• Home
  • About 404TS
  • Contact
  • Shop

404 Tech Support

Where IT Help is Found

  • Articles
    • Code
    • Entertainment
    • Going Green
    • Hardware, Gadgets, and Products
    • Management
    • Network
    • News
    • Operating Systems
    • Security and Privacy
    • Software
    • System Administration
    • Talking Points
    • Tech Solutions
    • Web
    • Webmaster
  • Reviews
  • Media
    • Infographics
    • Videos
  • Tech Events
  • Tools
    • How do I find my IP address?
    • Browser and plugin tests
You are here: Home / Articles / Operating Systems / How to create a USB installer for Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan

How to create a USB installer for Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan

July 14, 2015

Creating a bootable USB drive Mac OS X installer can save you time and bandwidth when you have a few Macs you want to update or you want a backup copy of your operating system installer. Fortunately, it’s pretty straight forward to create a USB installer for the latest OS X El Capitan, currently in beta, and the process is the same as OS X 10.10 Yosemite. You will have to apply and be accepted into the OS X Beta program to get access to the early preview of the operating system but this same process applies to the final versions of OS X.

You will need at least an 8GB USB flash drive as the El Capitan beta is a 6GB download. You will need to download the OS X 10.11 install through the Mac App Store by redeeming your code from the beta program. Once the download completes, do not continue with the install. Instead, follow these steps to create your USB bootable drive.

Insert your USB drive to the Mac. Select the drive and format your USB drive as Mac OS X extended (journaled) using Disk Utility.

osx_usb_format

With an administrator account that has a password set, open up terminal and run this command:

elcapitan_appicon

If you’re using the Beta installer:

sudo "/Applications/Install OS X El Capitan Public Beta.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia" --volume /Volumes/Untitled --applicationpath "/Applications/Install OS X El Capitan Public Beta.app" --nointeraction

 

If you’re using the OS X Yosemite Final release:

sudo "/Applications/Install OS X El Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia" --volume /Volumes/Untitled --applicationpath "/Applications/Install OS X El Capitan.app" --nointeraction

Give it about 20 minutes to complete and your drive will be completed afterwards.

elcapitan_command

Your USB drive should now be ready to go.

Insert your USB drive into a compatible Mac and hold down the option key while the Mac is booting up.

Select the “Install OS X El Capitan” drive and the boot will continue until it loads the OS X Utilities.

Select Install OS X and continue through the OS X 10.11 install wizard.

elcapitan_installer

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • Google
  • Email
  • Print

Related

Filed Under: Operating Systems

Follow Us

  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
Subscribe to 404TS articles by email.
  • Popular
  • Latest
  • Today Week Month All
  • Microsoft Word: “This modification is not allowed because the selection is locked.” Microsoft Word: "This modification is not allowed because the selection is locked."
  • What is the AllJoyn Router Service on Windows 10? What is the AllJoyn Router Service on Windows 10?
  • How to: Sort an Excel spreadsheet while keeping the rows intact How to: Sort an Excel spreadsheet while keeping the rows intact
  • Configuring Dell UEFI BIOS to Legacy mode to install Windows 7 Configuring Dell UEFI BIOS to Legacy mode to install Windows 7
  • Scan-To-Email with Office 365 from a multifunction copier or printer Scan-To-Email with Office 365 from a multifunction copier or printer
  • How to enter your emergency information in Android 7.0 Nougat How to enter your emergency information in Android 7.0 Nougat
  • Automate your social media with Thoughts & Prayers App Automate your social media with Thoughts & Prayers App
  • Microsoft announcements at Ignite 2016 Microsoft announcements at Ignite 2016
  • FTC video shares steps for consumers to take post-data breach FTC video shares steps for consumers to take post-data breach
  • Floppy drives, flatbed scanners, and hard drives play Europe’s ‘The Final Countdown’ Floppy drives, flatbed scanners, and hard drives play Europe’s ‘The Final Countdown’
Ajax spinner

Latest Media Posts

Automate your social media with Thoughts & Prayers App

Automate your social media with Thoughts & Prayers App

FTC video shares steps for consumers to take post-data breach

FTC video shares steps for consumers to take post-data breach

Floppy drives, flatbed scanners, and hard drives play Europe’s ‘The Final Countdown’

Floppy drives, flatbed scanners, and hard drives play Europe’s ‘The Final Countdown’

View more Media posts

Upcoming Tech Events

  1. Microsoft Ignite 2016

    September 26 - September 30
  2. TwitchCon 2016

    September 30 - October 2
  3. Google hardware event

    October 4
  4. Netflix price increase takes effect for existing customers

    October 8
  5. IEEE International Conference on Rebooting Computing 2016

    October 17 - October 19

View All Events

Search

Elevator Pitch

404 Tech Support documents solutions to IT problems, shares worthwhile software and websites, and reviews hardware, consumer electronics, and technology-related books.

Recent Posts

  • How to enter your emergency information in Android 7.0 Nougat
  • Automate your social media with Thoughts & Prayers App
  • Microsoft announcements at Ignite 2016
  • FTC video shares steps for consumers to take post-data breach

FTC Disclaimer

404TechSupport is an Amazon.com affiliate; when you click on an Amazon link from 404TS, the site gets a cut of the proceeds from whatever you buy. This site also uses Skimlinks for smart monetization of other affiliate links.
Use of this site requires displaying and viewing ads as they are presented.

Copyright © 2016 · 404TechSupport.com

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.