Installing MacOS on external SSD

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Level 1

4 points

Installing MacOS on external SSD

Hi, I am using Mac mini(late 2014) 2.6 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5,8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3, it is currently running on 12.7.3 (21H1015) OS. My Mac mini is running really slow and I want to boost its speed. I have learned that Mac mini(late 2014) has memory that is integrated into the main logic board and can’t be upgraded, so that option is ruled out.

I have seen some videos on YouTube that suggest to use an external SSD to run the OS and it will speed up things. Please suggest if it helps and is yes then how should I go about it?

Thanks

Mac mini, macOS 12.7

Posted on Jan 26, 2024 6:59 AM

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Answer 1

den.thed

Level 10

95,178 points

Jan 26, 2024 7:23 AM in response to vijayantsing

Yes using an External USB-A 3.0 SSD or USB-C 3.1 SSD will help the 2014 Mac mini.

see > Use an external SSD as your startup disk … - Apple Community

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Answer 2

tbirdvet

Level 6

17,669 points

Jan 26, 2024 7:30 AM in response to vijayantsing

You can use an app like Carbon Copy Cloner to make an external bootable SSD (or NVME). That is what I use all the time. Once done you can then update that drive to a newer OS version as needed just like on your internal drive.

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Answer 3

Jan 26, 2024 7:15 AM in response to vijayantsing

Yes, you can install macOS on an external SSD and it will likely speed things up.

➡️ Download the macOS upgrade installer app:

Click > macOS 14 Sonoma.

Once downloaded, double-click the “Install macOS…” app now found in the Applications folder to begin the installation process, selecting the ext drive as the destination.

Please see > How to download macOS - Apple Support.

❗️– IMPORTANT –

Let's see if we can figure out why your Mac is running so slowly.

Please run an EtreCheck evaluation of your Mac and post the generated report back here in a reply. EtreCheck is a safe and highly regarded utility from a trusted developer and respected ASC contributor. The diagnostic report will not include any personal info. It simply gathers specifics about hardware performance and installed software that might be in conflict with the OS.

Please navigate to EtreCheck.com and download the free version. Be sure to Allow Full Disk Access when you install the app. Once you’ve run the app and created your report please post it with your reply to this message.

Please note you must upload the full report. To see how, please click > How to use Add Text when posting… EtreCheck Report.

We’ll use your EtreCheck report to look for the things that may be causing your problem and advise how to correct them.

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Answer 4

Jan 26, 2024 9:17 AM in response to vijayantsing

Three months ago I tried to put Sonoma on an external SSD, a task I had done many times before.

For some reason it kept failing until I watched this 5 minute video which contained a warning about what to do when selecting the drive in Disk Utility.

That one comment solved my problem!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLqpjO_77V4&t=11s

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Answer 5

vijayantsing Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 26, 2024 8:43 AM in response to D.I. Johnson

Thanks for the quick responce, is there anything in particular I should look for while purchasing the external SSD for this job? I found this on amazon will this suffice?

Sandisk 1TB Portable SSD, 800MB/s R, USB 3.2 Gen 2, Rugged SSD with Upto 2 Meter Drop Protection, Type-C to Type-A Cable, PC & Mac Compatible, 3 Y Warranty, External SSD (SDSSDE30-1T00-G26)

Also, how does it affects the current Macintosh HD and its data?

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Installing MacOS on external SSD

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