How to Install macOS Mojave: A Comprehensive Guide

macOS Mojave, released in 2018, introduced a host of exciting features like Dark Mode, Stacks, Dynamic Desktop, and Continuity Camera. While it’s an older operating system, many users still prefer Mojave for its stability, compatibility with specific applications, or simply its familiar interface. If you’re looking to install or reinstall macOS Mojave, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step.

**Important Considerations Before You Begin:**

* **Compatibility:** Ensure your Mac is compatible with macOS Mojave. Officially supported models include:
* MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)
* MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or newer)
* MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or newer)
* Mac mini (Late 2012 or newer)
* iMac (Late 2012 or newer)
* iMac Pro (All models)
* Mac Pro (Late 2013 or newer, plus Mid 2010 and Mid 2012 models with Metal-capable GPUs)
* **Backup Your Data:** This is the most crucial step. Before making any significant changes to your system, create a complete backup of your data using Time Machine or a third-party backup solution like Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper!. This will protect you from data loss in case anything goes wrong during the installation process.
* **Storage Space:** Make sure you have enough free storage space on your target drive. macOS Mojave requires at least 20GB of free space for installation, but it’s recommended to have more for optimal performance.
* **Internet Connection:** A stable internet connection is required to download the macOS Mojave installer.
* **Admin Privileges:** You’ll need an administrator account to install macOS Mojave.

**Methods for Installing macOS Mojave**

There are several ways to install macOS Mojave:

1. **Directly from the App Store (If Available):** This is the simplest method if you previously downloaded Mojave or if it’s still available in your purchase history.
2. **Using a Bootable USB Installer:** This is the recommended method for a clean install or for installing Mojave on multiple Macs. It involves creating a bootable USB drive with the Mojave installer.
3. **Using Internet Recovery (If Supported):** This method allows you to download and install the OS directly from Apple’s servers, but it may install the original OS that came with your Mac instead of Mojave.

Let’s delve into each method in detail:

**Method 1: Installing macOS Mojave from the App Store (If Available)**

This is the easiest method if you previously downloaded macOS Mojave and it’s still available in your App Store purchase history.

**Steps:**

1. **Open the App Store:** Click on the App Store icon in your Dock or launch it from the Applications folder.
2. **Check Your Purchase History:** Click on your profile icon (usually in the lower-left corner) to view your purchase history.
3. **Search for Mojave:** Look for “macOS Mojave” in your list of purchased apps. If you don’t see it, it might no longer be available for direct download from the App Store, requiring you to use Method 2.
4. **Download Mojave:** If you find Mojave, click the “Download” button.
5. **The Installer Launches:** Once the download is complete, the macOS Mojave installer will automatically launch.
6. **Follow On-Screen Instructions:** Follow the on-screen prompts to install macOS Mojave. This will involve accepting the license agreement, selecting your target drive, and entering your administrator password.
7. **Installation Process:** The installation process will take some time, during which your Mac will restart several times. Do not interrupt the installation.
8. **Setup Assistant:** After the installation is complete, your Mac will boot into the Setup Assistant. Follow the on-screen instructions to configure your system, including your Apple ID, user account, and other settings.

**Method 2: Creating a Bootable USB Installer for macOS Mojave**

This is the most reliable method, especially for a clean install or when you need to install Mojave on multiple Macs. It involves creating a bootable USB drive containing the macOS Mojave installer.

**What You’ll Need:**

* **macOS Mojave Installer:** Download the macOS Mojave installer from the App Store (if available) or through a direct download link from Apple’s website or a trusted source. The installer should be named “Install macOS Mojave.app”.
* **USB Drive:** A USB flash drive with at least 16GB of storage space. Ensure the drive is empty, as the process will erase all data on it.
* **Terminal:** You’ll be using the Terminal application (located in /Applications/Utilities) to create the bootable USB drive.

