How to Boot Mac from External Drive [New Method for 2024]

Sometimes, you might need to start up your Mac from an external disk or a startup volume instead of your startup disk.

There are many reasons to boot from an external drive, whether you need to troubleshoot, repair disk errors or partition a drive, perform a full disk format, update your system, or install OS X.

This guide will walk you through the steps to easily boot your Mac from an external hard drive.

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How to Boot Your Mac from an External Drive

Booting your Mac from USB gives you control over your system. The main reason to boot your Mac from USB is usually because your Mac won't start up normally, preventing access to your computer. Using an external device, like a USB drive, can remedy this and allow you to access the contents of your internal drive, assuming the data is intact and not corrupted.

Solution 1: Boot Your Mac from an External Drive Using a Keyboard Shortcut 2. Start Up Another Mac in Target Disk Mode 3. Start Up Your Mac from an Install Disc or Recovery HD 4. Start Up Your Mac from Internet Recovery Over the Network 5. Check the Startup Disk Selector (Startup Manager) 6. Update Your Mac's Firmware or EFI 7. Try Starting Up in Safe Mode 8. Reset the NVRAM or PRAM 9. Check for Hardware Issues 10. Contact Apple Support or a Professional Technician

To start your Mac from an external drive using keyboard commands, follow these steps:

Step 1: Turn on your system.

Step 2: Hold down the “Option” (⌥) key on your keyboard as your computer starts up.

Step 3: When you see the "Startup Disk" selection screen, choose "USB Drive."

Step 4: The system should then boot from the USB drive.

Step 5. Proceed with installing the operating system using the macOS utility.

For data recovery, consider using the Time Machine backup feature.

Solution 2: Boot and Recover Your Mac with tools Data Recovery Wizard If you're unable to start your Mac or experiencing data loss issues, you can try using tools Data Recovery Wizard to assist in recovering your Mac. This powerful tool not only helps you retrieve lost files but might also resolve boot problems. Step 1: Download tools Data Recovery Wizard on another functioning computer. Step 2: Burn the downloaded software to a DVD or USB drive. Step 3: Insert the DVD or USB drive into the non-bootable Mac. Step 4: Restart your Mac and enter Recovery Mode. For most Mac models, press the Command + R keys while starting up. Step 5: In Recovery Mode, choose "Disk Utility" to scan and fix any potential disk issues. Step 6: After disk repair, select "Reinstall macOS" from the recovery options to reinstall the operating system. Step 7: Once the system reinstallation is complete, start your Mac and connect the tools Data Recovery Wizard. Step 8: Follow the software's instructions to scan your Mac for lost data. Step 9: Preview and select the files you wish to recover, then click the "Recover" button. Please note that while this method might help in recovering your Mac, not all issues can be resolved this way. If the problem persists, it's recommended to contact Apple Support or a professional technical support specialist for further assistance.

When your Mac encounters startup issues, it often leads to concerns about data loss. Fortunately, professional data recovery tools can help mitigate this risk and effectively restore lost files.

One such tool is the tools Data Recovery Wizard for Mac, designed specifically for Mac users who have suffered from data loss issues.

• Potent Data Recovery Capabilities: It excels in retrieving lost data due to various issues, including file system corruption, crashes, and accidental deletion.
• Extensive Compatibility: The tool is compatible with multiple Mac systems and storage devices, offering diverse support for different user configurations. This includes MacBook, iMac, and Mac Mini, among others.
• Comprehensive Recovery Options: The software provides an extensive range of recovery options, allowing you to restore various types of Mac files such as documents, photos, videos, audio files, and more.
• Reliable Performance: Leveraging advanced algorithms, it delivers reliable performance. This ensures a high success rate when recovering lost data. Consequently, you can trust the software to restore valuable files without compromising data integrity.

With the help of tools Data Recovery Wizard for Mac, you can solve data loss issues related to Mac startup problems.

Step 1: Scan for lost data on the Fusion Drive

Select the Fusion drive partition where you lost your data and files. Click on the “Search Lost Files” button. If you're not sure which partition is the Fusion drive, click on the “Search from Disk” link text to check the partition name.

Note: Before you proceed with data recovery, it's recommended that you click "Disk Backup" on the left sidebar and create a backup of your Fusion Drive to prevent further data loss. After backing up your Fusion Drive, the software can recover data from the Fusion Drive backup and use it again.

Step 2: Look for the Lost File after Scanning

The “Data Recovery Wizard for Mac” utility will immediately scan your Fusion drive partition and display the scan results. You can filter files by type and path.

Step 3: Recover Files from Fusion Drive

From the scan results, select the files you want to preview and then click the “Recover” button to get them back.

With its powerful capabilities and user-friendly interface, this software is highly valuable for safeguarding and retrieving important data in Mac systems.

Solution 3: Boot Mac from External Hard Drive with Startup Disk Manager

The other option is to use Startup Disk Manager, which lets you boot your Mac from an external volume each time you start up.

Step 1: Click the "Apple" menu.

Step 2: Choose "System Preferences."

Step 3: Select “Startup Disk” from the list.

If necessary, click the “Lock” icon in the bottom left to unlock preferences.

Step 5: From the list of available boot disks, select the "Bootable USB Installer."

Step 6: Click “Restart” to boot from the external USB drive.

If this guide helped you, share it with your friends and colleagues on social media to help them learn how to boot their Mac from an external drive.

Abstract

In this extensive guide, we explore various methods to boot a Mac from an external drive. From using keyboard commands at startup to employing the Startup Disk Manager, users have several options for initiating booting from external media.

Whether you're troubleshooting, installing a different version of macOS, or following our “My Mac Won't Turn On” guide, starting up from an external drive offers flexibility and convenience.

In addition, we emphasized the importance of data recovery tools in safeguarding essential information against startup failures. Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is a reliable utility that can retrieve lost files due to system issues or crashes.

Frequently Asked Questions on Booting a Mac from an External Drive

We've answered some common questions to help you learn how to boot your Mac from an external drive. Read on!

< b > Can you boot your Mac from an external drive?

Yes, you can use an external hard drive as a boot drive for your Mac. You can set this up by creating a macOS installer or by using Apple Software Restore (ASR) to clone your startup drive.

Moreover, it allows you to use tools like Disk Utility for Mac disk repair. Here are strong reasons why you should consider booting your Mac from USB:

• Simplifies the installation process for different versions of macOS.
• Enables installing an older version of macOS via USB to run apps incompatible with the current macOS.
• Provides a safe and risk-free environment for testing beta versions.
• Offers a faster, smoother experience.
• Allows you to test a new macOS version before upgrading.

How do I boot my Mac from a USB drive?

Boot from USB drive:

Step 1: Press the “Option” (Alt) key as your Mac starts up.

Step 3: Boot from the USB drive.

Step 4: Install the operating system using macOS Utilities.

How do I boot from an external drive?

Here's how to boot from an external drive:

Step 1. Hold down the BIOS key until the "Boot Manager" window appears on the screen.

Step 2: Select your external hard drive from the menu.

Step 3: Confirm your choice.

Step 4: Set your external drive as the bootable operating system medium.

4. Can I install macOS on an external drive?

No, Apple Boot Camp is designed to be installed exclusively on the internal hard drive of an Intel-based Macintosh computer. Technically, it's possible to install Windows on an external drive and boot your Mac from it using Boot Camp. However, this would require some workarounds and third-party tools, and Apple doesn't officially support this method. Be aware that performance might vary, and there could be compatibility issues.