Boot Buddy

Boot Buddy is a handy tool for installing macOS quickly. These days, if you want the latest version of macOS, you usually need an Internet connection to download it from the Mac App Store. But there’s another way! You can use a bootable USB installer if you know how to make one. Just so you know, Apple stopped selling these devices after they launched Mac OS X Snow Leopard.

Creating Your USB Installer

If you're not sure how to create your own macOS USB installer using Terminal, don’t worry! Boot Buddy is here to help. This minimalist app makes it super easy to install macOS without waiting for that long download from the App Store.

User-Friendly Interface

The app has a simple user interface that lets you pick the source macOS installer and choose the destination USB drive with a free partition. Just a heads up though: Boot Buddy only works with Mac OS 10.9 installers and newer, but it didn’t warn us when we tried using an OS X 10.8 installer.

Fast Installation Process

Once you've selected everything and hit that Create button, you’ll just need to enter your password. Boot Buddy will start writing all the necessary files to turn your regular USB disk into an awesome bootable macOS drive! This can save you tons of time if you're installing Apple’s latest OS on multiple Macs.

Quick Setup Time

The best part? As promised by Boot Buddy's developer (and what we've seen too), it takes about two to three minutes to create your USB installer—maybe a tad longer depending on your Mac’s hardware.

Using Your New Drive

To use your new macOS USB drive, just restart your Mac and hold down the ⌥ (Option) key until the boot drive selection screen pops up. After booting from your newly created drive, just follow the on-screen instructions, and you'll have a fresh installation of macOS in no time!

Room for Improvement

A couple of downsides? It would be great if Boot Buddy could automatically detect available macOS installers in your /Applications folder or support drag-and-drop for easier setup.

Your Go-To Tool!

In short, Boot Buddy is definitely a must-have in your Applications folder. If you need to install macOS several times in one day or don’t have Internet access for downloading updates from the App Store, this tool has got you covered!