**Steps:**

1. **Download the macOS Mojave Installer:**

* If Mojave is available in the App Store, download it as described in Method 1.
* If Mojave is not available in the App Store, you’ll need to find a reliable source for the installer. Search online for “macOS Mojave DMG download” and choose a trustworthy website (e.g., a well-known Mac software repository). **Be extremely cautious about downloading from untrusted sources, as they may contain malware.**
* Once downloaded, the installer will typically be a .dmg file. Double-click the .dmg file to mount it. Inside the mounted volume, you should find the “Install macOS Mojave.app” file.
2. **Prepare the USB Drive:**

* Insert the USB drive into your Mac.
* Open Disk Utility (located in /Applications/Utilities).
* Select your USB drive in the left sidebar.
* Click the “Erase” button in the toolbar.
* In the Erase dialog, configure the following settings:
* **Name:** Enter a name for your USB drive (e.g., “Mojave Installer”).
* **Format:** Choose “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)”.
* **Scheme:** Choose “GUID Partition Map”.
* Click “Erase” to format the USB drive. This will erase all data on the drive.
* Once the erase process is complete, click “Done”.
* Close Disk Utility.
3. **Create the Bootable USB Installer Using Terminal:**

* Open Terminal (located in /Applications/Utilities).
* Type the following command into Terminal, and then press Enter:

bash
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Mojave.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/Mojave\ Installer –nointeraction

* **Important:**
* Replace `/Volumes/Mojave\ Installer` with the actual name of your USB drive if you named it differently during the formatting process. Pay close attention to spaces and special characters. If your volume name contains spaces, make sure to escape those spaces with a backslash (\).
* The `sudo` command requires administrator privileges. You’ll be prompted to enter your administrator password. Type your password and press Enter. Note that the password will not be displayed as you type.
* The `–nointeraction` flag tells the command to proceed without prompting you for confirmation.
* Terminal will now create the bootable USB installer. This process can take 20-45 minutes or longer, depending on the speed of your USB drive and your Mac. The Terminal window will display progress updates. Be patient and do not interrupt the process.
* Once the process is complete, Terminal will display a message indicating that the bootable disk is ready. The USB drive will now be renamed “Install macOS Mojave”.
* Quit Terminal.

4. **Booting from the USB Installer:**

* Insert the bootable USB drive into the Mac you want to install macOS Mojave on.
* Restart the Mac.
* Immediately after hearing the startup chime, press and hold the **Option (⌥)** key on your keyboard.
* The Startup Manager will appear, displaying a list of available bootable devices.
* Use the arrow keys to select the USB drive named “Install macOS Mojave” and press Enter.
* Your Mac will now boot from the USB installer.

5. **Installing macOS Mojave:**

* Once booted from the USB drive, you’ll see the macOS Utilities window.
* **If you want to perform a clean install (erasing the existing data on your drive):**
* Select “Disk Utility” and click “Continue”.
* Select your target drive in the left sidebar.
* Click the “Erase” button in the toolbar.
* In the Erase dialog, configure the following settings:
* **Name:** Enter a name for your drive (e.g., “Macintosh HD”).
* **Format:** Choose “APFS” (if you’re installing on an SSD) or “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” (if you’re installing on a hard drive).
* **Scheme:** Choose “GUID Partition Map”.
* Click “Erase” to format the drive. This will erase all data on the drive.
* Once the erase process is complete, click “Done”.
* Close Disk Utility.
* Select “Install macOS” and click “Continue”.
* Follow the on-screen instructions to install macOS Mojave. This will involve accepting the license agreement, selecting your target drive, and entering your administrator password.
* The installation process will take some time, during which your Mac will restart several times. Do not interrupt the installation.
* After the installation is complete, your Mac will boot into the Setup Assistant. Follow the on-screen instructions to configure your system, including your Apple ID, user account, and other settings.

**Method 3: Using Internet Recovery (If Supported)**

Internet Recovery allows you to download and install the operating system directly from Apple’s servers. However, it might install the original macOS version that came with your Mac, not necessarily macOS Mojave. This method is useful if you don’t have a bootable USB drive or if your Mac doesn’t have a recovery partition.

