A macOS bootable USB installer is a USB drive that contains the macOS installer and is set up to boot a Mac and install macOS.
Creating a macOS 26 Tahoe Beta bootable USB installer is the best solution if you want to try the latest macOS Tahoe Public Beta but worry about its stability, clean install macOS Tahoe Beta, or want to test macOS Tahoe Beta on multiple Mac models.
Here, in this post, we will guide you to creating a bootable USB installer for macOS Tahoe Public Beta step-by-step. More importantly, we'll also tell you how to install macOS 26 Tahoe Beta from this bootable USB installer.
Let's move on!
Tips: The traditional way to create a macOS Tahoe Beta bootable USB installer involves manually searching for and downloading the macOS Tahoe Beta installer, reformatting the USB drive, and running command lines in Terminal.
The whole process is time-consuming and error-prone, especially for tech novices. If you want to quickly obtain a bootable USB installer for macOS Tahoe Beta, we suggest using iBoysoft DiskGeeker. This tool can help you do this job with just a few clicks. Here's how:
1. Free download, install, and open iBoysoft DiskGeeker on your Mac and connect an empty USB drive to your Mac.
2. Select Create boot disk from the sidebar.
3. Choose a volume on the connected USB drive and click Select > Continue.
4. Select macOS Tahoe Beta and click Create boot disk > OK.
5. After the macOS Tahoe Beta DMG file is downloaded, it will automatically start creating the macOS 26 Beta bootable installer at a fast speed.
Share the quickest and easiest way to create a macOS 26 Tahoe Beta bootable USB installer with others.
Step 1. Download macOS Tahoe Beta installer
You can click the direct link below to download the macOS Tahoe Beta installer from the Apple server.
⇩ Download macOS Tahoe Beta installer (size: 16.2 GB)
The downloading process usually takes a while. During the process, ensure that your screen is on, the network connection is stable, and the Mac is connected to the power source.
Notably, when the download process finishes, the macOS 26 Beta installer will automatically open. You'll see a prompt to guide you to install macOS Tahoe Beta on this Mac. Don't follow it, or else macOS Tahoe Beta will be directly installed on this Mac.
Instead, go to the top menu bar, click Install macOS Tahoe Beta > Quit Install macOS. Your macOS Tahoe Beta installer will remain in the Applications folder in Finder for subsequent use.
Step 2. Connect a USB drive and reformat it
Next, prepare a USB flash drive or external hard drive with at least 32 GB. You need to back up the data on the drive first and then reformat it.
- Connect the USB drive to your Mac.
- Open Disk Utility (from Launchpad > Other).
- Select the USB drive (not the volume on the drive) and click Erase.
- Type Install macOS Tahoe Beta in the name section, choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled) (if you'll use the bootable USB to boot up an Apple Silicon Mac, choose APFS) in the Format field, and set GUID Partition Map as the scheme.
- Click Erase and wait for the process to complete.
Step 3. Run Terminal to create a bootable USB installer for macOS Tahoe Beta
Now, you can use the specific createinstallmedia command to create a macOS 26 Tahoe Beta bootable USB installer.
If you think it is complicated to use Terminal to do this task, you can let iBoysoft DiskGeeker help you. Only simple clicks are enough.
Here's how:
- Connect your USB drive to your Mac.
- Open Terminal from Finder > Applications > the Utilities folder.
- Enter the following command into the Terminal window. sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Tahoe\ Beta.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolumeYou should replace MyVolume with the name of the target volume on the USB drive.
By default, your macOS Tahoe Beta installer is named Install macOS Tahoe Beta and stored in the Applications folder in Finder.
If you've changed its name and location, you should rename the installer to Install macOS Tahoe Beta and replace "Applications" with the real location where the installer is stored. - Press Return.
- Enter your admin password if asked.
- Type Y if it asks you whether you agree to erase the volume.
- Wait for the process to complete, and you'll see Terminal saying "Install media is now available."
