How to Create a Bootable Windows USB on Mac

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Despite the often encountered limitations in the interaction between Windows PC and Mac systems, Apple provides users with the ability to install the latest versions of Windows on any Mac device. Furthermore, macOS provides an efficient utility with which you can easily create a bootable Windows USB on a Mac.

With this bootable USB created on macOS, you will be able to install Windows 11 on any compatible computer, including a Mac.

The steps in this guide, teaching you how to create a bootable Windows USB on a Mac, are presented on the macOS Monterey operating system, but they work in the same way on both older and newer versions of macOS, such as macOS Sonoma.

How to Create a Bootable Windows USB on Mac

Before you begin, you need a USB stick with a storage capacity of at least 8 GB and no important data stored on it. This USB stick will be formatted when writing the Windows 11 installation image.

1. Download the ISO image with the latest version of the Windows 11 operating system from the official Microsoft page.

Download Windows 11 ISO (Microsoft)

2. Connect the USB stick to the Mac, then open the Boot Camp Assistant utility.

You can find this utility in: “Applications” > “Utilities”.

Boot Camp Assistant
Boot Camp Assistant

3. On the first screen of the utility, immediately after opening Boot Camp Assistant, click the "Continue" button.

Boot Camp Assistant Introduction
Boot Camp Assistant Introduction

4. In the next step select only the first option. "Create a Windows 10 or later install disk", then click on "Continue".

As a side note, the last option at this step may differ if you don't already have Windows installed in dual-boot on the Mac. In my case, the option appears to remove the Windows 10 operating system from the Mac, "Remove Windows 10 or later version".

How to Create a Bootable Windows USB on Mac
Create Windows 11 Install Disk on Mac

5. In the next step, you need to choose the .iso file with the Windows 11 installation image, and then select the drive on which this image will be written. Essentially, at this step, you are creating a bootable Windows USB on Mac.

Click "Continue".

Create bootable Windows 11 Flash Drive
Create bootable Windows 11 Flash Drive

Wait until the formatting and copying of the Windows 11 installation files to the USB drive are completed. It is crucial not to disconnect the USB drive from the Mac during this entire process.

Your bootable USB drive has been created
Your bootable USB drive has been created

After completing this final step, you have successfully created a bootable Windows USB on Mac in just a few minutes.

Related: How do you wipe the operating system Windows installed on a Mac device?

With this USB stick obtained using the above guide, you will be able to install Windows 11 on any compatible computer or Mac.

I am happy to share my experiences in the field of computers, mobile phones and operating systems, to develop web projects and to bring the most useful tutorials and advice. I like to "play" on the iPhone, MacBook Pro, iPad, AirPort Extreme and on operating systems macOS, iOS, Android and Windows.

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