**Steps:**

1. **Restart Your Mac:**
2. **Boot into Recovery Mode:** Immediately after hearing the startup chime, press and hold one of the following key combinations:
* **Command (⌘) + Option (⌥) + R:** This will attempt to install the latest macOS compatible with your Mac.
* **Command (⌘) + Shift (⇧) + Option (⌥) + R:** This will attempt to install the macOS version that originally came with your Mac or the closest version still available.
3. **Connect to Wi-Fi:** If prompted, connect to a Wi-Fi network.
4. **macOS Utilities Window:** After a short wait, the macOS Utilities window will appear.
5. **Check the macOS Version:** If you chose Command + Option + R, proceed to the next step. If you chose Command + Shift + Option + R, verify that the offered macOS version is macOS Mojave. If it’s not, you should use Method 2 (Bootable USB Installer) instead.
6. **Erase Your Hard Drive (If Desired):** If you want to perform a clean install, select “Disk Utility” and click “Continue”. Then, erase your hard drive as described in Method 2.
7. **Install macOS:** Select “Install macOS” and click “Continue”.
8. **Follow On-Screen Instructions:** Follow the on-screen prompts to install macOS. This will involve selecting your target drive and agreeing to the license agreement.
9. **Download and Installation:** The installer will download the necessary files from Apple’s servers and begin the installation process. This can take a significant amount of time, depending on your internet connection speed.
10. **Setup Assistant:** After the installation is complete, your Mac will boot into the Setup Assistant. Follow the on-screen instructions to configure your system.

**Troubleshooting Common Installation Issues**

* **”An error occurred while preparing the installation.”**
* This error often indicates a problem with the downloaded installer file. Try downloading the installer again from a different source.
* It could also be caused by a corrupted USB drive. Try using a different USB drive or reformatting the existing one.
* **”This copy of the Install macOS Mojave application is damaged, and can’t be used to install macOS.”**
* This indicates that the installer file is corrupted. Delete the existing installer and download it again.
* Ensure your Mac’s date and time are set correctly.
* **Stuck Installation:**
* If the installation process seems to be stuck for an extended period (e.g., more than an hour), try restarting your Mac in Safe Mode (hold down the Shift key during startup). If the installation completes in Safe Mode, there might be a conflict with a third-party application or driver.
* **”macOS could not be installed on your computer.”**
* This generic error message can have several causes. Check the installation log (located in /var/log/install.log) for more detailed information. You can access the log from Terminal in Recovery Mode.
* Ensure your Mac meets the minimum system requirements for macOS Mojave.
* Make sure you have enough free storage space on your target drive.
* Try erasing your hard drive and performing a clean install.
* **Kernel Panic (Your Mac suddenly restarts and displays an error message):**
* This usually indicates a hardware or software problem. Try running Apple Diagnostics to check for hardware issues. Hold down the D key during startup to run Apple Diagnostics.
* Try disconnecting any external devices before starting the installation.

**Post-Installation Tips**

* **Update Your Software:** After installing macOS Mojave, check for software updates by going to Apple menu > System Preferences > Software Update.
* **Install Drivers:** If you’re using any external devices (e.g., printers, scanners), make sure to install the latest drivers from the manufacturer’s website.
* **Enable Dark Mode:** Enjoy the new Dark Mode feature by going to Apple menu > System Preferences > General and selecting the “Dark” appearance.
* **Explore New Features:** Take some time to explore the new features of macOS Mojave, such as Stacks, Dynamic Desktop, and Continuity Camera.

**Conclusion**

Installing macOS Mojave can be a straightforward process if you follow these steps carefully. Remember to back up your data before you begin, and choose the installation method that best suits your needs. If you encounter any problems, consult the troubleshooting tips provided above. With a little patience and attention to detail, you’ll be enjoying the benefits of macOS Mojave in no time.