By default, Mac starts from its built-in hard disk, but a startup disk can be any storage device that contains bootable contents that compatible with your Mac. For example, if you install macOS or Microsoft Windows on a USB drive, your Mac can recognize that drive as a startup disk. This guide provides 2 ways to boot a Mac from a USB flash drive.
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- Why Is My Usb Not Showing Up On My Mac
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- My Usb Isn't Showing Up
USB Flash Drive / Memory card not detected on Mac USB port When I plug the USB flash drive or memory card into my MAC it does not mount to the desktop First we need to check your Finder preferences and ensure external disks are set to mount to your desktop. I created a Yosemite boot USB, from the App Store version 10.10.1. When I hold option during Boot, the USB drive doesn't show up on the menu. I have an aluminium MBP, bought in 2009. It is the full body aluminium with the Superdrive. Per Apple, this is my machine: MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009). Plug the USB which is not showing up to your Mac computer. If it doesn't show up, click Apple icon and select 'Sleep'. Wake up the computer after a few seconds by pressing any key. Shut down the Mac, unplug the power cord, reattach it after 15 seconds. If this doesn't work, we should suspect the corruption issue at this moment. Hey - I don't see any reason why that 2009 machine would not at least recognize the USB key. Make sure to try a few different USB ports on the machine and just generally retry to option-boot several times to see if it shows up inconsistently.
Connect your USB device to your Mac. Make sure the device is detected on the Mac side: In case of an external storage device it should appear in Finder; In case of other devices (eg. Mobile phone): Open System Information (Applications Utilities System Information), click System Report; Locate your device under the USB section.
Requirement
Starting up your Mac from an external disk requires the following:
- Intel-based Mac.
- Bootable USB thumb drive formatted with a GUID partition type and containing an OS X installer or a usable operating system.
My Computer Drives Not Showing
Let’s see how to boot a Mac from a bootable USB drive and what to do if your Mac doesn’t start up from it.
Way 1: Boot Mac from USB Drive using Startup Manager
Getting your Mac to load from a USB drive is fairly straightforward. Use the following steps, you can easily set Mac boot from an external drive in Startup Manager, so it’ll only boot from USB that one time.
Step 1: Insert the USB boot media into a USB slot.
Step 2: Turn on your Mac (or Restart your Mac if it’s already on).
Step 3: Press and hold the Option key immediately after you see the Apple logo. Holding that key gives you access to OS X’s Startup Manager. Once the Startup Manager screen appears, release the Option key. The utility will look for any available drives that include bootable content.
Step 4: Using either the pointer or arrow keys on the keyboard, select the USB drive you wish to boot from. Once selected, either hit the Return key or double-click your selection. The machine will start to boot from the USB drive.
Way 2: Set a Mac Boot from USB Drive using Startup Disk
When you use Startup Disk preferences to set Mac boot from an external drive, so it’ll boot from that disk until you choose a different one. Here is how:
Step 1: Go to Apple menu > System Preference, then click Startup Disk.
Step 2: Click the locked icon and then enter your administrator password.
Why Is My Usb Not Showing Up On My Mac
Step 3: Select External drive as the startup disk, then restart your Mac.
What to do if your Mac does not boot from the selected drive
If you see a message prompts that your security settings do not allow this Mac to use an external startup disk, check the External Boot setting in Startup Security Utility, and then allow your Mac to use an external startup disk.
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Step 1: Open Startup Security Utility.
Turn on your Mac, then press and hold Command (⌘) + R immediately after you see the Apple logo. Your Mac starts up from macOS Recovery. When you see the macOS utility window, choose Utilities > Startup Security Utility from the menu bar. When you’re asked to authenticate, click Enter macOS Password, then choose an administrator account and enter its password.
Step 2: Select “Allow booting from external media“.
If you want to select an external startup disk before restarting your Mac, quit Startup Security Utility, then choose Apple menu > Startup Disk.
Note: If you’re using Boot Camp in a dual-boot Windows/OS X environment, you may be unable to boot negatively into supported versions of Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 10 operating systems installed on external USB hard drive.
Make sure disk has been formatted with a GUID partition type
Intel-based Macs support starting from an external USB storage device’s volume that has been formatted with a GUID partition type. If you wish to boot from the drive, it’s important to format the partition as “GUID Partition Table” rather than either of the other two ahead of time when you use that drive as a bootable drive.
Make sure your disk is bootable
Volumes that aren’t bootable and don’t contain a copy of a valid operating system aren’t listed in Startup Disk or Startup Manager. Make sure the external drive you’re trying to start from contains a usable operating system. Photoshop cs5 mac price.
Hi
I have been trying to reinstall macOS on my MacBook Pro 13 (2015) and for reasons I still don't know, the bootable USB I created was not showing up when I booted into the Startup Manager (by holding the option/alt key).
I tried creating the USB via both diskmarkx and Terminal. But neither was helping me. Then I tried several fixes and this one finally solved the problem. For any of you out there facing the same problem, this might help.
Steps :
1. Reset PRAM of your machine by holding option+command+P+R keys together soon after you press the Power button and hear the startup chime.
2. Hold the keys until the grey screen goes off completely (the machine should be restarting).
3. At 'this' point, insert the Bootable USB Disk you created and press and hold the option key.
4. Hold the option key until you see the Startup Manager.
Hopefully your USB should be listed as one of the bootable disks in the Startup Manager.
Windows 10 Usb Drive Not Showing
MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11)