How to create a macOS 12 Monterey USB Boot Disk

I will show you how to download macOS Monterey 12.0.1, and then create a bootable USB Installer Flash Drive!

If you want to install or upgrade to macOS Monterey, creating macOS 12.0.1 USB installer is the way to go! This will allow you to quickly install the OS on Intel and M1 Macs.

The instructions below will show you how to create a macOS Monterey Full Installer in under 5 min!

You can also watch my walkthrough video below.

My how to create a macOS Monterey 12.0.1 USB Installer.

Step 1 – Download macOS Monterey

On Monday October 24th 2021, Apple will release macOS Monterey.

Below is a picture of what your system preferences will look like when it is available for you to download.

MrMacintosh.com - This is what macOS Monterey will look like in System Preferences
This is what macOS Monterey will look like in System Preferences

Click "Upgrade Now" NOTE: this will not automatically install monterey, it will only download the installer. When the download is complete, a pop up window will show up up and the installer will be in your /Applications folder.

MrMacintosh.com - macOS Monterey downloaded to your Applications folder.
macOS Monterey downloaded to your Applications folder.

You can also download macOS Monterey Directly from Apple's servers.

You can go head over to my macOS Monterey Full Installer Database to grab the latest 12.0.1 Final InstallAssistant.pkg file from the link below.

https://mrmacintosh.com/macos-12-monterey-full-installer-database-download-directly-from-apple/

You can watch my quick video below that shows you how to download the full macOS Monterey Installer.

Step 2 – How to create macOS Monterey USB Installer

I have the steps listed below but if you want to watch a short video on the process, watch the video below.

If you downloaded macOS Monterey from System Preferences, skip to step 4.

Step 3 – Install InstallAssistant.pkg

You will now see InstallAssistant.pkg in your Downloads folder.

Double click to install it.

All this Apple package installer will do is just move the "Install macOS Monterey app" into your Applications folder.

NOTE: this package is just a link to Apple's own software update server.

This what the link looks like if you right click on it.

http://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/21/10/002-17762-A_GUNYNIZ0PW/witdqh4bei493fvgin01qavvy1dfhcb87w/InstallAssistant.pkg

Notice that the file is coming directly from apple.com

This is what the InstallAssistant.pkg looks like in the downloads folder.

Step 4 Erase & Format your USB Flash Drive

Now that you have the Install macOS Monterey app in your /Applications folder you can create your USB Installer! The USB Flash Drive needs to be at least 16GB because the installer is about 12-14GB.

Plug in your USB Flash Drive

Open up Disk Utility and then click the "View" button. Select "Show All Volumes" and click the top level USB drive name.

The "Top level drive" is usually the name of the USB Drive. In this example my drive is called "KINGSTON SA400S37120"

Disk Utility – Erase your USB Flash Drive for macOS 12 installer. Use Mac OS Extended Journaled format & GUID Partition Map

Click the Erase button to erase your USB Flash drive.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The name can be anything but be sure to use Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format & GUID Partition Map.

Step 5 Install macOS Monterey to your USB Drive

Open up the Terminal.app from /Applications/Utilities

2. type in sudo then space

3. Drag your macOS Monterey installer app to the terminal window

4. the full path is sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Monterey.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia

5. Add the –volume option then drag your USB Flash Drive to the terminal window.

The final full path will look like this sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Monterey.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Untitled

Hit enter and then enter your account password.

Creating macOS 12.0.1 Monterey USB Boot Disk

From here the files will start to copy to your USB flash Drive. The total time should be about 5-10 min depending on your USB Flash drive speed.

Step 6 How to boot to your new Monterey USB Installer.

To boot to the USB Installer:

Apple Silicon M1 Mac = Power down your Mac. Turn it back on but continue to hold the power button until you see the Boot Picker. From here your USB installer drive will show up. All you need to do is click on it to boot.

2010-2017 Intel Mac = Power down your Mac. Turn it back on but hold down the Option key. You will see the boot picker. Your USB drive will load, select the USB installer and click the arrow. The Mac will now boot to your USB installer.

2018-2020 Intel T2 Mac = You will need to first boot to internal recovery by holding down Command R. You need to enable "External Boot". Once you are in recovery go to the top menu bar and select Utilities > Startup Security Utility.

You need to enable "Allow booting from external media"

Click on "Allow booting from external media" and reboot. Hold down option and then select your USB installer. You can now install macOS from your usb drive!

macOS Monterey USB installer