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download OS Catalina to external drive

Hello, can somebody please tell me how to download MacOs Catalina to an external hard drive? Apple's site wants to reinstall it on my computer and I don't see any other choice on the site. Thanks!

Mac mini, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jun 13, 2020 9:08 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 13, 2020 9:31 AM

You download the installer from the App Store. It will go to your Applications folder.

If it starts automatically, quit it.


Create an installer disk on a thumb drive. Instructions are here:

How to create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Supportsupport.apple.com › en-qa


Start your mac holding down the Option key, select the installer drive.

When the installer starts, you will be asked what drive to install to.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 13, 2020 9:31 AM in response to George Carlin

You download the installer from the App Store. It will go to your Applications folder.

If it starts automatically, quit it.


Create an installer disk on a thumb drive. Instructions are here:

How to create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Supportsupport.apple.com › en-qa


Start your mac holding down the Option key, select the installer drive.

When the installer starts, you will be asked what drive to install to.

download OS Catalina to external drive

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