Can M1 mac external boot? (Because it is much cheaper)
Mac mini 2018 or later
Hello
Yes, a M1 Mac will external boot. Apparently, trying to select an external drive using the Option key doesn't work. instead, I'm having to select the external startup drive either via System Preferences or by holding down the power key during startup to get into Recovery Mode. Please note: currently, external drives cloned via Carbon Copy Cloner don't work as startup drives.
The Trebleet single drive enclosure just came back in stock in limited quantities. I ordered one and it should be here Tuesday/Wednesday. I'll grab the SSD today locally. Will report back on how everything works once it's set up.
Did you install 11.1 normally, or use Recovery?
The process I use is to use CCC to copy my data vol. to the drive. Then I go into recovery and install Big Sur onto the drive. It works every time. I think in the future I will try the normal process and just do the update after booting from the external drive. It should work fine as that is what I do on my other Mac (non M1 design) and it works fine.
tbirdvet wrote:
• Just to review my process: that works for me:
Format external drive (TB# with Trebleet enclosure) to APFS
• Use CCC to copy data vol to external drive
• Boot into recovery and install Big Sur on external drive. System asks for password
• the process starts and Mac reboots 2-3 times and then boots up using the external drive to finish final step of install
Is this the way you did yours? I have done this several times using my TB3 Trebleet and no issues.
Yes, that exactly how I did mine.
Using version 5.1.24 (6142) of CCC, and version 11.1 of macOS.
woodmeister50 wrote:
His opinion is "Something is not completely baked here".
I kind of agree.
Yep, this is becoming more and more obvious everyday.
BTW, I spoke with someone who last week said their T5 was bootable.
They recently told me their T5 is no longer bootable.
Tell us the result if you did it!
How to enter the new recovery mode:
https://youtu.be/ilnfvkgzVvg
Yes, System Preferences > Startup Disk.
Follow the link above to use the Startup Security Utility.
This is about restoring (replacing the OS), not a simple boot into an already formatted disk and running on it. Very different beasts...
I'm starting to think that the best route is Thunderbolt 3 enclosures....
M1 mac external boot
