GUIDE How to Boot macOS without USB [Clover/OpenCore] - Installing Bootloader on the macOS/OS X Drive

[EliteMacx86]

How to Boot macOS without USB [Clover/OpenCore] - Installing Bootloader on the macOS/OS X Drive

An EliteMacx86 Exclusive Guide - This guide covers booting of macOS without USB after finishing the installation. By using this method, you’ll be easily able to install the Clover/OpenCore Boot loader on your System Drive which will allow booting without using the USB.

Booting from the system drive without the use of USB is one of the important parts of the post-installation. To boot macOS without the use of USB, follow the steps below.

QUICK INFO:

• This guide assumes that a Bootable USB exists and the OS X/macOS has been installed on the target computer.

For Clover Users

---

If you're using OpenCore as a bootloader and depending on your installation type, either UEFI or Legacy, follow the steps below to boot macOS without USB.

I. UEFI

---

The following steps are for the systems running in UEFI Boot Mode.

1. Mount the EFI Partition of your Bootable USB.
2. Open the mounted EFI Partition and copy the EFI folder to your Desktop.
3. Once copied, unmount the EFI Partition of your macOS Bootable USB. You can also eject the partition to unmount it.
4. Copy the EFI from the Desktop to the mounted ESP.

NOTES: If you see any existing EFI folder in your ESP, delete the folder and empty the trash. The EFI folder in the ESP mainly has the APPLE folder which contains firmware for real Macs. This is specific for real Macs and is irrelevant on non-Apple hardware.

II. Legacy

---

If you’re using a Legacy based system, then it’s recommended to install Clover as a Legacy. Configure the following options for Legacy.

1. Download Clover Bootloader
2. Right click on the .pkg file you downloaded above and select Open.
3. Once you open the .pkg file, you'll see a popup. Simply click on Allow

4. Click on Continue to proceed with the installation of Clover Bootloader

5. By default, the Clover Bootloader will select the macOS Drive. In our case, it's Macintosh HD.

6. Click on Customize and configure the following options for Legacy boot mode.

Packages to install

• Install Clover in the ESP
• Boot Sectors: Install boot0af in MBR
• Clover for BIOS (legacy) booting: CloverEFI 64-bits SATA
• BIOS Drivers, 64 bit>Recommended Drivers: AudioDxe, FSInject, SMCHelper, XhciDxe
• File System drivers: ApfsDriverLoader
• Themes: BGM (You can select any)

7. Once you have configured the packages, click on Install. When prompted, enter your password. The Clover Bootloader will be installed in the selected location of your choice.
8. If the installation is complete, you'll see the following message. Simply click on Close.

9. Open the mounted ESP. If not already, mount the ESP.
10. Delete the EFI folder from the ESP and keep the file named boot.
11. Empty Trash.
12. Mount the EFI Partition of your Bootable USB.
13. Open the mounted EFI Partition and copy the EFI folder to your Desktop.
14. Once copied, unmount the EFI Partition of your macOS Bootable USB. You can also eject the partition to unmount it.
15. Copy the EFI from the Desktop to the mounted ESP.

For OpenCore Users

---

If you're using OpenCore as a bootloader and depending on your installation type, either UEFI or Legacy, follow the steps below to boot macOS without USB.

I. UEFI

---

For OpenCore users running the system in UEFI Boot Mode, the steps are exactly the same as the "Clover" method.

1. Mount the EFI Partition of your Bootable USB.
2. Open the mounted EFI Partition and copy the EFI folder to your Desktop.
3. Once copied, unmount the EFI Partition of your macOS Bootable USB. You can also eject the partition to unmount it.
4. Copy the EFI from the Desktop to the mounted ESP.

NOTES: If you see any existing EFI folder in your ESP, delete the folder and empty the trash. The EFI folder in the ESP mainly has the APPLE folder which contains firmware for real Macs. This is specific for real Macs and is irrelevant on non-Apple hardware.

II. Legacy

---

NOTE: Legacy users need to write boot sectors to make the system bootable. Legacy users need to use BootInstallARCH.tool on the target ESP.

 

[aryan]

Hi, i got my efi working however at first i was able to see efi folder with apple folder for my nveme drive but when i reinstalled the winodws first in second drive and monterey in first, the efi folder for desktop nvme drive is empty and the desktop efi is not picking it up and launch windows os. the drive is also not visible in bios. bootable drive efi is working and show the boot menu and in bios. what could be the issue?

 

[EliteMacx86]

Hi, i got my efi working however at first i was able to see efi folder with apple folder for my nveme drive but when i reinstalled the winodws first in second drive and monterey in first, the efi folder for desktop nvme drive is empty and the desktop efi is not picking it up and launch windows os. the drive is also not visible in bios. bootable drive efi is working and show the boot menu and in bios. what could be the issue?

The EFI folder is always empty unless you put one. Either in the Bootable USB or the target ESP.

 

[aryan]

The EFI folder is always empty unless you put one. Either in the Bootable USB or the target ESP.

Previously the disk efi partition had efi folder+apple folder inside it. however disk efi is now blank when reinstalled using the same usb bootable efi. bios detect the usb efi but not disk efi.

 

[EliteMacx86]

Previously the disk efi partition had efi folder+apple folder inside it. however disk efi is now blank when reinstalled using the same usb bootable efi. bios detect the usb efi but not disk efi.

Then you don't need to worry about it. Simply copy the EFI to the ESP and that would be it.

