How do I choose an external installer in Recovery mode?

Once booted in Recovery mode, can an external drive containing a Mac OS installer be chosen INSTEAD of the installer on the Internet?

OS 10.11 or 10.12 on any vintage Mac

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Jan 15, 2025 8:36 AM

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3 replies

Jan 15, 2025 9:38 AM in response to icwvx

No, only the recovery MacOS X version will be the one installed.

However to install a different version you can make a bootable installer

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

icwvx Author

Level 1

109 points

Jan 15, 2025 10:19 AM in response to hay_den9002

Thank you!

"to install a different version you can make a bootable installer"

I do have such, however it sounds like you are saying such is used AFTER the original OS is downloaded from the Internet.

tbirdvet

Level 6

17,555 points

Jan 15, 2025 4:20 PM in response to icwvx

No. If you made the installer correctly it should be made available during recovery.

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How do I choose an external installer in Recovery mode?