Installing Monterey on Mac Mini external SSD

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Level 7

23,704 points

Installing Monterey on Mac Mini external SSD

I have a 2014 Mac mini that has an internal HDD formatted MacOS Extended (Journaled) running High Sierra 10.13.6. I want to upgrade it by installing Monterey on an external SSD, then swapping out the internal HDD for the new SSD. I have a bootable Monterey installer flash drive. I have already formatted the SSD as APFS. And I understand how to open the mini and swap out the drive.

Must I first install Monterey on the existing internal HDD before installing Monterey on the external SSD? I recall hearing something about this in the past. This would, of course, require reformatting the internal HDD as APFS. I prefer not to reformat & install Monterey on the internal drive because I want to preserve the 32-bit apps that are on the HDD.

Or can I just boot from the bootable Monterey installer and directly install Monterey on the external SSD without involving the internal HDD at all?

(Note, pls. ignore the profile listed below, which indicates a 2018 mini. This is about my 2014 Mac mini.)

Mac mini (2018)

Posted on Jan 7, 2025 2:24 PM

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Answer 1

HWTech

Level 9

67,262 points

Jan 7, 2025 5:41 PM in response to MartinR

Yes, you should install macOS Monterey to the new SSD while it is connected externally just to be safe has traditionally required an original Apple OEM drive to be installed internally for the system firmware update. I don't know if that requirement only applies to internal PCIe blade style SSDs or if it would also apply to 2.5" drives as well....why take the chance.

Installing macOS to an external drive will not change anything with the installation. Plus an added benefit is you will know the new SSD is working correctly so if that changes when installed internally, then you know either there is a bad connection, or that SSD is not compatible with that computer.

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Answer 2

tbirdvet

Level 6

16,807 points

Jan 8, 2025 4:12 PM in response to MartinR

On my previous Mac Mini I cloned the internal to the external, swapped out the drive then updated the drive to the latest OS. No issues.

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Installing Monterey on Mac Mini external SSD

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