APFS or OS Extended fo external HD

Trying to install Tahoe on an external hard disk. If formatted APFS Terminal refuses to create a bootable disc.

If formatted MacOS Extended once created the bootable disc it cannot be opened


MacBook Air 13″, macOS 15.7

Posted on Apr 28, 2026 12:17 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Apr 28, 2026 4:02 AM

It sounds like you’ve made a Bootable USB Installer. A bootable usb installer is not the OS. It is an installer drive you boot from to install macOS on another disk. You would create the installer on some other USB flash memory device which must be formatted Mac OS Extended. Then, you startup your Mac with that device. Then, you install macOS onto your external drive.

All instructions are here: Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support. See the section: Use the bootable installer.

You cannot install onto the drive you used to make th installer.

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Apr 28, 2026 4:02 AM in response to resaluza

It sounds like you’ve made a Bootable USB Installer. A bootable usb installer is not the OS. It is an installer drive you boot from to install macOS on another disk. You would create the installer on some other USB flash memory device which must be formatted Mac OS Extended. Then, you startup your Mac with that device. Then, you install macOS onto your external drive.

All instructions are here: Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support. See the section: Use the bootable installer.

You cannot install onto the drive you used to make th installer.

Apr 28, 2026 12:59 AM in response to resaluza

I prefer to format the drive using Disk Utility.


Anyway your problem is possibly caused by two things.


Make sure you format the Physical Disk and not a Volume.


There is also the business of using the correct socket (DFU or not?) when installing the OS but somebody else can advise on that.


See this Apple Info sheet . . .


How to use an external storage device as a Mac startup disk – Apple Support (UK)


Apr 28, 2026 1:25 AM in response to resaluza

Create a bootable installer for macOS


Connect and rename a USB flash drive

  1. Connect a USB flash drive or other secondary volume directly to your Mac. When you create the bootable installer, this flash drive will automatically be erased using the appropriate format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled).


Use this Terminal Command


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


When you say it " MacOS Extended once created the bootable disc it cannot be opened "


Why are you attempting to Open the Bootable Installer ?


Normally, when using the correct Terminal Command


The common line will end by saying something like " the Bootable Installer was successfully created "

APFS or OS Extended fo external HD

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.