Apple has officially released macOS Tahoe 26 to all compatible Macs. While most users upgrade through the Mac App Store or System Settings, many prefer downloading the full installer directly. This is especially useful for creating a bootable USB, archiving the installer for future use, or upgrading multiple Macs without redownloading.
Direct downloads from Apple’s servers provide a reliable way to get the complete installer package. For IT administrators, developers, or advanced users who want more control, tools like GibMacOS make this process even easier.
Download macOS Tahoe installer from Apple
Apple hosts full macOS installers on its servers. These are the same files the App Store would download, but they can be accessed directly through official CDN links.
The downloaded file will appear as an IPSW file, which can be used to restore a Mac.
Download macOS Tahoe using GibMacOS
Another method is to use GibMacOS, a popular Python-based tool that fetches macOS installers directly from Apple’s servers. This is especially helpful if you want to browse different installer versions, download older builds, or script the process.
- Download GibMacOS from its GitHub repository.
- Extract the files and run gibMacOS.command (on macOS) or gibMacOS.bat (on Windows).
- From the menu, choose the version of macOS Tahoe you want to download.
- The tool will fetch the necessary files from Apple’s servers and build the full installer package.
Once the process is complete, you’ll find the installer files in the macOS Downloads folder. This can then be converted into an application installer to use just like the official App Store version.
Create a macOS Tahoe bootable USB
After downloading macOS Tahoe, either via direct link or GibMacOS, you can create a bootable USB installer:
- Insert a USB drive (minimum 16GB).
- Open Disk Utility, erase the drive as Mac OS Extended (Journaled), and name it MyVolume.
- Open Terminal and run:
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Tahoe.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
- Enter your admin password and wait for the process to finish.
- Restart your Mac, hold down Option, and select the USB drive to begin installation.
Final thoughts
Whether you use Apple’s direct download link or GibMacOS, getting the macOS Tahoe installer without the App Store gives you flexibility and control. You can keep a copy archived, use it for clean installations, or troubleshoot multiple Macs. Tools like GibMacOS are especially useful if you need access to different macOS versions beyond what Apple’s App Store makes easily visible.
If you are planning a clean installation, check out our full guide on how to clean install macOS Tahoe.
