How do you burn Windows 11 ISO to USB on Mac?

[Maddock1630]

I'm in need of assistance to burn an ISO file to a USB on a Mac, specifically aiming to create a bootable USB for Windows 11. Despite my efforts to find a straightforward solution, I'm encountering difficulties in understanding the best approach for this task. The vast array of tools and methods available for burning an ISO to USB on Mac has left me unsure of where to start. My goal is to find a method that is both efficient and doesn't require purchasing expensive software. If anyone has experience with this or can recommend a reliable, preferably free, tool that works well with macOS for creating a Windows 11 bootable USB, your advice would be greatly appreciated."

[#2 · Accepted solution]

To burn a Windows 11 ISO file to a USB drive on a Mac, you have several options, including using the command line tool dd, graphical applications like UNetbootin, and software such as WonderISO. Each method has its own set of steps and requirements, but they all aim to create a bootable Windows 11 USB drive that can be used for installation purposes on computers.

WonderISO is another powerful tool designed specifically for burning Windows ISO files to USB drives, including Windows 11 ISO. It offers a straightforward interface where you can easily select your Windows 11 ISO file, choose the target USB drive, and start the burning process with a single click. WonderISO takes care of the rest. This ensures the USB drive is correctly formatted and made bootable with the Windows 11 installation media. It also has a default feature to split the install.wim file. You can run this app on the latest macOS Sonoma with Apple Silicon chip. Here is the quick guide and screenshot: 

https://www.sysgeeker.com/online-help/wonderiso.html

UNetbootin is another user-friendly option that allows you to create a bootable USB drive without using the command line. After downloading and opening UNetbootin, select the disk image option, browse to your Windows 11 ISO file, and choose your USB drive from the list of devices. Clicking 'OK' will begin the process, and UNetbootin will provide progress feedback until the operation is complete. This method is preferred for users who are less comfortable with command-line operations.

Using the dd command with Terminal involves a more manual process but gives you control over the burning process directly from the terminal. First, you need to identify your USB drive's device identifier using the diskutil list command. After unmounting the disk with diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskN, where N represents your disk number, you then use the dd command in the format dd if=/path/to/windows11.iso of=/dev/rdiskN bs=1m to write the ISO file to the USB. This method requires caution, as selecting the wrong disk could result in data loss.

[#3]

@Maddock1630 

To burn Windows 11 ISO to USB on Mac, you can use the built-in Disk Utility app. Here are the steps:

1. Insert the USB drive into your Mac.
2. Launch the Disk Utility app. You can find it in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder, or by searching for it using Spotlight.
3. In the Disk Utility app, select your USB drive in the left-hand sidebar.
4. Click on the "Erase" tab at the top of the window.
5. Set the Format to "ExFAT" and the Scheme to "GUID Partition Map". This will ensure that the USB drive is compatible with both Mac and PC.
6. Click on "Erase" to format the USB drive. This will erase all existing data, so make sure to back up anything important beforehand.
7. Once the USB drive is formatted, mount the Windows 11 ISO file on your Mac by double-clicking on it.
8. Select both the USB drive and the mounted Windows 11 ISO file in the left-hand sidebar of Disk Utility.
9. Click on the "Restore" tab at the top of the window.
10. Drag the Windows 11 ISO file from the sidebar to the Source field in the Disk Utility app.
11. Drag the USB drive from the sidebar to the Destination field in the Disk Utility app.
12. Click on "Restore" to start the process of burning the ISO file to the USB drive.

Once the process of burning Windows 11 ISO to USB on Mac is complete, you should have a bootable USB drive for Windows 11 that you can use to install the operating system on a PC. Note that the process of burning an ISO file to USB on Mac using Disk Utility may take some time depending on the size of the ISO file and the speed of your USB drive.

[#4]

@Maddock1630 

Oh, the quest for burning Windows 11 ISO to USB on a Mac—it's like trying to decipher an ancient scroll, isn't it? But fear not, I've got you covered, and you won't have to break the bank for it.

Your Mac actually comes with a pretty nifty tool called Terminal, which can do the job without needing any extra software. Here's a super simplified breakdown:

1. Grab the ISO: Make sure you've got your Windows 11 ISO file handy.
2. Plug in your USB drive: Remember, it'll be wiped clean, so back up anything important!
3. Open Terminal: You can find this in Applications > Utilities.
4. Convert the ISO to IMG: Use the hdiutil convert command. It'll look something like hdiutil convert /path/to/windows.iso -format UDRW -o /path/to/target.img.
5. Identify your USB drive: Use diskutil list to see all drives and find your USB by its size or name.
6. Unmount the USB drive: Do this with diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX (replace X with your drive number).
7. Burn the IMG to your USB: Using the sudo dd command, like sudo dd if=/path/to/your.img.dmg of=/dev/rdiskX bs=1m (again, X is your drive number, and note the r before disk which makes it faster).

Sounds a bit techy, I know, but it's pretty much a copy-paste affair once you get the hang of it. Just be super careful with the dd command since it can overwrite any disk if you mistype the target disk name.

If Terminal feels a bit too much like hacking the Matrix for you, there's a free app called WonderISO. Super straightforward: select your ISO, select your drive, and flash it. It’s as easy as pie, and it works like a charm on macOS for burning ISO to USBs of all kinds, including Windows 11.

Either way you go, you'll end up with your bootable Windows 11 USB without having to spend extra on software. Hope this helps you on your journey to bootable USB enlightenment!

[#5]

It is quite challenging to burn Windows 11 ISO to USB on Mac as it does not support NTFS formatting. You have to cut the large install.wim to make a Windows 11 bootable USB. You can do it free in Terminal app or third-party apps like UUByte ISO Editor.

