How to Download macOS

How to download macOS for clean installs, bootable USB creation, or system recovery. Instructions for Terminal, System Settings, and macOS ISO download.

Apple provides a Mac System Setting for migrating to the latest macOS version without deleting user files. For most Mac users, an "over the top" install is the easiest way to upgrade macOS:

Upgrade macOS to Sequoia

If you are looking here for other macOS downloads, for example, for any software that runs on the Mac, see the Mac Install Guide home page for your search.

Read on to learn how to download macOS for clean installs, bootable USB creation, or system recovery, all requiring downloads of a complete macOS installer package. This is technically advanced for many users who only use Apple's automated macOS updates but it's all explained clearly here and may be a life-saver if you have a Mac problem.

Here's what is covered:

Download macOS for a clean install: Learn how to download a macOS installer, including the latest version of macOS.
Create a bootable USB drive: Follow these instructions to create a bootable USB drive for macOS installation.
Install macOS from Recovery mode: Learn how to recover macOS from a recovery partition.
Create a macOS ISO file: For virtual machines, enterprise deployment systems, or long-term archival storage.

Before you get started

You'll need a terminal application to use the Mac command line. Apple includes the Mac terminal but I prefer Warp Terminal. Warp is an easy-to-use terminal application, with AI assistance to help you learn and remember terminal commands. Download Warp Terminal now; it's FREE and worth a try.

Why download a macOS installer

Downloading a macOS installer puts you in control of a macOS installation. You'll need it if you want to:

Create a convenient bootable USB drive

A bootable USB installer lets you install macOS on any compatible Mac without downloading anything. You'll need a bootable USB installer to set up multiple Macs, fix a Mac that won't start, or install macOS without Internet access.

The USB installer works independently of your Mac's internal drive. You can boot from it even if your Mac's storage fails completely. IT professionals use bootable installers to deploy macOS across entire organizations efficiently.

A bootable USB is useful for:

Installing macOS on multiple different Macs
Situations where your Mac won't boot normally
Installing when you don't have internet access
IT deployment scenarios

Force a clean install for a fresh start

A clean install erases your Mac's hard drive and installs macOS from scratch. This removes years of accumulated junk files, corrupted preferences, and software conflicts that slow down your system. Clean installs fix problems that regular updates can't touch. If your Mac runs slowly, crashes frequently, or has mysterious bugs, a clean install often solves these issues completely. You start with a pristine system exactly like a new Mac.

It's easiest to do a clean install using a bootable USB installer. However, you can boot into Recovery Mode, use Disk Utility to erase your drive, then reinstall macOS directly. This downloads a fresh copy from Apple's servers. Or run the full installer from your Applications folder, then use Disk Utility during the installation process to erase your drive before installing. Also on newer Macs, you can use System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings, which performs a secure erase and gives you the option to reinstall macOS.

Reinstall macOS when troubleshooting

Sometimes macOS gets corrupted in ways that prevent normal startup or operation. The full installer lets you reinstall macOS over your existing system without losing files or settings.

This approach fixes system-level problems while preserving your data and applications. You avoid the time-consuming process of restoring from backup while still getting a fresh system foundation.

Create a macOS ISO file

ISO files (named after the ISO 9660 standard) are disk images that work across different platforms and tools. You might need an ISO file for virtual machines, enterprise deployment systems, or long-term archival storage where Apple's native installer format won't work.

Virtual machines let you run macOS inside another operating system like Windows or Linux. The full installer must be converted to the ISO format that virtualization software understands.

Developers use virtual machines for software testing on different macOS versions. Or you might run an older macOS version in a virtual machine to use legacy applications that don't work on current systems.

What's here

Read on to learn how to download macOS for clean installs, bootable USB creation, or system recovery, all requiring downloads of a complete macOS installer package.

Getting ready

Check compatibility before downloading anything. Your Mac determines which macOS versions you can download and run.

macOS Sequoia 15 works on these models:

iMac (2019 and later)
iMac Pro (2017)
Mac Studio (2022 and later)
Mac mini (2018 and later)
Mac Pro (2019 and later)
MacBook Air (2020 and later)
MacBook Pro (2018 and later)

Check your model by clicking the Apple menu > About This Mac > More Info. MacOS Sonoma 14.7.6 remains available with security updates for legacy hardware, particularly 2018-2019 MacBook Air models that Sequoia no longer supports.

