How to create a macOS 10.15 Catalina USB installer

This direct volition exhibit yous how to brand an install drive from either the Developer or the Public Beta version of the macOS Catalina 10.15 application. Having an install drive allows for deployment to multiple computers without re-downloading, performing construct clean installs, together with booting to the installer’s in-built recovery tools for troubleshooting.

Once Catalina is out of beta, I’ll update the direct amongst the instructions for the full general release.

To larn started you’ll demand the Install macOS Catalina Beta application together with an external storage drive larger than 8GB. H5N1 USB pollex drive is commonly best for this, only yous could also role an SD card or an external difficult drive partition.

How to exercise a macOS Catalina installer

1) Download the Install macOS Catalina Beta application.

If yous convey a paid developer account, yous tin download the Beta Access Utility from the Apple Developer portal downloads section. Once installed on your computer, it volition get downloading the Developer Beta.

If yous don’t convey a paid developer account, yous tin join the Public Beta for free. You volition together with then endure provided amongst a dissimilar version of the Beta Access Utility. Once installed on your computer, it volition get downloading the Public Beta.

2) Once the download is finished, your Mac volition opened upward it. Quit it, opened upward your /Applications folder together with notice the installer there. It’s simpler non to rename the file, nor to motion it out of /Applications.

3) Format your >=8GB drive to GUID Partition Map and Mac OS Extended (Journaled); this can endure done from the Disk Utility application. This volition wipe the drive completely.

4) Name the formatted USB drive USB.

5) Now opened upward up Terminal and glue inward this command:

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Catalina\ Beta.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/USB --nointeraction

This volition role the Catalina application to exercise an installer on your chosen drive.

• If yous desire to endure asked for confirmation earlier erasing the drive, take away “–nointeraction” from the command.


• The “–downloadassets” flag was introduced inward macOS Mojave. It downloads assets which may endure required during installation. This is presumably helpful for faster or offline installations, though I haven’t noticed a difference. I wouldn’t bother amongst it for the beta installer, only it mightiness endure worth it in i trial the full general let out comes around. The ascendency industrial plant fine without the flag included.


• Older versions of macOS used an “–applicationpath” flag inward this command, only this is straightaway deprecated together with volition campaign an fault if used. Use the ascendency above, instead of updating the ascendency mentioned inward guides which were written for previous versions of macOS.

6) Hit Enter to final result the command, together with lay in your password when prompted. Terminal volition inform yous when the drive has been successfully created, together with it volition look on the desktop entitled Install macOS Catalina Beta.

How to role the macOS Catalina USB installer

1) Shut downwards your reckoner together with insert the USB drive.

2) Start the reckoner whilst asset downwards the Option (⌥) key.

3) The Startup Manager volition exhibit a listing of available drives. Select Install macOS Catalina Beta to kicking from the USB drive.

4) You tin straightaway install macOS Catalina every bit yous like. The installer allows yous to reformat your startup drive together with other storage disks too. Tools such every bit Terminal, Startup Disk, together with Firmware Password Utility are accessible from the top-bar menus.

Enjoy trying out Apple’s newest offering! Remember that beta software volition comprise bugs, therefore if yous convey critical information on your machine yous mightiness endure amend off installing macOS Catalina to a split drive.

Your USB install drive tin endure used to troubleshoot your Mac if it becomes corrupted together with can’t brand role of its ain Recovery partition. The powerfulness to reinstall the operating organisation or role Terminal from the drive is extremely useful. You tin also role it to install Catalina to other computers without having to re-download the installer each time.

Need assist amongst this guide? Ask your questions below!

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