How To Install macOS On External Hard Drive?

Installing Mac OS on an external hard drive is a great way to experience different versions of Mac OS without permanently changing anything on your Mac computer. If you wish to know how to install Mac OS on external hard drive, follow the below instructions.

FORMAT YOUR EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE:

• First, make sure to connect the external hard drive to your Mac computer.
• Now, open the Finder app using the dock at the bottom of the window.
• Select the Applications category from the left menu panel on the screen.
• Click on the Utilities option from the list.
• Here, choose the Disk Utility option.
• Click the View button at the top-left corner of the window.
• Select the Show All Devices option.
• Now, you will see the external hard drive that is connected to your Mac computer.
• Choose your respective hard drive from the left menu panel on the screen.
• Click the Erase button.
• A small dialog box will pop up at the top of the window.
• Here, enter the name for your external hard drive in the Name field.
• Select the Format field and choose the Mac OS Extended option from the drop-down list.
• Click the Scheme field and select the GUID Partition Map option from the drop-down list.
• Next, click on the Erase button.



• It takes some time to create the partition and set up the drive on Disk Utility.
• Once this process is complete, click the Done button.
• Now, the hard drive is ready to install the Mac OS.

Continue reading the given instructions to know how to install macOS on external hard drive.

DOWNLOAD ANY VERSION OF MAC OS:

INSTALL MAC OS ON YOUR EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE:

• After downloading Mac OS, launch the Finder window and open the Applications folder on your Mac.
• Navigate to the downloaded Mac OS file and double-click on it.
• In the installation window, click the Continue button.
• Now, accept the software license agreement and click Agree.
• Click on the Continue button.
• Here, you will be prompted to select the disk to install Mac OS.
• Click the Show All Disks button.
• In the next window, choose your respective hard drive from the list.
• Click the Install button.
• You need to wait for some time to complete the Mac OS installation on your external hard drive.

RUN MAC OS ON YOUR EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE:

• Make sure to connect the external hard drive to your Mac computer.
• First, click on the Apple icon at the top-left corner of the window.
• Select the System Preferences option from the drop-down list.
• Choose the Startup Disk option from the list.
• Here, select the external hard drive where you have installed the Mac OS and click the Restart button.



• Otherwise, hold down the Option key on your keyboard during startup or press and hold the Power button on your Mac until you see the startup options.
• Next, select your respective external hard drive from the list.
• Now, your computer will boot into the version of Mac OS that you have installed on your external hard drive.

Now you have seen how to install macOS on external hard drive.

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