Could Not Create a Preboot Volume for APFS Install

how to fix the error “Could Not Create a Preboot Volume for APFS Install”

Users rarely encounter this error, which only appears when they attempt to wipe their Macs clean and install macOS High Sierra again. This article will explain why and how to resolve the error message “could not create a Preboot Volume for APFS install” that you receive when attempting to reinstall macOS High Sierra.

As a starting point, let’s define what it means when your Mac indicates that it “could not create a Preboot Volume for APFS install.” The Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) cannot be installed on the APFS volume as a result of this error.

Could Not Create a Preboot Volume for APFS Install

The primary cause of your inability to install the preboot is a problem with the new Apple File System (APFS), which Apple is introducing in High Sierra to replace the 20-year-old HFS+ file system. Apple hasn’t figured out what the problem is yet.

Although the new system, APFS, has increased security and is faster and more compatible with SSDs, it is incompatible with OS X and older versions of macOS, such as High Sierra. Additionally, due to the Apple File System partition type, High Sierra cannot be reinstalled using Recovery Mode.

When trying to reinstall macOS High Sierra and receiving the message “could not create a Preboot Volume for APFS install,” there are two possible solutions or methods you can try: either delete the partition or volumes on your Mac, or install Sierra on the Internet Recovery Partition. We’ll go over this process step by step.

Contents

Method 1: Delete Your Partition (Volume).

This method is the most successful at resolving the “could not create a Preboot Volume for APFS install” error, we must inform you.

  1. Shut down your Mac.
  2. Turn on Recovery Mode after restarting your Mac. until you see the Apple logo, press and hold the Power button while simultaneously pressing command + R.
  3. A menu for utilities will show up.
  4. Choose Disk Utility. Your Mac’s drivers will all be displayed.
  5. Click Erase after selecting the internal drive. It will erase the drive.
  6. Put Disk Utility to bed.
  7. You currently have two choices:
  • Reopen Disk Utility and choose the internal drive. Format it with the “Mac OS Extended” file format. You can then reinstall macOS after that.
  • Or you could restart your Mac after turning it off. To access the Internet Recovery Mode, hold down the Option, Command, and R keys simultaneously. then choose Disk Utility. You will see a drive. Rename it “Macintosh HD” and reformat it as “Mac OS Extended.” Create a drive and format it as “Mac OS Extended” if you can’t see the drive. After that, click Reinstall macOS to leave Disk Utility and restart your computer.

You can reinstall macOS after deleting this drive because doing so will get rid of the problematic APFS system.

Method 2: Enter Internet Recovery Mode.

  1. restart your Mac.
  2. To put your Mac into Internet Recovery Mode while it is rebooting, press Command + R + Alt/Option.
  3. You should choose WiFi and then click on Utilities.
  4. Click Reinstall OS, and your computer should now have the original operating system installed.