or copy and paste) this command into Terminal, replacing Untitled with your drive name, then press Enter: sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Untitled --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app --nointeraction &&say Done
  5. When prompted, enter your password and press Enter.
  6. Let the command line do its job and don’t interrupt until you see the last line labeled Done . This may take a while, so be patient.

When it’s done, insert your USB drive into any Mac, then launch the installer while holding down the Option key as you boot your computer.

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