iMac M3 Tahoe Terminal thumbdrive installer

KiltedTim>> I don't believe there is a way to do that any more. There really isn't a need to do so.

i wonder what you base that advice on?

we must work out of two different toolboxes

anyone needs to create a boot flash usb drive installer macOS Tahoe 26 and getting a headache trying to download the macOS Tahoe installer from App Store or Software Update methods

here's one easy, straightforward way to do it

google search:

mr macintosh macos full installer database download directly from apple

Mr. Macintosh (his .com) is highly-respected technical source in the Mac community, IMHO

once I got the 17.5GB InstallAssistant.pkg from his link in my Downloads, I ran it and it deposited the expected Install macOS Tahoe.app in Applications folder

I then ran Terminal:

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Tahoe.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume

and created my Tahoe boot installer

KiltedTim>> OK. I will rephrase. There is no supported way to do that.

before anyone takes that for fact and gives up on creating this useful installer tool -- what is your source for that statement? have you actually tried it?

the Apple knowledge article seems to suggest it is possible:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/101578

in retrospect -- i was trying to update through App Store (which took me to Software Update) -- yet i never signed into my user or the App Store with my AppleID -- that may be a contributing factor why my early attempts didn't work for me on my iMac M3 Sequoia 15.7.4 configuration

but mrmacintosch's download link to the installer definitely did the trick -- so i didnt keep banging my head with the other methods

according to Google AI overview: Apple macOS Tahoe (macOS 16) (sic) does not strictly require an Apple ID to set up or use the computer, allowing you to skip this step during the initial configuration. While signing in enables features like iCloud, App Store access, and Find My, it is not mandatory for core functionality.

at that point i can get the Tahoe installer downloaded into Applications and run Terminal to create the bootable TaHoe 26 installer (without entering my Apple ID as I am used to) to Erase and reinstall from scratch

now i just stumbled upon File Vault and Tahoe issues enabling by default -- i have to look up what that means -- i strictly limit iCloud activity and don't recall even what filevault is to avoid it (if possible)

the rules have definitely changed...

heads up for the old school ----- change in restart holding Option key for boot option (to select the USB installer)

how to boot off an external macOS Tahoe Install USB flash thumbdrive

an article i read said the external boot drive had to be formatted APFS, but Terminal formatted my USB installer HFS+ -- had no issues with it

with the M-series iMacs (i'm on an iMac m3) -- you now Shutdown, then hold the power button on the back until you get boot options

select the installer and you are in business... at least i am

my iMac just booted into Tahoe 26.3.1 SetUp (after an Erase)

logged in my Apple ID

i brought my Sequoia TimeMachine user into it during initial SetUp

Migration completed -- User looks intact

went right to FileVault and turned it OFF

checked iCloud settings to be sure they haven't changed (use in very limited capacity)

very excited to see what's new

first -- coming from 2019 hardware -- the write speed on this M3 is screaming fast -- faster than Thunderbolt (TB4 speeds didn't change for me):

KiltedTim:

yes, the iMac has 66 hours on it and i presume it has been properly prepared

den.thed:

i always Erase and install macOS fresh as part of my ownership -- even new from Apple

i realize a macOS thumbdrive installer boots into Recovery

yes, again, my goal is to install Tahoe, the current version

++++++

i am looking for a way to get the Tahoe installer in my Applications folder so i can use Terminal to create a bootable thumbdrive installer

maybe, i can try booting the iMac out of the box into Recovery (without setting up a user acct)

https://support.apple.com/en-us/102518

Since the Intel way Command+R don't apply to M-series Silicon hardware

maybe i will have to set up a user account first, and try the above Apple way (off the link)

at that point (having to create a user account on the machine) I would prefer to just download the installer and create the thumbdrive installer -- and run Recovery> Disk Utility> Erase> (reinstall macOS) from there...

one thing i will add is booting into RECOVERY (Terminal, Disk Utility, Install, Web browser, Restore from TimeMachine) is a heck of a lot faster from a macOS thumbdrive boot installer -- let alone if you have to wait for the 17GB Tahoe installer to download (on top of remote Recovery to load)

i was at a house picking up a 2019 5k iMac -- the seller didn't want me to Erase his fusion from an external SSD Mojave system which would have took a few minutes -- he wanted to boot off Apple's remote Recovery> DiskUtility>Erase -- that took a solid hour to load on his wi-fi...

i think he was suspicious of my voodo booting off an external TB4 SSD -- it all worked out tho -- he got his blinking ? on reboot -- and i got another great machine to upgrade

according to Google AI overview: macOS Tahoe (v26) updates are causing unexpected, automatic FileVault encryption activation, leading to remote access failures, login loops, and potential data loss for users who didn't back up their recovery keys

okay, there's the filevault issue -- encryption -- don't need that -- anyone know where/how to uncheck that?

will keep my eye out to save my recovery key...

more on using filevault under Tahoe

according to Google AI overview: In macOS 26 (Tahoe), FileVault is located under System Settings > Privacy & Security > FileVault. It is now enabled by default if you sign in with an Apple ID during setup. Recovery keys are automatically stored in the Passwords app.

according to Google AI overview: it is possible to turn off FileVault on macOS Tahoe (26), though it is often enabled by default during installation. You can disable it via System Settings > Privacy & Security > FileVault. If the option is grayed out, you can use the Terminal command: sudo fdesetup disable

i received the used iMac m3 2023

it booted to HELLO screen v 15.3.1

i guess that indicates the machine was properly prepared at this point?

i used Software Update to start the Tahoe Upgrade

after the download 10GB progress bar disappeared i Quit software update (to stop any installer from moving forward)

usually i get an install screen that i quit

i then went to Terminal but it erred

i went to Applications folder but no Tahoe installer present

i probably didn't wait long enough for the downloader to build the installer

i will come back to that as I want to test the machine some

i returned to Software Update and downloaded the 15.7.4 updater

and allowed it to run

so far i think i have my question figured out when i build the USB boot installer

Erase

and install Tahoe fresh

and what to watch out for

all download options funneled into Software Update "upgrade" option

i let the download complete (there was no installer ghost icon during the process as with previous macOS installers)

at the LATER or RESTART COMPUTER option -- i chose later

(restart begins the actual install process, in my experience)

still no familiar "Install macOS... icon" in applications

apparently Apple doesn't want users to have boot usb flash drive installers of their Tahoe macOS

or i haven't figured it out yet...

PS

i know how to get Tahoe installed the other ways -- i prefer having the installer on a flash drive -- and so far i see no pathway to that outcome

Tesserax>> even if FileVault is "turned off", Apple silicon Macs still use hardware encryption built into the storage controller and Secure Enclave.

interesting, i checked Disk Utility info on the SSD for any encryption notation on the drive, none

i just had to call Apple when my migrated COMPRESSOR 5 would not open, and App Store downloaded a subscription (burnt orange logo) compressor 5 version -- after 3 techs -- they got it sorted out and the non-subscription compressor (with the vault door) was successfully updated on the Tahoe M3 iMac

i asked him about File Vault -- he seemed very knowledgable on the subject -- i need to do some reading up on that...

from a switch on / switch off mentality -- i'm sticking with off because i have no need for encryption here and want to reduce any overhead of encrypt/decrypt -- just my intuition