Can't restore OS on a 2011 iMac.

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Level 1

30 points

Can't restore OS on a 2011 iMac.

I am giving away a 2011 iMac. The most recent os was High Sierra 10.13.6. I erased all content and settings. Now I can't restore OS. I don't have a bootable USB drive. I tried recommended steps to restore but haven't had any success. I've used terminal to change the date, a recommendation. No luck. Another recommendation was to hold down opt + com. + R to enter restore, and I've used shft.+opt.+com.+R. and end up not being able to proceed. It wants to install Lion os. I then get the error message "Can't download additional components needed to install Mac OS X"

I have a new 2024 iMac. I'd like to create a bootable thumb drive but there are only two ports, both USB-C. I'm searching for adaptors to allow me to use my USB drives. Is there a simpler way?

iMac 27″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Nov 22, 2025 10:27 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 22, 2025 4:01 PM in response to Tom Crouch

You won't be able to use the 2024 iMac to create a bootable thumb drive for the 2011 iMac because the new one cannot run - is not qualified to run - any OS that the old iMac can run.

To create that bootable installer, you'll need a Mac from the era 2011-2017 roughly.

The Mac must qualify to run whatever OS you are trying to create the installer for, presumably 10.13 High Sierra, being that is the latest OS the 2011 iMac can run.

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Answer 2

den.thed

Level 10

90,706 points

Nov 22, 2025 12:47 PM in response to Tom Crouch

for adapter examples:

USB-C to USB Adapter - Apple

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08Z768LCW/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?

https://www.target.com/p/philips-usb-c-to-3-0-usb-a-female-adapter/-/A-79804275

To downloading older macOS versions:

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

To creating a bootable installer for macOS:

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

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