MacOS Tahoe 26 entered developer beta following WWDC 2025, marking Apple's transition to a unified numbering scheme across all platforms. This version will be the final macOS to support Intel Macs, with compatibility limited to select 2018-2019 models including specific iMac, MacBook Pro, Mac Pro, and Mac mini configurations. Public beta availability is expected in July 2025, with final release scheduled for fall 2025.

Storage requirements: macOS Sequoia needs 35GB free space for installation. The installer itself is 15GB. Clear space before downloading to avoid errors.

Network connection: Large downloads need stable broadband connections. Use a hard-wired ethernet connection when possible, not wifi.

Downloading an installer

A complete macOS installer is a large app file (12-15GB) containing everything needed to install macOS. This differs from a small "stub" installer that downloads additional files during installation. The current version, macOS Sequoia 15.5, requires approximately 35GB of free space for installation, though the installer file itself is about 15GB.

You need the complete installer for:

Creating bootable USB drives for multiple Macs
Clean installations to fix persistent problems
Installing when Internet access is not available
System recovery when your internal drive fails

The installer package is available using either Apple or third-party tools, through either the GUI or the Terminal for command-line operations.

Download from Mac App Store

Apple offers installers for most macOS versions through the Mac App Store. The Mac App Store is the recommended method for downloading macOS installers. Apple provides direct App Store links for current versions. Use the Safari web browser for optimal compatibility.

Open the App Store from your Dock or Applications folder
Search for "macOS Sequoia" (or another version name)
Click Get to start downloading
Wait for download completion — the installer appears in Applications

Downloaded installers appear in the Applications folder as "Install [Version Name].app" and launch automatically or can be saved for later use. The App Store dims the "Get" button and displays "not compatible with this device" warnings if you don't have a compatible Mac.

Download using the command line

Use a terminal application for direct access to Apple's servers, providing more version options. Find the Mac Terminal in the Applications > Utilities folder or by searching for Terminal using Spotlight search. Or use a better terminal application such as Warp Terminal. The first step is to open the Mac terminal.

The softwareupdate command manages all system updates from the command line.

List available installers for your Mac:

$ softwareupdate --list-full-installers

This command shows every macOS version your specific Mac can run.

Download a specific version:

$ softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 15.5

Replace "15.5" with your desired version number. The installer downloads to Applications automatically.

Download the latest compatible version:

$ softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer

This grabs the newest macOS version that works on your Mac.

Obtaining older macOS versions

Apple maintains direct download links for legacy macOS versions through their support site.

Open Safari (other browsers may have issues)
Visit support.apple.com and search "download macOS"
Select your desired version from the results
Download the .dmg or .pkg file when prompted
Double-click the downloaded file to extract the installer

The installer extracts to your Applications folder automatically.

Third-party tools and resources

Take a look at third-party tools that provide alternatives to Apple's macOS installer options:

Mr. Macintosh Mr. Macintosh provides direct links to Apple's CDN with comprehensive version lists and SHA256 checksums for verification. The site maintains current lists for all supported macOS versions from Big Sur through Sequoia. See a comprehensive article showing 8 Different Ways to Download macOS Full Installers.

gibMacOS gibMacOS offers a Python-based download tool with direct Apple server access and cross-platform support for Windows, macOS, and Linux systems. The tool automates recovery USB creation and provides menu-driven version selection.

installinstallmacos.py installinstallmacos.py from [Greg Neagle's macadmin-scripts] repository creates disk images with installers ready for enterprise deployment, creating a .dmg file at the root of your home folder. You'll need to install Python first.

Verify your installer

Check that your installer is authentic and uncorrupted using the codesign command.

$ codesign -dv --verbose=4 /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sequoia.app

Look for "Apple Mac OS Installer" in the output. This confirms the installer came from Apple.