 

[aryan]

Then you don't need to worry about it. Simply copy the EFI to the ESP and that would be it.

problem is disk efi or you say ESP efi not being detected and Windows 11 bootup automatically. Disk EFI is also not in Bios. Monterey is on disk0, windows 11 is on disk1, two different nvme drive. I also set the boot option from Monterey > Settings but i still see windows bootup without any GUI selector.

 

[EliteMacx86]

problem is disk efi or you say ESP efi not being detected and Windows 11 bootup automatically. Disk EFI is also not in Bios. Monterey is on disk0, windows 11 is on disk1, two different nvme drive. I also set the boot option from Monterey > Settings but i still see windows bootup without any GUI selector.

If you have two separate drives for each OS, Windows will put its EFI in any ESP it wants, so it's always advised to remove the other drives before installing Windows. For Mac, of course, you need to put the EFI.

 

[fyrekrig]

How to Boot macOS without USB [Clover/OpenCore] - Installing Bootloader on the macOS/OS X Drive

An EliteMacx86 Exclusive Guide - This guide covers booting of macOS without USB after finishing the installation. By using this method, you’ll be easily able to install the Clover/OpenCore Boot loader on your System Drive which will allow booting without using the USB.

Booting from the system drive without the use of USB is one of the important parts of the post-installation. To boot macOS without the use of USB, follow the steps below.



For Clover Users

---

If you're using OpenCore as a bootloader and depending on your installation type, either UEFI or Legacy, follow the steps below to boot macOS without USB.

I. UEFI

---

The following steps are for the systems running in UEFI Boot Mode.

1. Mount the EFI Partition of your Bootable USB.
2. Open the mounted EFI Partition and copy the EFI folder to your Desktop.
3. Once copied, unmount the EFI Partition of your macOS Bootable USB. You can also eject the partition to unmount it.
4. Copy the EFI from the Desktop to the mounted ESP.

NOTES: If you see any existing EFI folder in your ESP, delete the folder and empty the trash. The EFI folder in the ESP mainly has the APPLE folder which contains firmware for real Macs. This is specific for real Macs and is irrelevant on non-Apple hardware.

II. Legacy

---

If you’re using a Legacy based system, then it’s recommended to install Clover as a Legacy. Configure the following options for Legacy.

1. Download Clover Bootloader
2. Right click on the .pkg file you downloaded above and select Open.
3. Once you open the .pkg file, you'll see a popup. Simply click on Allow

4. Click on Continue to proceed with the installation of Clover Bootloader

5. By default, the Clover Bootloader will select the macOS Drive. In our case, it's Macintosh HD.

6. Click on Customize and configure the following options for Legacy boot mode.

Packages to install

• Install Clover in the ESP
• Boot Sectors: Install boot0af in MBR
• Clover for BIOS (legacy) booting: CloverEFI 64-bits SATA
• BIOS Drivers, 64 bit>Recommended Drivers: AudioDxe, FSInject, SMCHelper, XhciDxe
• File System drivers: ApfsDriverLoader
• Themes: BGM (You can select any)

7. Once you have configured the packages, click on Install. When prompted, enter your password. The Clover Bootloader will be installed in the selected location of your choice.
8. If the installation is complete, you'll see the following message. Simply click on Close.

9. Open the mounted ESP. If not already, mount the ESP.
10. Delete the EFI folder from the ESP and keep the file named boot.
11. Empty Trash.
12. Mount the EFI Partition of your Bootable USB.
13. Open the mounted EFI Partition and copy the EFI folder to your Desktop.
14. Once copied, unmount the EFI Partition of your macOS Bootable USB. You can also eject the partition to unmount it.
15. Copy the EFI from the Desktop to the mounted ESP.

For OpenCore Users

---

If you're using OpenCore as a bootloader and depending on your installation type, either UEFI or Legacy, follow the steps below to boot macOS without USB.

I. UEFI

---

For OpenCore users running the system in UEFI Boot Mode, the steps are exactly the same as the "Clover" method.

1. Mount the EFI Partition of your Bootable USB.
2. Open the mounted EFI Partition and copy the EFI folder to your Desktop.
3. Once copied, unmount the EFI Partition of your macOS Bootable USB. You can also eject the partition to unmount it.
4. Copy the EFI from the Desktop to the mounted ESP.

NOTES: If you see any existing EFI folder in your ESP, delete the folder and empty the trash. The EFI folder in the ESP mainly has the APPLE folder which contains firmware for real Macs. This is specific for real Macs and is irrelevant on non-Apple hardware.

II. Legacy

---

NOTE: Legacy users need to write boot sectors to make the system bootable. Legacy users need to use BootInstallARCH.tool on the target ESP.

Using Olarila BigSur
Using OpenCore
Copied the EFI folder to desktop.
Unable to copy EFI folder to mounted ESP!
No copy option!
See 4 folders: Application/Library/System/users
Any comment appreciated

 

[EliteMacx86]

Using Olarila BigSur
Using OpenCore
Copied the EFI folder to desktop.
Unable to copy EFI folder to mounted ESP!
No copy option!
See 4 folders: Application/Library/System/users
Any comment appreciated

What happens when you try to copy to the ESP?

 

[HarFanG]

I have a question !

Let's say the OpenCore EFI is successfully copied/moved to the HDD/SSD.
MacOS will launch from the HDD/SSD : ok.

After that, let's do some changes on config.plist, then after the reboot, the system crashes before the desktop.
Now, trying to boot with the recovery : it crashes too.
I mean : no more able to boot from the usb key, does not appear on boot menu...

How to fix that ?

NB : that happened to me twice (so far), and I found a way to recover, but a not-easy-one.