How to Make Bootable Usb on Mac for Windows 10?

  • Mac

Making a bootable USB on Mac for Windows 10 is a useful skill to have, especially if you need to install or repair Windows on a PC without an optical drive. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the steps to create a bootable USB drive for Windows 10 on your Mac computer.

Step 1: Insert a USB drive into your Mac.

Step 2: Format the USB drive to MS-DOS (FAT) format. To do this, open the "Disk Utility" application, select the USB drive from the list of devices, click on the "Erase" tab, choose "MS-DOS (FAT)" as the format, and click "Erase."

Step 3: Download the Windows 10 ISO file from the official Microsoft website.

Step 4: Open the "Terminal" application on your Mac. Type "diskutil list" and press enter to identify the disk number of your USB drive.

Step 5: Once you have identified the disk number, type the following command in the Terminal window, replacing "diskX" with the correct disk number:
sudo dd if=/path/to/windows10.iso of=/dev/diskX bs=1m

Step 6: Press enter and enter your Mac password when prompted. The command will copy the Windows 10 ISO file to the USB drive, creating a bootable USB.

Step 7: Wait for the process to complete. It may take some time depending on the size of the ISO file and the speed of your USB drive.

After completing these steps, you will have a bootable USB drive for Windows 10 on your Mac. You can now use this USB drive to install or repair Windows on a PC.

Pros Cons
1. Allows you to install or repair Windows on a PC without an optical drive. 1. Requires a Mac computer and a USB drive.
2. Provides a portable and convenient method for Windows installation. 2. The process may take some time depending on the size of the ISO file and USB drive speed.
3. Works with both new and older versions of Windows 10. 3. Requires downloading the Windows 10 ISO file, which can be a large download.

Video Tutorial: How to make a bootable USB on a Mac?

Can I create a bootable USB for Windows from Mac?

Yes, it is possible to create a bootable USB for Windows from a Mac. Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Download the Windows ISO file: First, you will need to download the Windows ISO file from the official Microsoft website. Make sure you choose the version of Windows you want to install.

2. Format the USB drive: Connect the USB drive to your Mac and open the Disk Utility. Select your USB drive from the list of available drives and click on the "Erase" tab. Choose the format as "MS-DOS (FAT)" and click on "Erase" to format the USB drive.

3. Create a bootable USB using Terminal: Open Terminal on your Mac, which can be found in the Utilities folder under Applications. In Terminal, type the following command:
"`
sudo dd if=/path/to/windows.iso of=/dev/diskX bs=1m
"`
Replace "/path/to/windows.iso" with the actual path to the Windows ISO file you downloaded, and replace "diskX" with the identifier of your USB drive (you can check this in Disk Utility).

4. Enter your admin password: Terminal will ask for your admin password. Enter it and press Enter. The process of creating a bootable USB may take a while, so be patient.

5. Eject the USB drive: Once the process is complete, you can eject the USB drive by either right-clicking on it in Finder and selecting "Eject" or using the "diskutil" command in Terminal.

Now, your USB drive should be bootable with Windows. You can use it to install Windows on a PC by plugging it into the computer and booting from the USB drive.

It’s worth noting that the steps provided here are based on general knowledge and standard procedures. However, please ensure to verify specific details and any updates or changes in the process by referring to official documentation or reliable sources.

What is the app for making bootable USB on Mac?

There are different applications you can use to create a bootable USB on a Mac. Here are a few options:

1. Disk Utility: Disk Utility is a built-in utility on Mac systems that allows you to manage disks, including creating bootable USB drives. Here’s how you can use Disk Utility to create a bootable USB:
a. Connect the USB drive to your Mac.
b. Open Disk Utility (you can find it in the Utilities folder within the Applications folder or by searching for it in Spotlight).
c. Select the USB drive in the sidebar of Disk Utility.
d. Click on the "Erase" button and choose a format (usually "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)") and give it a name.
e. Once the format is complete, click on the "Restore" button.
f. In the restore window, drag and drop the ISO or disk image you want to make bootable into the "Source" field.
g. Drag the USB drive from the sidebar into the "Destination" field.
h. Click "Restore" and wait for the process to complete.

