Can't create a macOS Sequoia bootable USB

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79 points

Can't create a macOS Sequoia bootable USB

Hello.

I'm on a MacBook Pro M3 Max with macOS Sonoma installed.

I have a 32Gbs USB and downloaded macOS Sequoia from the Mac App Store.

When the download ended and right before the installation window opens, I receive a message saying that macOS Sequoia installer couldn't be found. I actually have the file on my Applications folder and it weights 58 MBs?!?!?!

I tried using the following command (taken from the Apple Website):

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

But my Terminal tells me that '/Applications/Install macOS Sequoia.app does not appear to be a valid OS installer application.'

Why is this happening? Basically I can't Install macOS Sequoia nor can I create a bootable USB drive.

Is this happening to anyone else? How can I solve this?

Thank you.

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 14.7

Posted on Sep 18, 2024 4:10 AM

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Answer 1

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Top-ranking reply

Barney-15E

Level 10

118,944 points

Sep 18, 2024 4:21 AM in response to JMPC

When downloading the installer for a newer version than you have installed, you don’t get a full installer.

You may be able to download a full installer with Terminal.

softwareupdate —-list-full-installers

If There is a 15 version listed, then

softwareupdate —-fetch-full-installer —-full-installer-version 15.0

If the version is different from 15.0, change that to match the version available.

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Answer 2

PRP_53

Level 10

95,141 points

Sep 18, 2024 4:21 AM in response to JMPC

The Full Version of macOS 15 Sequoia Installer Application is 14.54 GB

see below

What you have appears to a " Stub " which has just enough of Sequoia on it

So that when you launch this Stub, it will call back to the Apple Servers and pull down all the remaining elements of Sequoia

May it be suggested to delete the Stub, if you want to create a Bootable Installer

The use the Terminal Command below to Pull the Full 14.54 GB

softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 15.0

I can verify it did work and yes successfully pulled the Full Version

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Answer 3

JMPC Author

Level 1

79 points

Sep 18, 2024 1:42 PM in response to PRP_53

And so, it worked. For some reason the first installer was corrupted.

thank you once again for the help that you and the others provided.

I successfully created a bootable Sd card with macOS Sequoia.

now in a couple of months, hopefully I’ll get to perform a clean install.

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Answer 4

Sep 27, 2024 2:45 AM in response to LitheBeep

LitheBeep wrote:

If you can't make it working by following the above suggestions, then take a look at this with screenshots. You'd better using a fast USB flash drive instead. It could be very slow for USB 2.0 drives as the install macOS Sequoia app is larger than 15GB.

At least USB 3.0 or above flash drive. It is good for both writing install macOS Sequoia app to USB drive and reading content from the USB drive during installation.

[Edited by Moderator]

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Answer 5

Sep 18, 2024 9:33 AM in response to Barney-15E

It has always been a “stub” installer for the first installation of an upgrade. Once you install the new version, you can download a full version.

Sorry but I did not quite catch that. I downloaded the full Sequoia installer from App Store when running Sonoma and successfully created a USB flash installer from it (and running Sequoia from an external test volume right now with no issues).

In the past some macOS versions like High Sierra have been plagued with those stub installers but I though it was quite random which kind of "box of chocolates" the user got, the full installer or just the stub installer.

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Answer 6

Sep 27, 2024 2:41 AM in response to JMPC

If you can't make it working by following the above suggestions, then take a look at this step-by-step guide with screenshots. You'd better using a fast USB flash drive instead. It could be very slow for USB 2.0 drives as the install macOS Sequoia app is larger than 15GB.

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Answer 7

JMPC Author

Level 1

79 points

Sep 27, 2024 5:32 AM in response to iceboooks

Thanks for the suggestion.

Eventually I was able to make it. Specially after noticing that for the first three/four times, the download was corrupted... I guess that a lot of people were downloading the installer.

Also, also, it worked perfectly with an SD card with 32 Gbs. :) It took about half the space though.

Thank you once again.

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Answer 8

JMPC Author

Level 1

79 points

Sep 18, 2024 4:36 AM in response to PRP_53

Thank you for the help.

The last time I did this (about three years ago), the process was so much simple.

Since I deleted the file which yo referee to 'stub', I'm going to download everything again and try this.

I noticed that System Settings is now downloading macOS Sequoia. I'm going to wait and to see what happens..

And then I'll try the method you shared. Thank you.

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Answer 9

PRP_53

Level 10

95,141 points

Sep 18, 2024 4:43 AM in response to JMPC

You are welcome and thank you for the FeedbacK

At one time long ago, Apple used to Offer this Stub Installer

It looks and based upon your observations ( Good Work there 👍 )

They may have resurrected this Stub installer once again

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Answer 10

Barney-15E

Level 10

118,944 points

Sep 18, 2024 4:47 AM in response to JMPC

JMPC wrote:

Thank you. I'm going to try this and see if it works for me.

It used to be so simple to make a bootable USB drive in past versions...

It still is. Nothing has changed. It has always been a “stub” installer for the first installation of an upgrade. Once you install the new version, you can download a full version.

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Answer 11

JMPC Author

Level 1

79 points

Sep 18, 2024 12:08 PM in response to Matti Haveri

I agree. This probably happened to me once many years ago. I’m currently downloading the new macOS. I’ll post later what happened. Hopefully I’ll have a bootable usb soon.

i usually wait a few months before full upgrading to a new OS. I use a lot of Adobe softwares for work and sometimes I have to wait for some updates before upgrading my macOS.