Can’t create a preboot volume for APFS to install

Two methods:

In the internet recovery (CMD+R) format the disk as HFS+,

then install High Sierra again (it should run on that), and it will convert to APFS automatically on the boot SSD.

OR

in the Internet Recovery Partition (CMD+R+Alt/option) select "install OS".

it will install the original OS.

You then have to upgrade the OS. If that is High Sierra it will automatically convert the boor SSD during the upgrade.

For MacBook air

Here is what I did

Press ctrl r

Go to disk utility

go to view all drives

Select apple ssd

format drive as Mac journaled format . Select guid partition.

Restart the Mac

Press command + r + options

Go to install Mac. Complete installation and done.

If you have a MacBook Pro 2017 /w High Sierra and try to reinstall High Sierra via Recovery Mode then it will not work due to the APFS partition type. For some reason you cannot change the partition type to anything else besides APFS so you are basically stuck recovering starting with Sierra.

I've seen some ways of doing this using diskutil to recreate the partition and I tried them all. Nothing worked for me as I was getting errors about the volume and partition were already in use. I'm sure there is a way but I tried for some time and nothing worked.

WHAT DOES WORK .... Delete the partition and install Sierra (not High Sierra) from web or USB stick.

Check out this help topic which saved my bacon...

https://thewebb.blog/thoughts/2017/apfs-preboot-volume-woes

NOTE: If you have a MacBook Pro 2017 and try the internet install and get a -3404F error then create USB Sierra installer (https://lifehacker.com/how-to-make-a-bootable-macos-sierra-usb-flash-drive-17868 53248), plug it into the USB port (You'll need a USB 2.0 -> USB-C adapter), hold down option while booting up and you'll be able to boot from the USB stick.

I'm glad my post helped you! There's not enough information about this issue and I *really* hope Apple gives us a Snow Leopard-esque release for High Sierra. Stop adding new features, just FIX EVERYTHING.

I discovered the hard way (i.e trial and error) that HS cannot be installed with a pre-existing APFS partition...well, at least I couldn't.

Did anyone have success doing this or did everyone start with an HPFS+ partition and just let the OS convert on the fly?

Curious item. I don't know, because I did it the other way around: installed HighSierra on a HFS+ SSD, without converting. I did the conversion to APFS a week later when there were no issues in HighSierra.....

I‘m dealing with the same problem. I wanted to have a fresh and new start but I caused more damage than doing something good I guess. I got a brand new Mac Book Pro Retina and wanted to start by transferring my backup from my LaCie hard drive (which, like you all know, is definitely compatible with Apple products). So far so good. I did my transfer but my mbp kept asking for the password. Annoying. Okay.

Next problem: I had two accounts with different names. Silvia and SilviaNew. I wanted to delete Silvia, since SilviaNew was admin and Silvia was Standard. Didn’t work. Couldn’t click the minus. Suuuuper frustrating. So that’s when I had the super great idea to start from scratch again aaaand I failed.

The major problem that I have right now: I‘m trying to connect to my WiFi, but I’m still getting the same error. I went to the Apple store and there was no technician. He said that I might get the error code since it’s a public network that they have. Super great... it would work when I’m at home he said.

So I basically payed more than 2K and end up with nothing but a mess. How is that helping me? It’s not helping at all and I’m about to lose my mind since I have to wait for another day where I’ll possibly get not help at all. Well thank you Apple. The working hours for the hotline support are ridiculous. People have to go to work. Like when should I call?!

Doesn't anybody see haw bad this is. Apple are just idiots. I have formatted my 1Tb Drive, timemachine restored my backup (600Gb) and, because APFS is the way forward, ie. optimised for SSD, converted to APFS. So I now get the Can't create preboot volumke for APFS to install.

After hours of getting everything up to spec, the absolute crap that Apple has out there fails and I can only now reformat my drive back, reinstall macOS on HFS+ and contemplate converting, but not actually convert. Look at the number of issues raised in these forums reporting this problem, it is an absolute disgrace. I know companies like Apple are just revenue gathering organisations, but you'd think they could at least get the basics right. Talk about unfit for purpose.

I haven't seen a solution to this problem yet and it's been literally months since it started being reported and you all think it's OK to keep wiping your drives and starting again? How about stopping stuffing around with emojis of crap and actually putting some effort into your desktop software?

Press ctrl r

Exactly what do you think Control + R will do? That is not a key combo for recovery or internet recovery.

How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

It doesn’t available HFS+ for

Thank. Should We long press with Power buton until sene the Apple logo?

A long press wil shutdown the mac. After that do as I said above.

Any idea when I can't see the exteranl boot disk?

Thanks for the help!

The help topic saved my life too. Thanks for sharing.