How to Create a Bootable USB Drive with Multiple macOS Installers: 5 Easy Steps

Imagine having a single USB drive that can install macOS Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura, or even older versions: Multiple macOS Installers. Whether you’re a developer testing compatibility, an IT professional managing multiple Macs, or a user troubleshooting system issues, a multi-installer USB drive is a game-changer. This guide will walk you through creating a versatile bootable USB drive that houses Multiple macOS Installers, eliminating the need for separate drives or repeated downloads.

Apple’s macOS installers are typically version-specific, requiring users to juggle multiple USB drives or re-download files for each installation. By partitioning a single USB drive and leveraging Apple’s built-in createinstallmedia tool, you can consolidate multiple macOS installers into one portable solution. This guide covers everything from downloading official macOS installer files to partitioning your USB drive and executing Terminal commands. Let’s dive in!

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the step-by-step process for creating a Bootable USB Drive with Multiple macOS Installers, make sure you have:

• A USB drive with at least 64GB of storage (more if you want to add more macOS versions).
• A working Mac (This process is done entirely on macOS).
• An internet connection to download the required macOS .PKG or .DMG files.

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Step-by-Step Guide to Create a Bootable USB Drive with Multiple macOS Installers

Step 1: Download the macOS Installer Files (.PKG)

1. Visit TechRechard.com
2. Use the search bar to look up the desired macOS version (e.g., “Sequoia PKG”).
3. Open the first link, scroll down, and click to download the InstallAssistant.pkg file.
4. Rename the file to avoid confusion:
   • Rename to Sequoia.pkg for Sequoia
   • Rename to Sonoma.pkg for Sonoma
   • Rename to Ventura.pkg for Ventura
5. Move all the downloaded files to your Desktop for easy access.

📝 Note: All .PKG files are hosted on official Apple servers, so we provide the direct links.

For Older macOS Versions (If .PKG Is Not Available)

If you can’t find a .PKG For older versions like Catalina or Mojave:

• Download the macOS DMG files from Archive.org, or you can also browse through our website for specific DMG files. Just use the search bar to search for any DMG file. For example: Catalina DMG
• Open the DMG and you’ll find the Install macOS application ready to use.

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Step 2: Install the PKG Files

1. Double-click each .pkg file.

2. Click Install, enter your Mac password, and continue.
3. After installation, go to Applications and confirm you see:
   • Install macOS Sequoia
   • Install macOS Sonoma
   • Install macOS Ventura

📌 Repeat the installation for all PKG files you’ve downloaded.

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Step 3: Format and Partition Your USB Drive

1. Open Disk Utility (Launchpad → Search Disk Utility).

2. Select your USB drive and click Erase:
   • Format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
   • Name: Anything you like (temporary name)

3. After erasing, click on the Partition tab.

3. Click the “+” icon to create multiple partitions:
   • Create one partition for each macOS version you plan to install.
   • Name each partition clearly: Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura
   • Allocate at least 20GB per partition.

4. Click Apply and wait for Disk Utility to finish.

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Step 4: Create Bootable Installers Using Terminal

For macOS Sequoia:

1. Open Terminal (Launchpad → Terminal).
2. Open Finder → Go to Applications → Right-click Install macOS Sequoia → Show Package Contents.
3. Navigate to: Contents > Resources
4. Locate the file: createinstallmedia
5. In Terminal, type:

sudo [drag and drop createinstallmedia file]
--volume [drag and drop the Sequoia partition]

The final command should look like:

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

Replace MyVolume with the name of your USB Partition.

6. Press Enter, type your password, and press Y when prompted.

Repeat for Sonoma and Ventura:

• Open a new Terminal tab (Shell > New Tab > With Profile)
• Repeat the above steps for:
  • Install macOS Sonoma → Sonoma partition

The final command should look like:

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

Replace MyVolume with the name of your USB Partition.

• Install macOS Ventura → Ventura partition

The final command should look like:

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

Replace MyVolume with the name of your USB Partition.

Tip: Each installation process can run simultaneously in a separate terminal tab.

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Step 5: Verify and Complete the Setup

Once the terminal shows:

Install media now available at "/Volumes/[YourPartitionName]"

You’re done with that macOS version.

Repeat until all versions show as successfully created.

Now you can eject the USB drive safely. Reboot your Mac while holding the Option Key (Intel Macs) or the Power Button (Apple Silicon Macs) to test each partition.

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What if I want to Add More macOS Versions?

You can! Just:

• Download the .PKG or .DMG file of that macOS version.
• Create a new partition (minimum 20GB).
• Follow the same terminal commands for that installer.

There’s no functional limit except your USB’s storage capacity.

Why Multiple macOS Installers Matter

A USB drive with multiple macOS installers offers unmatched versatility:

• Cross-Version Compatibility: Install or downgrade macOS on any Mac, regardless of its current OS.
• Troubleshooting: Fix startup issues, recover data, or erase disks without relying on internet recovery.
• Future-Proofing: Add newer macOS versions later by expanding partitions.

Complete Video Tutorial:

Conclusion

With multiple macOS installers on a single USB drive, you’re equipped to handle virtually any macOS installation or repair scenario. This guide eliminates the need for multiple drives and ensures you’re prepared for emergencies, beta testing, or legacy system support.

Key Takeaways:

• Use .PKG files are for newer macOS versions (Till Big Sur), and DMG files are for older ones.
• Partitioning is critical—allocate at least 20GB per installer.
• The createinstallmedia command is your go-to tool for creating bootable volumes.

For links to DMG files or troubleshooting help, visit techrechard.com/contact. Share your success stories or questions in the comments, and don’t forget to explore our other guides for optimizing your Apple workflow.

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