The command will yield a list that should look similar to what’s below, listing the name of the OS, version, size and build. Launch Terminal and enter the following command to determine a list of the installers available for your Mac: softwareupdate -list-full-installersĢ. While this guide will base the process on macOS Ventura, the process is supported by all versions of macOS and OS X, going back to El Capitan.ġ.

macOS Installer App (Install macOS Ventura.app)ĭisclaimer: Before beginning, it’s important to note that this process is intended to be performed before your Mac has a problem, requiring it to be upgraded or restored – not after as that would be too little too late.

USB Flash Drive (with at least 16GB of storage space).

Once restored, you can reconnect your Mac to internet access to easily re-enroll with your preferred MDM solution and regain access to company apps, data and resources.īefore we jump into the simple process, we have a few requirements that we’ll need to make sure the installer creation process is successful: Should you (or a colleague) ever find yourself in a situation where macOS requires restoring, in a pinch, the USB installer can be used to reinstall (and/or upgrade to) macOS on-the-fly. Much like users that work remotely or in hybrid environments have grown accustomed to bringing the accessories they need with them that allow them to be their most productive, a small tool that many mobile users carry with them already and about twenty minutes of time is all that’s necessary to create your very own USB installer drive with the latest version of macOS on it. The reasons for this occurring may vary, but what is certain is that being left stranded without your Mac when you need it most and without access to online resources or IT to get it restored doesn’t have to be the dreadful situation it sounds like with a little preparation. If Murphy’s Law has anything to say about it, there might be times that require us to upgrade or worse, restore macOS, when internet access is spotty or simply unavailable.

While upgrade deployments work best when planned, we don’t always get to choose when life will happen.

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