Alex Ruben
Create a Bootable Windows 11 USB Drive Using a Mac
Creating a bootable USB drive for Windows 11 on a Mac involves a few steps, but with the right tools and instructions, it can be done smoothly. This guide will walk you through the entire process, from downloading the Windows 11 ISO file to preparing the USB drive for installation. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have a functional Windows 11 installer USB that you can use on any compatible PC.
Before you begin, ensure you have the following prepared:
- Windows 11 ISO file, which can be downloaded from the official Microsoft website: Download Windows 11 ISO.
- Homebrew installed on your Mac. You can find installation instructions at Homebrew.
- wimlib, which you can install through Homebrew.
- A USB drive with at least 8 GB of storage capacity.
Step 1: Download the Windows 11 ISO
Start by downloading the Windows 11 ISO file from the official Microsoft website. This file contains all the necessary installation files for Windows 11. Make sure to save it in an easily accessible location on your Mac.
Step 2: Install Homebrew
If you don’t already have Homebrew installed, you’ll need to do so. Open your Terminal and execute the following command:
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
If you encounter any warnings during installation, follow the instructions provided in the Terminal to resolve them. Once installed, you can verify by typing brew -v in the Terminal.
Step 3: Install wimlib
Once Homebrew is installed, you can install wimlib by entering the following command in your Terminal:
brew install wimlib
After installation, you can type wimlib-imagex --version to confirm successful installation.
Step 4: Prepare Your USB Drive
Plug in your USB drive and open Disk Utility. Select your USB drive from the list, and choose to erase it. Format it as MS-DOS (FAT) with the scheme set to Master Boot Record. This format is necessary as it allows for compatibility with Windows installations.
Step 5: Mount the Windows 11 ISO
Next, double-click the downloaded Windows 11 ISO file to mount it. This action will create a virtual drive that contains the installation files.
Step 6: Copy Files to the USB Drive
Open the mounted Windows 11 ISO and copy all files and folders to your USB drive, except for the sources folder. Make sure that the files are correctly transferred before proceeding to the next step.
Step 7: Create the Sources Folder
On your USB drive, create a new folder named sources. You will copy specific files from the ISO into this folder in the next step.
Step 8: Copy Required Files to the Sources Folder
Navigate back to the mounted Windows 11 ISO, and go to the sources folder. Copy all files from this folder to the sources folder you created on your USB, except for the install.wim file.
Step 9: Split the install.wim File
Due to the FAT32 format’s limitation of file sizes over 4 GB, you need to split the install.wim file. Open your Terminal again and execute the following command:
wimlib-imagex split /path/to/mounted/ISO/sources/install.wim /path/to/your/USB/sources/install.swm 3800
Make sure to replace /path/to/mounted/ISO and /path/to/your/USB with the actual paths on your system. This process may take some time, depending on your system’s performance.
Step 10: Finalize the Process
Once the file is split, you can safely eject your USB drive. Your Windows 11 bootable USB is now ready to use! You can use it to boot into any compatible PC or Mac and begin installing Windows 11.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
If you encounter issues while splitting the install.wim file, ensure that you have the correct paths and the necessary permissions. If the process seems stuck, check the Terminal for any error messages that might indicate what went wrong. Additionally, ensure your USB drive is properly formatted and has enough space.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have successfully created a bootable Windows 11 USB drive using your Mac. This method is a practical solution for installing Windows on various machines, including those that do not natively support Windows installation tools. If you have further questions or need more guides, feel free to explore additional resources or ask for assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I encounter an error during the installation?
If you see error messages during installation, check the integrity of your USB drive and ensure all files were copied correctly. You may need to recreate the bootable USB if issues persist.
Can I use a different USB size?
While an 8 GB USB drive is the minimum requirement, using a larger USB drive can help avoid issues with file size limits during the copying process.
Is it possible to create a bootable USB for other versions of Windows?
Yes, the process is similar for creating bootable USB drives for other versions of Windows, but ensure you use the appropriate ISO file and tools for each version.