Softwareupdate --fetch vs. --download

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Level 7

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Softwareupdate --fetch vs. --download

I would like to download the Monterey 12.6.1 installer in order to build a bootable installer disk. But I do not completely understand --fetch-full-installer vs. --download

The man page indicates that --fetch-full-installer will download & install macOS. That's not what I want. I just want to download the installer.

But when I use --download there do not appear to be any usable args to specify the macOS installer I want to download.

My questions are ...

does --fetch-full-installer just download the installer?
- or does it download & attempt to install macOS?
  - if it attempts to install macOS, can the install be terminated?
how might the --download command be structured to merely download a specific installer (in my case, 12.6.1)?

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Dec 2, 2022 5:33 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Matti Haveri

Level 6

19,748 points

Dec 3, 2022 12:50 AM in response to MartinR

I just yesterday tried this and with the default Terminal settings there was 6 GB "/Applications/Install macOS Mojave.app" after a while. Unlike when downloading via AppStore link, it did not automatically launch.

softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 10.14.6

BTW, as a new Ventura feature I noticed that I had to turn off SIP before I could delete the Mojave installer (various sudo commands failed).

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Answer 2

MartinR Author

Level 7

24,312 points

Dec 4, 2022 7:38 AM in response to MartinR

Here's a little followup ...

I did softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 12.6.1 It downloaded the Monterey installer - and did not initiate macOS installation. It just downloaded.

However, during the download, the progress indicator (in Terminal) said: Installing xx.x% which was a little unnerving because it gave the appearance that it was installing macOS when in reality it was just downloading.

Now, on to making that bootable installer ...

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Answer 3

Owl-53

Level 10

102,955 points

Dec 3, 2022 2:17 AM in response to MartinR

Have used the softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer many times since Big Sur and each and every time it will Only Download the full version requested and nothing more.

It does place a new Application in the applications folder but never Auto Launches

In my experience, I always Copy the Application to another External Drive just in case to what to re-make a Bootable Installer at a later time.

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Answer 4

dialabrain

Level 10

136,079 points

Dec 2, 2022 6:05 PM in response to MartinR

FWIW, if you run this command in the Terminal it should just download the full installer to the Applications folder. I don't remember it automatically running when finished. But in case, just quit it as noted.

softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 12.6.1

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Answer 5

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,210 points

Dec 2, 2022 8:43 PM in response to MartinR

It's only useful for updates. It has no capacity to download an OS installer.

The only part of softwareupdate that can download installers is the --fetch-full-installer

While looking at the man page, I noticed there is a --launch-installer command to have it launch the installer after downloading. So, as dialabrain noted, it doesn't automatically run.

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Answer 6

Owl-53

Level 10

102,955 points

Dec 4, 2022 7:50 AM in response to MartinR

Yes bit un-nerving, but in reality the Installing xx.x% is actually Installed the " Install Monterey Application " in Applications folder

Good work there 👍 and hope all goes well with Bootable Installer 🤞

May consider giving Terminal with Full Disc Access before making the Bootable

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Answer 7

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,210 points

Dec 2, 2022 5:36 PM in response to MartinR

None of the installers, no matter how you get them, will install the OS unless you go through the installer setup.

It will run automatically, but you just Quit the app.

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Answer 8

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,210 points

Dec 2, 2022 5:46 PM in response to MartinR

I've never run the download option, so I don't know if it will run or not. It seems every other way will start the installer.

All of the instructions on that article mainly relate to updates, not the OS installers.

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Answer 9

MartinR Author

Level 7

24,312 points

Dec 2, 2022 7:51 PM in response to Barney-15E

FWIW, I tried a number of ways to craft --download [arg] to specify the installer I wanted to download, but none of them worked. And the man page also doesn't list any args for --download so I don't see any usefulness for the --download command.

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Answer 10

dialabrain

Level 10

136,079 points

Dec 3, 2022 1:52 AM in response to Matti Haveri

Matti Haveri wrote:

BTW, as a new Ventura feature I noticed that I had to turn off SIP before I could delete the Mojave installer (various sudo commands failed).

FWIW, that behavior is not exclusive to Ventura or the Mojave installer.

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Answer 11

MartinR Author

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24,312 points

Dec 2, 2022 5:41 PM in response to Barney-15E

OK, that's what I wanted to know. So, it will download & then start the installer ... and I will have to Quit the installer. It's not simply a download.

Thanks!

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Answer 12

MartinR Author

Level 7

24,312 points

Dec 3, 2022 2:42 PM in response to Owl-53

Thank you, everyone, you have answered my question. I appreciate all of your help!

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Softwareupdate --fetch vs. --download

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