The above-described method isn’t the only way to install macOS Monterey on an external hard drive. Alternative: Create a Bootable Drive with macOS Monterey (Using Disk Drill) Make sure you’re connected to a power source if you’re installing macOS Monterey to an external storage device from a MacBook to avoid issues with your battery reaching 0% at the worst moment possible.
If your Mac isn’t on the list of supported devices, then you can still install Monterey on it, but the process is significantly more complicated than we can describe here.Īssuming your Mac is compatible with Monterey, here’s what you need to do to install macOS on your external hard drive: Here’s the official list of supported devices: Before you do that, we recommend you verify that your Mac can actually run Monterey. You’re now ready to install macOS Monterey on your external hard drive. Install macOS on Your External Hard Drive Its name is “Install macOS Monterey.” Step 3. Just like all apps downloaded from the App Store, the downloaded installer can be found in the Applications folder. Click the Get button and wait for the macOS Monterey installer to download.Select the search result named “ macOS Monterey.”.Click the search bar, type in “macOS Monterey,” and hit Return.
This step is the easiest one because you can download the macOS Monterey installer directly from the App Store: Be patient and don’t interrupt it.ĭisk Utility will refuse to format any drive that’s in use, so make sure to close all running apps (or restart your Mac) if you’re experiencing issues during hard drive preparation. The process may take a while, depending on the size and speed of your drive.
It’s not uncommon for users to see their Macs become less stable than a hormonal teenager going through a caffeine crash. Seasoned Apple users know that when a new major version of macOS is released, things do always go smoothly. When It Makes Sense to Install macOS Monterey on an External Hard Drive If you discover that Monterey is too unstable, incompatible, or otherwise unsatisfactory, you can simply format the external hard drive and use it for other purposes, such as storing backups.
By learning how to install macOS on an external hard drive, you can safely test everything macOS 12 Monterey has to offer while preserving your current installation intact.