How to Make El Capitan Bootable USB

Are you looking for a way to make a bootable USB drive for OS X El Capitan? If so, this article will guide you through the process step by step.

Before we begin, note that you'll need approximately 15-20 minutes of spare time and a little bit of patience. Additionally, be aware that the drive will be formatted as part of the process, so if it currently has anything important stored on it, you'll need to make a copy of that data in a safe location.

To start, you'll need a USB flash drive with a minimum capacity of 8GB. Once you have your drive ready, follow these steps:

1. Download the InstallOS.pkg file from an official source, such as Apple's website.

2. Connect your USB flash drive to your computer and open Disk Utility (located in Applications/Utilities).

3. Select the USB drive from the list of connected devices on the left-hand side of the window.

4. Click the 'Erase' button at the top of the window and select 'Quick Erase.'

5. Once the erase process is complete, click the 'Restore' button and select the InstallOS.pkg file you downloaded earlier.

6. Follow the prompts to complete the restore process.

Now that your USB drive is formatted and has the installation files, you're ready to use it as a bootable installer for OS X El Capitan.

To test your new bootable installer, restart your computer and hold down the 'Option' (⌥) key while powering on. This will bring up the boot menu, allowing you to select your USB drive as the installation source.

If you encounter any issues during the process, such as encountering a message stating that OS X El Capitan cannot be installed on your computer, don't worry! We'll cover some common troubleshooting steps below.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

1. 'This version of OS X 10.11 cannot be installed on this Computer': If you see this error message, it's likely because the installation file is not compatible with your computer's architecture or operating system. Try using a different installation file or seeking assistance from Apple Support.

2. 'This item is temporarily unavailable': If you encounter this message, try restarting your computer and trying again. This error may be caused by a temporary issue with the download or installation process.

By following these steps and troubleshooting common issues, you should be able to create a bootable installer for OS X El Capitan and install it on your desired computer.

Remember to always back up your important data before erasing any drives or performing a clean install of macOS. Happy installing!

How to make el capitan bootable usb