Create a NetBoot, NetInstall, or NetRestore volume

Learn how to create network startup volumes for Mac computers that support them.

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Computers that support network startup volumes

These Mac models support starting up from a NetBoot, NetInstall, or NetRestore volume:

  • MacBook Pro introduced in 2017 or earlier
  • MacBook Air introduced in 2017 or earlier
  • MacBook introduced in early 2016 or earlier
  • Mac mini introduced in 2014 or earlier
  • iMac introduced in 2017 or earlier
  • Mac Pro introduced in 2013 or earlier

Create a network startup volume

If your Mac supports network startup volumes, you can use either of these utilities to create the volume:

  • System Image Utility, which is available at /System/Library/CoreServices/Applications/.
  • The command-line utility imagetool. For information about this utility, enter this command in Terminal:
/System/Library/CoreServices/Applications/System\ Image\ Utility.app/Contents/MacOS/imagetool


The network volume must contain a version and build of macOS that is compatible with the Mac using it. To prevent a Mac from trying to start up from an incompatible network volume, use the Filter Computer Models workflow action with System Image Utility.

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