You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Can I quit OS installer to install the OS later?

After downloading a new Mac OS (Catalina), I understand that the installer will launch immediately. But I would like the option to install the OS at a later time. Can I quit the OS installer then later locate the "Install MacOS Catalina" in my Applications Folder then launch it to do the installation? (Reason: My slow download speed will mean the download may take quite a while. I'd like to have the option to do the actual installation at a later time, perhaps the next day. I'm currently running a 2017 MacBook Air with High Sierra.) THANK YOU.

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Jan 12, 2021 10:57 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 12, 2021 11:42 AM

May I offer another suggestion? Using Wi-Fi to do the download is not recommended as it often results in corruption of the download file. Then it may not complete, or it may not load, or it may load a corrupted OS. This is because these files are very big and speed is essential. Better to use a wired Ethernet connection for these downloads. The download should take about an hour, more or less, and the installation should take about 45 minutes, more or less. Good luck.

Similar questions

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 12, 2021 11:42 AM in response to hesson11

May I offer another suggestion? Using Wi-Fi to do the download is not recommended as it often results in corruption of the download file. Then it may not complete, or it may not load, or it may load a corrupted OS. This is because these files are very big and speed is essential. Better to use a wired Ethernet connection for these downloads. The download should take about an hour, more or less, and the installation should take about 45 minutes, more or less. Good luck.

Can I quit OS installer to install the OS later?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.