Downloading macOS High Sierra 10.13 on a PC for MacBook installation

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Level 1

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Downloading macOS High Sierra 10.13 on a PC for MacBook installation

Hi, On a PC, I need to download High Sierra 10.13 and put onto a bootable USB stick for installation onto another Macbook. What do I need to do?

I already have El-Captain.

Thank you

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Download Mac OS High Sierral 10.13 on a PC to install onto a Mac os installer USB stick

Posted on Sep 24, 2025 10:40 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Matti Haveri

Level 6

19,592 points

Sep 25, 2025 3:05 AM in response to client208

So you mean a PC and not the Cray at the basement, right? ...just kidding. I presume you mean a Windows personal computer, right? Sorry but you need a Mac that is compatible with High Sierra to do this most easily although a newer Mac and VM might be a workaround. With Windows/Linux this is difficult/impossible.

Does that Mac running El Capitan support this:

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

If that Mac is not very old, installing via Internet Recovery is also possible but it might very well need still need this workaround:

https://mrmacintosh.com/how-to-fix-the-recovery-server-could-not-be-contacted-error-high-sierra-recovery-is-still-online-but-broken/

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Answer 2

Sep 25, 2025 5:28 AM in response to client208

You may be able go to from El Capitan to High Sierra on that old MacBook, without creating a USB installer.

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

If not, you could do this:

Use your PC to download the .DMG file containing the installer for Sierra, and to put that .DMG file on a uSB flash drive. This will not create a bootable installer, just a flash drive with a data file on it.
Transfer the USB flash drive to the Mac running El Capitan.
Copy the .DMG file to the Mac.
Open (mount) the .DMG file, and run the installer application inside.
Once Sierra is installed, make a bootable clone backup. Then use the Mac's versions of Safari and the App Store to access the High Sierra upgrade link.

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