Fix IA App name cookie write failed when creating Bootable USB in macOS?

IA App name cookie write failed can also be accompanied by with The Copy of the installer app failed or The bless of the installer disk failed. When creating a macOS bootable USB drive, encountering errors like “IA App name cookie write failed,” “The Copy of the installer app failed,” and “The bless of the installer disk failed” can be frustrating. Each of these errors may have different causes, but they often revolve around issues with the macOS installer, the USB drive, or the process used to create the bootable drive. In my personal experience the following steps has fixed the issue. If you are using Terminal to run the command of creating macOS Bootable USB drive, then you need to give Full Disk Access to Terminal. Click Apple logo on the left-top corner and click on System Setting

1. Click on the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen and select “System Settings.”
2. In System Settings, find Privacy & Security on the left side bar and click on Full Disk Access from the right pan.
3. Within the Full Disk Access enable it for Terminal. You will be prompted to enter your administrator password.

If Terminal is missing in the list of Full Disk Access window.

Do the following:

1. Add Terminal: Click the “+” button under the list of applications that already have Full Disk Access. A file browser window will open.
You will be prompted to enter your administrator password.
2. Locate Terminal:
• Navigate to the “Applications” folder, and then to the “Utilities” folder.
• Find and select “Terminal.”
3. Grant Access: Once Terminal is selected, click “Open” to add it to the list of applications with Full Disk Access.
4. Lock the Settings: After adding Terminal, click the lock icon again to prevent further changes and secure your settings.

For the changes to take effect, you may need to quit and restart Terminal. In some cases, a system restart might be necessary.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to address each of these issues:

Common Steps for All Errors

1. Check the macOS Installer
• Delete and Redownload: If the installer might be corrupted, remove it from your Applications folder and re-download it from the App Store or Apple’s official website.
• Ensure Complete Download: Confirm that the download of the installer was completed without interruptions.
2. Prepare the USB Drive
• USB Drive Health and Compatibility: Ensure the USB drive is in good condition and compatible with your Mac.
• Format the USB Drive: Use Disk Utility to format the drive as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) with a GUID Partition Map. The drive should have a minimum of 12GB of free space.
3. Use the Correct Command
• Correct createinstallmedia Syntax: Use the appropriate syntax for the createinstallmedia command, tailored to your macOS version. This command is located in the installer’s Contents/Resources directory.
• Run Command with Admin Privileges: Execute the command with sudo in Terminal to run it as an administrator.
4. Check Your Mac’s Software
• Update macOS: Make sure your current macOS version is up to date to resolve potential software conflicts.
5. Disable Security Software Temporarily
• Antivirus or Security Software: Temporarily turn off any security software that could interfere with the bootable drive creation process.

Specific Fixes for Each Error

“IA App name cookie write failed”

• Check File System Permissions: Verify that you have the required permissions to write to the USB drive and the Applications folder.
• Try a Different USB Port: Occasionally, using a different USB port can fix this issue.

“The Copy of the Installer App Failed”

• Ensure Sufficient Space: Make sure there’s enough space on both the USB drive and your Mac’s startup disk.
• Monitor Disk Activity: Check for disk errors on your Mac’s startup disk using Disk Utility’s First Aid feature.

“The Bless of the Installer Disk Failed”

• Check USB Format: Confirm the USB is formatted correctly. The “bless” tool might fail if the drive isn’t formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or if the partition scheme isn’t GUID Partition Map.
• Reset NVRAM: Resetting the NVRAM can sometimes resolve boot-related issues.

General Tips

• Patience: Creating a bootable USB takes time; avoid interrupting the process.
• USB Drive Quality: Opt for a high-quality USB drive to avoid these errors.
• Console Logs: If issues persist, consult the Console logs for specific error messages for more detailed troubleshooting.

If these steps don’t resolve the issues, it might be a more complex problem that requires assistance from Apple Support or a professional technician. How to create macOS bootable drive?