Having trouble creating a bootable USB thumb drive for the Ventura OS. I've tried two different USB thumb drives - erase them via Disk Utility and copy Apple's Terminal code, it asks the erase Yes after that is goes into Copy Mac OS Recovery files. Tried this multiple times including leaving the MacBook Air OS 14.8.9 for three hours and nothing ever finished. No other programs were running. Screen shot:
MacBook Air 13″, macOS 14.8
Just to add to the good advise from @ HWTech
You are using a MacBook Air running macOS Sonoma 14.8 and have tried creating a bootable Ventura USB installer with two different USB drives.
In both attempts, Terminal reached “Copying macOS Recovery files” and had not completed after three hours.
First, confirm that the full Install macOS Ventura.app is in your Applications folder.
If there is any question about the installer, downloading a fresh copy of Ventura is a reasonable next step.
Apple’s instructions for obtaining macOS installers are available here: How to download and install macOS.
Use a 32 GB USB flash drive, connect it directly to the Mac, and name the USB volume MyVolume.
If you use an adapter because your Mac requires one, connect the adapter directly to the Mac rather than through a hub.
Apple’s bootable-installer instructions are here: Create a bootable installer for macOS.
For Ventura, the Apple command is:
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Ventura.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
When Terminal asks for your administrator password, enter it and press Return.
Nothing will appear on screen while you type the password.
When Terminal asks whether you want to erase the volume, type Y and press Return.
If macOS asks whether Terminal can access files on the removable volume, click OK.
The process is complete when Terminal reports “Install media now available.”
“Copying macOS Recovery files” is not an error message by itself, so the exact Terminal output is important when determining what is happening.
If the process again remains at that message for an extended period, rather than repeatedly trying additional USB drives, note the complete Terminal output and consider downloading a fresh Ventura installer and trying again.
If Terminal reports an error while erasing or creating the installer, that specific message should be addressed before proceeding.
I would not give Terminal Full Disk Access as a routine step, since that is not part of Apple’s documented procedure.
If you upload the screenshot of the Terminal window, preferably showing the lines immediately before and after “Copying macOS Recovery files,” the next troubleshooting step can be based on the actual output rather than assumptions about the cause.
Just to add to the good advise from @ HWTech
You are using a MacBook Air running macOS Sonoma 14.8 and have tried creating a bootable Ventura USB installer with two different USB drives.
In both attempts, Terminal reached “Copying macOS Recovery files” and had not completed after three hours.
First, confirm that the full Install macOS Ventura.app is in your Applications folder.
If there is any question about the installer, downloading a fresh copy of Ventura is a reasonable next step.
Apple’s instructions for obtaining macOS installers are available here: How to download and install macOS.
Use a 32 GB USB flash drive, connect it directly to the Mac, and name the USB volume MyVolume.
If you use an adapter because your Mac requires one, connect the adapter directly to the Mac rather than through a hub.
Apple’s bootable-installer instructions are here: Create a bootable installer for macOS.
For Ventura, the Apple command is:
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Ventura.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
When Terminal asks for your administrator password, enter it and press Return.
Nothing will appear on screen while you type the password.
When Terminal asks whether you want to erase the volume, type Y and press Return.
If macOS asks whether Terminal can access files on the removable volume, click OK.
The process is complete when Terminal reports “Install media now available.”
“Copying macOS Recovery files” is not an error message by itself, so the exact Terminal output is important when determining what is happening.
If the process again remains at that message for an extended period, rather than repeatedly trying additional USB drives, note the complete Terminal output and consider downloading a fresh Ventura installer and trying again.
If Terminal reports an error while erasing or creating the installer, that specific message should be addressed before proceeding.
I would not give Terminal Full Disk Access as a routine step, since that is not part of Apple’s documented procedure.
If you upload the screenshot of the Terminal window, preferably showing the lines immediately before and after “Copying macOS Recovery files,” the next troubleshooting step can be based on the actual output rather than assumptions about the cause.
Try booting into Safe Mode and trying the Terminal command again. If this works, then you have some third party software installed which is interfering with the normal operation of macOS.
Use a "good" quality USB stick such as SanDisk. I think I've had a good experience with Patriot as well (I don't have it with me to confirm). I've also been fine with MicroCenter brand USB sticks. The quality of most USB sticks are quite poor even from supposedly reputable manufacturers.
Try disconnecting all other external devices and connecting the USB stick directly to the computer.
Just to make sure you are using the correct command, here is the Apple article with the correct instructions:
Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support
At what point does the process stall out? The erasing part, or the transfer part (what percentage)?
If none of this works, then are you creating this bootable macOS Ventura USB stick to fix a problem with this same Mac? If so, then that issue may be why you are having issues creating the bootable USB stick so please give us some details.
trouble creating a bootable USB thumb drive - Ventura