UUByte ISO Editor is a comprehensive software toolkit designed for managing and manipulating ISO files。 This utility stands out for its ability to not only create and edit ISO files but also for its capability to burn ISO images directly to external storage devices, including USB drives and CDs/DVDs.

With its robust set of features and intuitive design, UUByte ISO Editor is an essential tool for anyone who frequently works with ISO files or requires a reliable solution for creating bootable media.

[#6]

You can use a third-party tool called iSeePassword WizISO to burn Windows 11 ISO to a USB on Mac. Here's how you can do it:

1. Start by downloading and installing the iSeePassword WizISO tool from the official website for macOS.

2. Open iSeePassword WizISO, once it's installed and launch the application.

3. Connect your USB drive to your Mac.

4. In iSeePassword WizISO, click on the "Select image" button and locate the Windows 11 ISO file on your computer.

5. iSeePassword WizISO should automatically detect the connected USB drive. If it doesn't, click on the "Select target" button and choose your USB drive from the available options.

6. Double-check that you've chosen the correct ISO image and USB drive, as the process will erase all data on the USB drive.

7. Click on the "Flash!" button to begin burning the Windows 11 ISO to the USB drive.

8. iSeePassword WizISO will start the flashing process, which may take several minutes. You'll see a progress bar indicating the status.

9. Once the flashing process is complete, iSeePassword WizISO will verify the burned image to ensure it was successful.

10. Once verified, iSeePassword WizISO will notify you that the process is complete, and you can safely eject the USB drive from your Mac.

Remember to properly eject the USB drive using the system's eject function or by dragging it to the Trash before physically removing it.

Using iSeePassword WizISO provides a straightforward and user-friendly way to burn Windows 11 ISO to USB on Mac.

[#7]

@Brizion2111 

Got it! Given the detailed options for burning a Windows 11 ISO file to a USB drive on a Mac, which method would you prefer for creating a bootable Windows 11 USB drive? Are you leaning more towards the command line approach with dd, the user-friendly graphical interface of UNetbootin, or the specialized functionality of WonderISO? Please give me more suggestion, thanks!

[#8]

Sure, here are the steps to use Etcher to burn Windows 11 ISO to USB on Mac:

1. Download and install Etcher from their official website.

2. Insert the USB drive you want to use to burn the Windows 11 ISO into your Mac.

3. Open Etcher and click on the "Select Image" button to browse and select the Windows 11 ISO file.

4. In Etcher, select the USB drive you inserted in step 2 as the target device.

5. Click on the "Flash" button to start the burning process. Note that this process will erase all data on the USB drive, so make sure to back up any important data beforehand.

6. Wait for Etcher to complete the burning process. It may take a few minutes depending on the size of the ISO file and the speed of your USB drive.

7. Once the process is complete, you can safely eject the USB drive from your Mac and use it to install Windows 11 on another device.

That's it! Using Etcher to burn Windows 11 ISO to USB on Mac is a quick and simple process.

[#9]

@Maddock1630 

I've got you! Burning ISO to USB on a Mac can sound like a maze, but it's doable without dropping cash on fancy software. My go-to is using the built-in Terminal app on your Mac with a command-line utility called createinstallmedia or by leveraging dd, but since these don't directly support Windows ISOs, we'll look elsewhere.

The simplest, most reliable way I've seen involves a free tool called Balena Etcher. It's free, straightforward, and you don't need to mess around with Terminal or buy any software. Just download it, and you're pretty much set to create your bootable drive. Works like a charm!

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@Maddock1630 

[#11]

@Maddock1630 

For burning an ISO to a USB on a Mac, especially to make a bootable Windows 11 USB, you really don't need to get tangled up in a web of complicated software. Stick to this simple keyword guide:

1. Disk Utility: A built-in macOS tool, though it's more straightforward for disk management than burning ISOs directly.
2. Terminal and dd command: This is your go-to for a free and powerful option. It requires a bit of command line work but is super effective for creating bootable USB drives.
3. WonderISO: A user-friendly, free tool that works across macOS, Windows, and Linux. Great for those who prefer a graphical interface over command line.

When using dd in Terminal or any tool, just ensure your USB drive is correctly identified to avoid wiping the wrong disk. And always, back up your data before you start!

[#12]

@Maddock1630 

Burning ISO to USB for Windows 11 on a Mac can indeed be a bit confusing given the various tools and methods available. Fortunately, there's a straightforward and free method that works well: using the built-in command-line utility Terminal along with a tool called createinstallmedia or by utilizing the dd command. However, for Windows ISOs, dd is the more commonly used method, as createinstallmedia is typically used for macOS installers.

1. Prepare: Have a USB drive (8 GB or larger) and the Windows 11 ISO file ready.

2. Open Terminal: Found in Applications > Utilities.

3. Identify your USB drive:

   diskutil list

   Find your USB in the list and note the identifier (e.g., disk2).

4. Unmount the USB drive:

   diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskN

   Replace diskN with your drive’s identifier.

5. Write the ISO to the USB:

   sudo dd if=/path/to/windows.iso of=/dev/rdiskN bs=1m

   Replace /path/to/windows.iso with your ISO's path and diskN with your drive’s identifier. Use rdisk for a faster process.

6. Wait for the process to complete. You can press Ctrl + T to check progress.

7. Eject the USB drive:

   diskutil eject /dev/diskN

   see this guide: 

   https://gist.github.com/hungneox/1831e86982f7d8ee430f4b594fa4f223'

Now, your USB is ready to install Windows 11. Remember to back up any important data on your USB drive before starting, as this process will erase everything on it.