How to Create Bootable Windows USB on Mac

If you’re a Mac user who needs to install Windows on a computer, you may have wondered how to create a bootable USB drive for Windows on your Mac. Fortunately, it’s not too difficult to make a bootable Windows USB on a Mac, and in this article, we’ll show you how. With this guide, you can create a Windows USB installer on your Mac that you can use to install Windows on a PC or Mac computer.

Creating a bootable USB drive for Windows on your Mac requires a few steps, but don’t worry – the process is fairly straightforward. In this article, we’ll walk you through the process step-by-step and make it easy for you to follow. With just a bit of patience and careful following of these instructions, you’ll soon be able to create a Windows bootable USB drive on your Mac, which you can use to install the Windows operating system on your computer. So, let’s get started!

How to Make a Bootable Windows USB on Mac

Introduction

Creating a bootable Windows USB on a Mac can be a daunting process for those who are not tech-savvy. However, it is an absolute necessity for installing Windows on your Mac. In this article, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of creating a bootable Windows USB on a Mac.

1. Requirements

Before you begin the process, you need to make sure that you have the following requirements:

– A USB flash drive with at least 16GB of storage space.
– A Windows ISO disk image file.
– A Mac computer with Yosemite or later operating system.

2. Download the Required Software

In order to create a bootable Windows USB on your Mac, you need to download two free software programs: UNetbootin and Wine.

3. Install Wine

Once you have downloaded Wine, you need to install it on your Mac. To do this, double click on the downloaded file in your Downloads folder and follow the installation instructions.

4. Download UNetbootin

After installing Wine, you need to download and install UNetbootin. To do this, go to the UNetbootin website and download the latest version for Mac.

5. Format Your USB Flash Drive

The next step is to format your USB flash drive. To do this, insert the USB drive into your Mac, open Disk Utility, select your USB drive from the left-hand side, and click on the Erase button.

6. Create a Bootable Windows USB

Once you have formatted your USB drive, you can launch UNetbootin. Click on the Diskimage option and browse to the location where you saved your Windows ISO file. Make sure that your USB flash drive is selected as the type of drive you want to use for the bootable Windows USB.

7. Select the Bootloader

The next step is to select your bootloader. There are two options: SYSLINUX or GRUB. Choose the one that your computer is compatible with.

8. Copy the Necessary Files

Once you have selected your bootloader, UNetbootin will begin copying the necessary files to your USB drive. This process can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour, depending on the speed of your USB drive.

9. Reboot Your Computer

After UNetbootin has finished copying the files to your USB drive, eject the USB drive from your Mac. Reboot your computer and hold down the Option key as it restarts. This will bring up the boot menu.

10. Install Windows

Finally, select your USB drive from the boot menu to start the Windows installation process. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Conclusion

Creating a bootable Windows USB on a Mac may seem like a challenging task, but it is not difficult if you follow the steps outlined in this article. By having a bootable Windows USB on hand, you can easily install Windows on your Mac whenever you need to.

Preparing Your Mac and USB Drive

Once you’ve decided to create a bootable Windows USB on your Mac device, the first thing you need to consider is whether or not you have the necessary equipment. To make a bootable Windows USB on Mac, you will need to have a Windows ISO file, a USB drive with ample storage capacity, and a Mac computer.

Checking Compatibility

Before proceeding, ensure that your Mac computer is compatible with the version of Windows you’re planning to install. You can verify this by checking the official system requirements for that particular version of Windows. It is recommended to use a Mac that runs on an Intel processor, as it is the only architecture that supports the Windows operating system.

Downloading the Windows ISO File

The next step is to download the Windows ISO file from Microsoft’s website. The ISO file contains all the necessary installation files for the Windows operating system. It is recommended that you download the ISO file directly from Microsoft to ensure that it is a genuine copy and free from malware.

Formatting the USB Drive

Once you have the ISO file, you need to format your USB drive. Plug the USB drive into your Mac and launch the Disk Utility application. Select your USB drive from the list of drives on the left-hand side, then click on the “Erase” tab. In the format dropdown, select “MS-DOS (FAT),” give it a name, and click on the “Erase” button.

