Trying to erase and start over on Mac
desktop from 2011. I erased the drive and now all i get when i try to re download system is “a required download is missing” i can’t figure out how to create a bootable installer from my new Mac either. I’m lost.
iMac 27″, OS X 10.11
Bootable installers are based on full installers, and full installers will not download on Mac hardware that is not supported for installation. Your 2011 iMac cannot upgrade beyond High Sierra 10.13.6, so any effort to download Mojave or later is doomed.
Using Safari only, visit How to get old versions of macOS and check the hardware requirements. You will need a mid-2012 iMac if you need something newer than High Sierra.
Bootable installers are based on full installers, and full installers will not download on Mac hardware that is not supported for installation. Your 2011 iMac cannot upgrade beyond High Sierra 10.13.6, so any effort to download Mojave or later is doomed.
Using Safari only, visit How to get old versions of macOS and check the hardware requirements. You will need a mid-2012 iMac if you need something newer than High Sierra.
What system are you trying to install on the 2011? It cannot run higher than macOS 10.13.X High Sierra.
Are you using Safari for any downloads? Firefox is not curently working properly for macOS installers.
Did you see these Apple articles?
Download link to High Sierra is in this article: How to get old versions of macOS - Apple Support
Creating a bootable USB drive (also has OS installer links): How to create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support
A 2011 Mac can only run up-to macOS 10.13 High Sierra.
You need to first try starting up in macOS Internet Recovery (Option Command R) and Install the offered macOS.
see > https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904
If that doesn't work, you can get macOS 10.13 High Sierra and create a bootable USB Installer of High Sierra,
as per > https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372
If the Download macOS High Sierra in the above link does not work, you can also get macOS High Sierra
the only thing it will let me download is the El Capitan on the iMac 2011 which I’m fine with , just want it to actually download at this point. I will read the articles above and see if i can figure out the bootable installer process.
Trouble creating a bootable installer but can’t download new OS X on 2011 iMac