2. UNetbootin: This is a third-party application that allows you to create bootable USB drives from various operating systems. Here’s how you can use UNetbootin:
a. Download and install UNetbootin from their official website.
b. Launch UNetbootin and provide your administrator password if prompted.
c. Select the Diskimage option.
d. Click on the three-dot button (…) and browse to the location of the ISO or disk image you want to use.
e. Choose the USB drive as the Type and ensure the correct drive is selected.
f. Click "OK" or "Start" to begin the creation process and wait for it to finish.

3. Etcher: Etcher is another popular third-party tool used for creating bootable USB drives on Mac. Here’s how you can use Etcher:
a. Download and install Etcher from their official website.
b. Launch Etcher and provide your administrator password if prompted.
c. Click on the "Select image" button and browse to the location of the ISO or disk image you want to use.
d. Choose the USB drive as the target device.
e. Click on the "Flash!" or "Start" button and wait for the process to complete.

These are just a few examples of applications you can use to create bootable USB drives on a Mac. Depending on your specific needs and preferences, you may find other tools available as well.

How to make a FAT32 bootable USB on Mac?

To make a FAT32 bootable USB on a Mac, follow these steps:

1. Insert the USB drive into your Mac. Make sure it is formatted correctly and doesn’t contain any important data, as the process will erase all existing data on the USB drive.

2. Launch Disk Utility, which can be found in the Applications > Utilities folder.

3. In Disk Utility, select your USB drive from the list of drives and volumes on the left-hand side of the window.

4. Click on the "Erase" tab at the top of the Disk Utility window.

5. In the "Format" dropdown menu, choose "MS-DOS (FAT)" as the format. This format is essentially FAT32.

6. Give your USB drive a suitable name in the "Name" field.

7. Click on the "Erase" button to format the USB drive with the FAT32 file system.

8. Once the formatting process is complete, you can close Disk Utility.

9. Now, you need to make the USB drive bootable. This process depends on the specific requirements of the bootable software or operating system you want to install. There are different methods for creating a bootable USB for different purposes, such as installing a different operating system or bootable utilities.

10. If you are creating a bootable USB for installing a different operating system, you can use tools like "Boot Camp Assistant" (built into macOS) or third-party applications like "Etcher" or "BalenaEtcher." These tools simplify the process of creating a bootable USB drive by guiding you through the necessary steps.

11. Follow the instructions provided by the specific tool or software you are using to create the bootable USB. This typically involves selecting the ISO or disk image file of the operating system you want to install, choosing the USB drive as the target, and initiating the creation process.

12. Once the bootable USB creation process is complete, you can safely eject the USB drive from your Mac.

Remember to always refer to the specific instructions provided by the software or operating system you intend to install, as the process may vary slightly.

How to make bootable USB from DMG file on Mac?

To create a bootable USB from a DMG file on a Mac, you can follow these steps:

1. Connect a USB drive: Insert the USB drive into your Mac’s USB port. Please note that all data on the USB drive will be erased during this process, so make sure to back up any important files.

2. Format the USB drive: Open the "Disk Utility" application on your Mac. Select the USB drive from the list on the left side of the window. Click on the "Erase" button and choose a suitable format (e.g., "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)"). Give it a name and click "Erase" to format the USB drive.

3. Open Terminal: Go to the "Applications" folder, then open the "Utilities" folder, and launch the "Terminal" application. This will be used to execute the necessary commands.

4. Convert the DMG to ISO: In the Terminal window, type the following command: "hdiutil convert/path/to/your.dmg -format UDRW -o/path/to/your.iso" (replace "/path/to/your.dmg" with the path to your DMG file and "/path/to/your.iso" with the desired path/name for the ISO file). Press Enter to execute the command. This will convert the DMG file to an ISO format.

5. Identify the USB drive: In the Terminal, type "diskutil list" and press Enter. Look for the entry corresponding to your USB drive (e.g., /dev/disk2).

6. Unmount the USB drive: Still in the Terminal, type "diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX" (replace "X" with the number of your USB drive obtained from the previous step). Press Enter. This will unmount the USB drive, preparing it for the next step.

