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September 28th, 2025 09:07

Is it possible to create Windows 11 bootable usb on mac?

Hey all, I only have a MacBook (latest macOS) and I need to install Windows 11 on a couple of PCs at home. Problem is, I don’t have a Windows machine to use the Media Creation Tool. I tried formatting a USB stick in Disk Utility and just copying the ISO, but the PCs won’t boot from it.

Is there a way to create a Windows 11 bootable USB on Mac that actually works? Preferably something simple (I’m not great with Terminal commands), but if command line is the only way, I’d love a step-by-step guide. Also, do I need to worry about Secure Boot being on/off when I try to boot the installer?

Thanks in advance for any tips!

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September 28th, 2025 09:35

To create a Windows 11 bootable USB on Mac. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you do it easily:

1. Download Balena Etcher
2. Download Windows 11 ISO
3. Prepare Your USB Drive
 Insert a USB flash drive (at least 8GB; 16GB recommended).
4. Create Bootable USB with Balena Etcher
 Launch Balena Etcher.
 Select Image: Click "Flash from file" and choose the Windows 11 ISO you downloaded.
 Select Target: Choose your USB drive from the list.
 Flash! Click "Flash!" to start the process.
 Enter your Mac password if prompted.
5. Wait for the Process to Complete
 The app will verify and write the ISO to your USB.
 Once done, you'll see a "Flash Complete" message.

6. Eject and Use
 Safely eject the USB drive.
 Insert it into the PC where you want to install Windows 11.
 Boot the PC and select the USB as the boot device (you might need to change boot order in BIOS/UEFI).
 You might need to disable Secure Boot temporarily.

(edited)

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September 28th, 2025 09:21

Boot Camp Assistant on macOS can help you create a Windows 11 bootable USB, but only on Intel-based Macs (Apple Silicon Macs don’t support Boot Camp). It is a built-in app with modern macOS.

What You Need

  1. An Intel Mac with Boot Camp Assistant.
  2. A USB drive (at least 8GB, 16GB recommended).
  3. A Windows 11 ISO file, which you can download from Microsoft’s official site.
  4. A stable internet connection.

How to create windows 11 bootable usb on mac with bootcamp:

Step 1: Go to Microsoft’s Windows 11 download page . Select the ISO and save it to your Mac.

Step 2: Plug in the USB flash drive. Make sure it’s empty (Boot Camp will erase everything on it).

Step 3: Go to Applications > Utilities > Boot Camp Assistant.

Step 4: In the menu bar, choose Action > Create a Windows Install Disk.

Step 5: Browse and select the Windows 11 ISO. Pick the USB drive as the destination and click Continue.

Step 6: Boot Camp will format the USB and create a Windows 11 bootable USB on your Mac. Please wait about 10 minutes.

Notes: This method only works on Intel Macs. On Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3 and M4), you can't create a Windows 11 bootable USB with Boot Camp since it's not supported.

(edited)

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September 28th, 2025 09:27

Try command line to make bootable usb on mac!

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September 28th, 2025 09:34

Creating a Windows 11 bootable USB on a Mac might seem tricky, especially since Apple’s Boot Camp doesn’t always support the latest versions of Windows. That’s where SysGeeker WonderISO comes in. This powerful ISO utility lets you quickly turn a Windows 11 ISO file into a fully bootable USB drive right from macOS—no complicated commands or extra tools required. With just a few clicks, you can prepare a USB stick that works seamlessly on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs.

Steps for creating Windows 11 bootable USB on any Mac:

1. Connect a USB flash drive to the Mac. Back up any important data since the process will erase it.

2. In WonderISO app, go to the “Burn” section. Click Browse and select your downloaded Windows 11 ISO file.

3. Pick your USB drive from the list of connected devices. Double-check to avoid formatting the wrong drive.

4. Click Burn. WonderISO will format the USB and write the ISO. Wait until it says the process is complete.

5. Insert the USB into the target PC. Restart and press the correct boot key (F12, Esc, or Del, depending on your PC). Select the USB drive and install Windows 11.

