Sierra provided the first (experimental) look at APFS, a file system optimized for Flash/SSD storage with strong encryption and better file management. Optimized Storage:
Boot into the USB installer and open from the top menu bar.
: Double-click the downloaded .dmg file to mount it. Inside, you will find an InstallOS.pkg file.
This process creates a that includes the recovery system, all base system files, and the ability to install macOS onto any supported Mac (or patched unsupported Mac). download macos 1012 sierra full
Note: This command works best on macOS High Sierra (10.13) and newer. On older systems, it may not recognize Sierra. If it fails, use Method 1.
If you are running macOS Catalina or newer on your primary machine, you can use the built-in command-line tool to pull older operating systems directly from Apple's software update servers.
If you need a "full" installer (meaning the entire OS, not just an incremental update), simply downloading it from the App Store leaves you with the installer app in your Applications folder. To use this for a clean install on another drive, you need to create a bootable USB drive. Sierra provided the first (experimental) look at APFS,
Some community resources host macOS Sierra files for legacy users.
Complete Guide to Downloading and Installing macOS 10.12 Sierra
The direct web download provides an un-extracted disk image container ( .dmg ). You must extract the underlying installation application framework to make use of it. Inside, you will find an InstallOS
I can provide specific terminal commands or workarounds to get your installation back on track. Share public link
I can provide targeted troubleshooting steps to get your installation working smoothly. Share public link
Open (Applications → Utilities → Terminal).
hdiutil create -o /tmp/Sierra -size 8g -volname Sierra -layout SPUD -fs HFS+J hdiutil attach /tmp/Sierra.dmg -noverify -mountpoint /Volmes/install_build sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/install_build hdiutil convert /tmp/Sierra.dmg -format UDTO -o ~/Desktop/Sierra.iso