7. Write the ISO to USB: Type "sudo dd if=/path/to/your.iso of=/dev/diskX bs=1m" (replace "/path/to/your.iso" with the path to the ISO file and "/dev/diskX" with the number assigned to your USB drive). Press Enter. You will be prompted to enter your administrator password. Note that the password won’t be visible as you type.

8. Wait for the process to complete: The command will start writing the ISO file to the USB drive. This process may take some time; please be patient and do not interrupt it.

9. Eject the USB drive: Once the process is finished, you can eject the USB drive safely. In the Terminal, type "diskutil eject /dev/diskX" (replace "X" with the number of your USB drive) and press Enter.

Now, you have successfully created a bootable USB drive from your DMG file on a Mac. You can use this USB drive to install or boot from the file contained in the DMG image as needed.

How to create bootable USB from ISO on Mac?

To create a bootable USB from an ISO on a Mac, you can follow these steps:

1. Format the USB drive: First, insert the USB drive into your Mac, and open the Disk Utility application. Select the USB drive from the left sidebar, click on the "Erase" tab, and choose a format compatible with both Mac and Windows, such as MS-DOS (FAT) or ExFAT. Give it a suitable name and ensure that the scheme is set to "GUID Partition Map."

2. Download and mount the ISO: Obtain the ISO file you want to make bootable and ensure it is saved on your Mac. Double-click on the ISO file to mount it, which will create a virtual disk on your desktop.

3. Identify the USB drive: Open the Terminal application, which you can find in the Utilities folder within the Applications folder. Type the following command: `diskutil list`

This command will display a list of all connected disks and their identifiers. Identify your USB drive based on its size and format. It is recommended to handle disks with caution and ensure you select the correct one to avoid accidental data loss.

4. Unmount the USB drive: Before proceeding, you need to unmount the USB drive, so it can be modified. In the Terminal window, enter the command: `diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX`

Replace "diskX" with the appropriate identifier of your USB drive. For example, if your USB drive is identified as "disk2" in the output of the previous command, the command to unmount it would be `diskutil unmountDisk /dev/disk2`

5. Copy the ISO contents to the USB drive: In the Terminal, enter the following command to copy the ISO contents to the USB drive: `sudo dd if=/path/to/your/iso/file.iso of=/dev/diskX bs=1m`

Replace "/path/to/your/iso/file.iso" with the actual path to your mounted ISO file, and "diskX" with the identifier of your USB drive. Take note that the dd command is a low-level operation, so ensure the path and command are accurate to avoid unintended consequences.

6. Wait for the copy process to complete: The dd command will start copying the ISO contents to the USB drive. It may take some time depending on the size of the ISO and the speed of your USB drive. A progress indicator is not displayed, but you can observe the Terminal window for any activity or errors.

7. Eject the USB drive: Once the copy process finishes, you can eject the USB drive. In the Terminal, enter the command: `diskutil eject /dev/diskX`

Replace "diskX" with the identifier of your USB drive. Ejecting the USB drive ensures its buffers are flushed, and it’s safe to remove from your Mac.

Now, you have successfully created a bootable USB drive from an ISO on your Mac. You can use this bootable USB for various purposes, such as installing an operating system or running diagnostic tools.

Can you use Rufus on Mac?

Yes, Rufus is a popular and widely used tool for creating bootable USB drives on Windows. However, it is not compatible with macOS as it is specifically designed for Windows operating systems.

If you are using a Mac and need to create a bootable USB drive, you can use alternative tools that are compatible with macOS. One commonly recommended tool is called balenaEtcher.

To create a bootable USB drive on Mac using balenaEtcher, you can follow these steps:

1. Download and install balenaEtcher from their official website.
2. Connect your USB drive to your Mac.
3. Launch balenaEtcher.
4. Select the ISO or IMG file you want to create a bootable USB drive from.
5. Choose your connected USB drive as the target device.
6. Verify that the correct USB drive and ISO file are selected.
7. Click on the "Flash" button to start the process.
8. Wait for the process to complete, and your bootable USB drive will be ready for use.

Remember to exercise caution and ensure that you select the correct USB drive as the target device, as the process will erase all data on the selected drive.