Note: If you fail to run the command to create the macOS Tahoe Public Beta bootable USB installer due to one of the issues below, click to fix it:
– The Bless of the Installer Disk Failed
– The Copy of the Installer App Failed
– Stuck on 'Making Disk Bootable' When Creating Bootable USB
Tell your friends how to use Terminal to create a macOS 26 bootable USB.
Install macOS Tahoe 26 Beta from the bootable USB installer
After creating the macOS 26 Tahoe Beta bootable USB installer, you can now use it to install macOS Tahoe Beta on your Mac's internal hard drive or an external hard drive.
Necessary checks
1. Ensure the Mac supports macOS 26 Tahoe.
2. Check if the Mac is a T2 or Apple silicon-equipped one (click the Apple menu > About This Mac).
If it is, you should go to macOS Recovery Mode, click Utilities on the menu bar > Startup Security Utility, and modify the settings to allow your Mac to boot from external media.
3. Back up your Mac or external drive if you'll install macOS Tahoe Beta on either of them.
4. Check if the Mac has a good and stable network connection. If not, switch to a powerful Wi-Fi or use Ethernet.
Install macOS Tahoe Beta from the bootable USB installer
After everything is prepared, follow these steps to install macOS Tahoe Beta from the bootable USB installer.
For an Apple Silicon Mac:
- Connect the macOS Tahoe Beta bootable USB installer to the Mac.
- Restart the Mac and simultaneously press and hold the power button (Touch ID) until the startup options appear.
- Select the macOS Tahoe Beta bootable USB installer and click Continue.
- Click Disk Utility.
If you want to install macOS Tahoe Beta on a Mac's internal hard drive, you should erase it (the entire physical internal disk).
If you want to install macOS Tahoe Beta on an external hard drive, connect the disk to the Mac and then reformat it.
Whether reformatting the internal disk or an external drive, choose APFS as the format and set GUID Partition Map as the scheme. - Back to the utilities window, click Install macOS Tahoe Beta > Continue.
- Agree to the terms and conditions.
- Choose your internal disk or external drive where you want to install macOS Tahoe Beta.
- Follow the on-screen guide to complete the installation of macOS Tahoe Beta.
For an Intel-chipped Mac:
- Connect the macOS Tahoe Beta bootable USB installer to the Mac.
- Restart the Mac and, meanwhile, press and hold the Option (Alt) key until you see the bootable volumes.
- Select the macOS Tahoe bootable USB and press Return.
- Click Disk Utility.
If you want to install macOS Tahoe Beta on a Mac's internal hard drive, you should erase it (the entire physical internal disk).
If you want to install macOS Tahoe Beta on an external hard drive, connect the disk to the Mac and then reformat it.
Whether reformatting the internal disk or an external drive, choose APFS as the format and set GUID Partition Map as the scheme. - Return to the utilities pane, select Install macOS Tahoe, and click Continue.
- Agree to the terms and conditions.
- Choose your internal disk or external drive where you want to install macOS Tahoe Beta.
- Follow the on-screen guide to install macOS Tahoe Beta on the Mac.
Note: If you fail to boot the Mac from the bootable USB installer with the Option key, try restarting your Mac with Command-Option-R-P pressed together. Release these keys when the Apple logo appears. After in macOS Recovery Mode, restart your Mac.
In view of our experience, this operation will clear the cache generated by the booting failure. Then, try the above steps again to install macOS Tahoe Beta on the Intel Mac.
If you think this post is a worthwhile guide for creating a macOS Tahoe Beta bootable USB installer and installing macOS Tahoe Beta from this bootable USB, share it with others.
FAQs about creating a macOS 26 Tahoe bootable USB installer
- Q1. What app can create a bootable macOS USB?
-
A
You can use Terminal to run the specific command to create a bootable macOS USB. However, this way is error-prone and complex. Alternatively, you can use iBoysoft DiskGeeker to create a macOS bootable USB installer within simple clicks.
- Q2. Why can't I boot a Mac from the created bootable USB installer for macOS Tahoe Beta?
-
A
Either your USB drive doesn't contain a bootable installer, the way you boot the Mac from the macOS Tahoe Beta bootable USB installer is incorrect, or there are connection issues between your USB drive and the Mac.