Extra Tips

Speed: Using a USB 3.0 stick makes the process much faster.

Compatibility: Always match GPT/MBR to your target computer’s firmware.

Verification: Some versions of WonderISO let you verify the bootable media before closing. Use it if available.

(edited)

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September 28th, 2025 09:51

To create Windows 11 bootable usb on macTerminal is very effective but requires careful attention. Typing the wrong disk identifier can erase your Mac's hard drive. Follow the steps exactly.

Step 1: Format the USB Drive

  • Plug in your USB drive.
  • Open Disk Utility (you can find it with Spotlight search Cmd+Space).
  • In the sidebar, select your USB drive (be sure to select the drive itself, not the volume name underneath it).
  • Click Erase.
  • Set the format to MS-DOS (FAT) and the scheme to Master Boot Record (MBR). (Yes, even for Windows 11, this is often more compatible for the initial boot process).
  • Click Erase. Once done, quit Disk Utility.

Step 2: Identify Your USB Drive's Disk Identifier

  • This is the most critical step.
  • Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal).
  • Type the following command and press Enter: bash diskutil list
  • You will see a list of all your disks. Identify your USB drive. Look for its size (e.g., 15.5 GB). It will be
  • listed as something like /dev/disk2 or /dev/disk3.
  • Do not use the identifier ending with s1 or s2. You need the parent identifier (e.g., disk2, not disk2s1).

Step 3: Unmount the USB Drive

  • You need to unmount the drive before you can write to it with dd. Do not eject it physically.

In the Terminal, run (replace disk2 with your identifier): bash diskutil unmountDisk /dev/disk2
Step 4: Write the ISO to the USB Drive using dd

  • In Terminal, navigate to the folder where you downloaded the Windows 11 ISO. The easiest way is to use the cd command. For example, if it's in your Downloads folder: bash cd ~/Downloads

The command will now run. It will take several minutes (10-30 is normal) and will show no progress until it's finished. Be patient and do not unplug the USB drive or close the terminal.

(edited)

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September 28th, 2025 10:13

You can create a Windows 10 vitual macine with the free UTM app. It's especially useful for testing software, running Windows-only applications, or setting up a safe environment without altering your Mac system. With built-in support for both Intel and Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3), UTM makes setting up Windows 10 quick and straightforward. Once you get into the Windows 10 virtual machine, you can easily create a Windows 11 bootable USB on Mac with the free Media Creation Tool.

Steps to Create a Windows 10 VM on Mac with UTM:

1. Download and Install UTM – Get it from official website and install it on your Mac.

2. Obtain a Windows 10 ISO – Download the Windows 10 ISO file from Microsoft’s official site.

3. Open UTM and Create a New VM – Launch UTM, click “Create New Virtual Machine.”

4. Choose Virtualization Mode – Select Virtualize (for Apple Silicon) or Emulate (for Intel or special needs).

5. Load Windows 10 ISO – Attach the ISO as the boot drive in the VM setup.

6. Allocate Resources – Assign CPU cores, RAM, and disk size according to your Mac’s specs.

7. Configure Devices – Add network, sound, and display options as needed.

8. Start the VM – Boot the VM, follow the Windows installer, and complete setup.

9. Install Guest Tools (Optional) – For better performance and features, install SPICE Guest Tools or QEMU drivers inside Windows.

10. Boot into Windows 10 VM and start making a Windows 11 bootable on your Mac with Media Creation Tool.

(edited)

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September 30th, 2025 11:32

Yes, you can create a Windows 11 bootable USB on a Mac. The easiest way is with Boot Camp Assistant (Action → Create a Windows install disk), which formats the USB and makes it bootable from the ISO. If that option isn’t available, you can use third-party tools like UUByte ISO Editor or UNetbootin, which are simpler than Terminal.

Secure Boot usually doesn’t need to be disabled since Windows 11 supports it, but if the installer doesn’t boot, temporarily turn it off in BIOS.
I Hope you will find this helpful

(edited)

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