Installing the Latest macOS Mojave Beta on Your MacBook, iMac, and Mac Pro

Installing the Latest macOS Mojave Beta on Your MacBook, iMac, and Mac Pro

Apple’s WWDC 2018 unveiled macOS Mojave (pronounced mo-hah-vee), bringing forth significant enhancements. The new features, such as dark mode, the revamped app store, and desktop stacks, enhance its appeal.

macOS Mojave (macOS 10.14) developer beta became available immediately after the keynote. Here’s how to download and install it on your Mac:

Compatible Devices

Apple highlighted iOS 12 device compatibility but omitted details regarding which Mac generations or variants support macOS Mojave. It was stated that macOS Mojave supports computers from mid-2012 onward, including 2010 and 2012 Mac Pro models with recommended Metal-capable graphics cards.

  • 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 (2017)
  • Mac Pro (late-2013, also mid-2010 and mid-2012 models with Metal-capable GPU)

Method 1: Install macOS Mojave via OTA Update

For the latest macOS beta, ensure you have an Apple developer account ($99 annually) for access to the update. If interested, follow these steps:

Note: Beta software may contain bugs affecting regular usage; consider this before proceeding.

1. Go to Apple’s Developer website, locate macOS Mojave 10.14 beta, and click “Download” next to it for the .dmg utility file.

2. Open the downloaded file, macOS Developer Beta Access Utility.dmg, and run the installer DeveloperBetaAccessUtility.pkg.

3. After the installer completes the download, the Mac App Store will open. Click on the ‘download’ button under the macOS logo to start the installation process.

4. Once the download finishes, your Mac will restart. You’ll then need to log back into your Apple account to access the developer beta.

Installing the Latest macOS Mojave Beta on Your MacBook, iMac, and Mac Pro

Method 2: Clean Install macOS Mojave Via USB

While installing the macOS Mojave beta via OTA update is common, you might prefer a fresh start, sacrificing all data. Here are the steps for a clean install:

1. Begin with a USB drive, ideally with 16GB storage. Format it using Disk Utility’s ‘Erase’ option, ensuring the name and format remain unchanged.

2. Next, obtain the macOS Mojave beta OTA image from the Mac App Store. No need to install the image; simply store the files in the Applications folder.

3. The crucial step: launch Terminal and enter the command below to copy macOS Mojave onto the USB drive.

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ 10.13\ Beta.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia — volume /Volumes/Untitled –applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ 10.14\ Beta.app

4. Enter your Mac password if prompted, then your installation files will be moved to the USB drive.

5. Restart your Mac and hold down the “Option” key to view available drives. Choose the USB installer disk.

6. You’ll encounter the familiar ‘Disk Utility’ window, useful for erasing your Mac’s main storage. This step is necessary for a clean installation, which you can complete by following on-screen instructions.

Experience macOS Mojave on Your Mac Computer

We didn’t expect much from iOS 12, but leaks and speculations hinted at a feature-rich update for macOS 10.14. Apple delivered some of the most requested features while simplifying the rest for Mac users.

If you install the macOS Mojave beta, share your thoughts in the comments below.