Create macOS Installer - OCLP

Preferred GUI method, if you use Big Sur or newer

Create a bootable installer for macOS with OCLP

This section of the guide is focused around downloading and writing the full macOS installer to a USB drive and then copying the EFI folder to the USB drive as well to create a bootable installer.

Note: 16GB+ USB will be required for the installer

OLCP will only be able to create an installer for Big Sur or newer. If you need to create an installer for macOS Catalina or older, then use this alternative method: Create a bootable installer for macOS with TINU.

Download and launch OCLP

With OpenCore Legacy Patcher (OCLP), the new GUI includes a convenient download menu for recent macOS installers. We will not be using the other features of OCLP, as they are not relevant to creating a hackintosh.

So to start off, you'll want to grab the latest OpenCore-Patcher-GUI.app.zip from:

OpenCore Legacy Patcher Release Apps

For this guide, we'll be using the standard OpenCore-Patcher (GUI). Once downloaded, open the app and you should be greeted with this menu:

Download macOS Installer

First we'll want to select the "Create macOS Installer" button. This will present you with 2 options:

For this example, we'll assume you'll need an installer. Selecting this option will download Apple's Installer Catalogs and build a list for you to choose:

Downloading

Listed Installers

Since OCLP only supports Big Sur and newer, only those entries will be shown. For this example, we'll select macOS 12.1 Monterey. This will download and save the macOS installer to your Applications folder.

Downloading the Installer

Requesting to install

Finished Installing

Write installer to USB drive

Once finished, you can proceed to write the installer onto a USB drive.

Note: The entire USB drive will be formatted
Select Downloaded Installer

Select disk to format

Now OCLP will start the installer flashing - copying macOS to the USB drive!

Flashing

Success Prompt

Finished Flashing

You may now exit the OCLP App.

Copy EFI folder to USB drive

Downlaod, install and launch EFI-Agent
Open EFI Agent from its Menu Bar Icon and click on the downward triangle next to the USB drive you wish to use (SanDisk Ultra in this example).

After authenticating, you will see the EFI partition of your USB drive in the Finder.

Drag to copy the EFI folder previously created and configured with OCAuxiliaryTools from the Desktop to the EFI partition on the USB drive.

This step completes the creation of a hackintosh bootable USB drive with the macOS installer and the OpenCore EFI folder on it. - You may want to add some tools such as OCAuxiliaryTools and EFI-Agent to the USB drive, as these will be useful during post-install configuration.