Creating a Bootable USB Drive

After formatting your USB drive, you need to turn it into a bootable drive that can be used to install Windows. There are several ways to do this, but the most straightforward method is by using the Terminal application. Launch Terminal and enter the following command:

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia \
--volume /Volumes/Untitled --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app \
--nointeraction

Replace “Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app” with the name of your Windows ISO file, and “Untitled” with the name of your USB drive. Press Enter and wait for the process to complete.

Verifying the Bootable USB Drive

After creating the bootable USB drive, it is essential to verify that it is indeed bootable and contains all the necessary installation files. Restart your Mac while holding the Option key. You should see a boot menu, where you can select “EFI Boot” under the external drive section. This will launch the Windows installer.

Troubleshooting

If the bootable USB drive does not work correctly, you may need to troubleshoot the issue. One of the most common problems is when the Mac computer refuses to boot from the USB drive. To fix this issue, restart your Mac while holding down the Command + R keys until the Apple logo appears. This will launch the macOS recovery mode, where you can select “Startup Disk,” then choose the bootable USB drive.

Updating Drivers

After successfully installing Windows on your Mac, you may need to update some drivers to ensure optimal performance of the system. Some Mac devices require specific drivers for some features to work correctly, such as the keyboard or the trackpad. You can download these drivers from Apple’s website or the device manufacturer’s website.

Conclusion

Creating a bootable Windows USB on Mac may seem like a daunting task, but with the right tools and instructions, it can be done quickly and efficiently. This guide has outlined the necessary steps to follow, from downloading the ISO file to creating a bootable USB drive, troubleshooting any issues, and updating drivers. You can now install Windows on your Mac and enjoy the benefits of having two operating systems on one device.

How to create a bootable windows USB on Mac?

Now that you have understood the importance of creating a bootable Windows USB on Mac, let’s dive into the steps involved in making one.

Step 1: Downloading Windows ISO file

The first step is to download the Windows ISO file that contains the installation files. Microsoft provides official links to download Windows ISO files directly on their website. Ensure that you download the correct version of Windows that you need.

Step 2: Preparing the USB Drive

After downloading the ISO file, the next step is to prepare the USB drive. You can use a USB drive with at least 16 GB of storage space. Insert the USB drive into your Mac, and open Disk Utility.

Select the USB drive, click on “Erase,” select the “Format” drop-down, and choose “ExFAT” as the file system. Name the USB drive and click on “Erase” once more.

Step 3: Creating a bootable USB for Windows using Terminal

Next, you will need to create a bootable USB using Terminal. This method involves using a Terminal command that copies the Windows ISO file to the USB drive and makes it bootable.

Open Terminal and use the following command:

“`
sudo dd if=/path/to/windows.iso of=/dev/diskX bs=1m
“`

Note: Replace “/path/to/windows.iso” with the path to your Windows ISO file, and “diskX” with the disk number assigned to the USB drive.

Before running the command, ensure that the USB drive is not mounted.

Step 4: Eject the USB Drive

After the Terminal process is done, you can eject the USB drive safely.

Type “diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX” in Terminal to unmount the USB drive, and then physically remove it from your Mac.

Step 5: Booting from the USB Drive

Insert the USB drive into your Windows computer, restart it, and enter the boot menu by pressing the F12 key during the boot process.

Select the USB drive from the boot menu to start the Windows installation process.

Conclusion

Creating a bootable Windows USB on Mac can seem daunting at first, but with these simple steps, you can easily create one and install Windows on your PC. Remember to use caution when using Terminal commands and ensure that you follow the steps correctly to avoid damaging your computer or USB drive.

Time to Create your Perfect Bootable Windows USB on Your Mac!

That’s it, folks! You have successfully made a bootable Windows USB on your Mac. You can try it out by simply inserting the USB into your Windows PC or laptop and see the magic happen. You won’t believe how fast and efficient your Windows can be. Thanks for taking the time to read my article. I hope you found it helpful. Please feel free to visit us again for more informative and engaging tech articles. Remember, technology is constantly evolving, and there is always something new to learn. Stay up-to-date and happy learning!