How to create a bootable USB installer

A bootable USB drive lets you install macOS on any compatible Mac, even without Internet access.

Prepare a USB drive

You need a USB drive with 16GB minimum storage (32GB recommended) formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) with GUID Partition Map. The process erases all data on the drive.

Connect your USB drive to your Mac
Open Disk Utility from Applications > Utilities
Select your USB drive in the sidebar
Click Erase at the top
Set format to "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)"
Name the drive "MyVolume" (required for Terminal commands)
Click Erase to format the drive

The drive name "MyVolume" must be exact for the commands below to work.

Create the Installer

Use a terminal application to convert your USB drive into a bootable installer using the createinstallmedia command.

For macOS Sequoia:

$ sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sequoia.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume

For macOS Sonoma:

$ sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sonoma.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume

You are using the sudo command for administrative privileges.

Type your admin password when prompted
Wait for completion — this takes 20-30 minutes
Don't disconnect the drive during the process

The process renames your USB drive to "Install macOS [Version]" when finished. Boot your Mac from the USB drive or use the USB drive to install macOS.

Use a bootable USB installer for a clean install

A clean install erases your Mac and installs a fresh version of the macOS. Use this method to fix persistent problems or prepare a Mac for new ownership. Here's how to do a clean install using a bootable USB installer. If you don't have a bootable USB drive, see instructions below for a clean install using Recovery mode.

Back Up Your Data

Clean installs erase everything on your Mac. You can't recover data after starting a clean install. Back up important files first.

Connect an external drive with enough space
Use Time Machine or manually copy important files
Verify your backup before proceeding

If you don't have an external hard drive, save important files to cloud storage like iCloud Drive, Google Drive, or GitHub. Or save files to a USB drive.

Boot from USB

Different Mac types require different startup procedures.

Apple Silicon Macs:

Shut down your Mac completely
Hold the power button until "Loading startup options" appears
Select your bootable USB installer from the options
Click Continue to proceed

Intel Macs:

Connect your bootable USB to the Mac
Restart while holding Option key
Release when startup options appear
Select the USB installer from the list

Erase and Install

Clean installation requires erasing your internal drive first.

Select Disk Utility from macOS Utilities
Choose your internal drive (usually "Macintosh HD")
Click Erase at the top
Set format to APFS (for newer Macs) or Mac OS Extended (older Macs)
Click Erase to wipe the drive
Quit Disk Utility when finished
Select Install macOS from utilities
Follow the installation prompts

The installation process takes 30-60 minutes depending on your Mac.

Use macOS Recovery for a reinstall or clean install

Recovery mode provides built-in tools to reinstall macOS without a USB installer. This method requires Internet access. Recovery Mode can either preserve existing files or perform a clean install.

Access Recovery Mode

Recovery mode access depends on your Mac type.

Intel Macs:

Command + R: Reinstalls your current macOS version
Option + Command + R: Downloads the latest compatible version
Shift + Option + Command + R: Installs your Mac's original macOS

Restart your Mac
Immediately hold the key combination until the Apple logo appears
Release when macOS Utilities appears

Apple Silicon Macs:

Shut down your Mac
Hold the power button until "Loading startup options" appears
Click Options then Continue
Enter your password if prompted

Reinstall Over Existing System

This preserves your files and applications while refreshing the operating system.

Select "Reinstall macOS" from the utilities window
Click Continue to start
Choose "Macintosh HD" as the destination (not "Macintosh HD - Data")
Wait for download and installation to complete
Keep your Mac awake during the process

Recovery installations preserve your files and settings by default. During a Recovery Mode reinstall, you want macOS to refresh the system volume while leaving your data untouched. Selecting "Macintosh HD - Data" would try to install the operating system in the wrong place. The installer knows to preserve "Macintosh HD - Data" automatically when you choose "Macintosh HD" as the destination. Your files stay safe while the system gets refreshed.

Clean Install from Recovery Mode

For a true clean install, erase your drive first before reinstalling macOS.

Select "Disk Utility" from macOS Utilities
Choose your startup disk (usually "Macintosh HD")
Click Erase in the toolbar
Set format to "APFS" for newer Macs or "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" for older models
Name the drive (keep "Macintosh HD" or choose a new name)
Click Erase to wipe the drive completely
Quit Disk Utility when finished
Select "Reinstall macOS" from utilities
Choose your freshly erased drive as the destination
Follow the setup prompts after installation completes

This method erases everything and gives you a completely fresh macOS installation.

Create macOS ISO files

ISO files are useful with virtualization software like VMware, UTM, or Parallels, but serve multiple purposes beyond virtualization software. You might need an ISO for virtual machines, cross-platform installations, or archival storage.

Why Create ISO Files

Virtual machines: VMware, Parallels, and UTM require ISO format for macOS installation in virtual environments.

Cross-platform booting: Some third-party boot managers and partition tools work better with ISO files than native macOS installers.

Network deployment: IT environments often distribute operating systems as ISO images through network boot servers or deployment tools.

Long-term archival: ISO files store more reliably than app bundles over time. They maintain bit-perfect copies of installation media.

Testing environments: Developers use ISO files to quickly spin up clean macOS instances for software testing without affecting their main system.

Generate the ISO

These commands convert a macOS installer into an ISO file:

$ hdiutil create -o /tmp/Sequoia -size 16g -layout SPUD -fs HFS+J
$ hdiutil attach /tmp/Sequoia.dmg -noverify -mountpoint /Volumes/install_build
$ sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sequoia.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/install_build
$ hdiutil detach /Volumes/Install\ macOS\ Sequoia
$ hdiutil convert /tmp/Sequoia.dmg -format UDTO -o /tmp/Sequoia.cdr
$ mv /tmp/Sequoia.cdr ~/Desktop/Sequoia.iso

The ISO file appears on your desktop when finished. This creates a standard format file that works across different platforms and tools.

Troubleshooting macOS download issues

If you encounter problems downloading macOS, try these solutions.

Problem: Download stalls or fails repeatedly

Explanation: Downloads may stall or fail due to network instability, server overload, or connectivity issues.
Solution: Try downloading during off-peak hours to avoid server congestion. Switching to an ethernet connection can provide a more stable and faster download experience than wifi.
Comments: Users report that downloads sometimes resume or succeed when retried at different times, suggesting possible server-side load balancing issues. Some recommend using command-line tools like wget with the --read-timeout and -c (continue) options for large files that repeatedly fail in browsers or download managers.

Problem: "Update not found" error in App Store

Explanation: This error can occur if the App Store cannot locate the requested update, often due to caching, regional restrictions, or server issues.
Solution: Use Terminal commands to download the update directly. For example, commands like softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 12.6.9 can bypass the App Store for macOS installers.
Comments: Some users mention that switching between beta options or trying different sources (like third-party sites) can help, but official Terminal commands are more reliable and secure.

Problem: Insufficient storage space

Explanation: macOS updates and large downloads require significant free space—not just for the installer, but also for temporary files and installation.
Solution: Free up at least 40GB of space before attempting to download and install updates.
Comments: Users have found that the updater may not always warn about low disk space; instead, it may simply fail or stall. Deleting large files or unused applications often resolves the issue. Always check the partition where your Downloads folder is located, as it may differ from the main system partition.

Problem: "Installer verification failed"

Explanation: This error can occur if your Mac’s date and time are incorrect, causing certificate validation to fail.
Solution: Set your date and time to update automatically in System Settings.
Comments: This is a recommended solution in Apple’s support documentation.

Additional tips from users

Try Alternative Browsers: If Safari fails, users report success with Firefox or Chrome for downloading large files, especially when the issue is browser-specific.
Check Downloads Folder Permissions: Some users suggest moving or recreating the Downloads folder if downloads consistently fail, as permission or file system errors may be at play.
Prevent System Sleep: For long-running downloads or installations, prevent your Mac from going to sleep or locking the screen, as this can interrupt the process.
Retry After Restart: Restarting your Mac can resolve temporary glitches that prevent downloads from completing.

What's next

My mac.install.guide is a trusted source of installation guides for professional developers. Take a look at the Mac Install Guide home page for tips and trends and see what to install next.