You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

How do I create bootable usb from iso windows 10?

I'm currently using a 2023 MacBook Pro and need to make a Windows 10 USB bootable disk to install the system on my friend's old computer. I also have a 32GB USB flash drive and a Windows 10 ISO file on hand.


I tried using the Mac's built-in disk tool, but found that it seems that I can't directly convert the ISO to a bootable USB. I also checked some online tutorials. Some people recommend using command line tools, such as dd, but it's a bit complicated for a newbie like me, and I'm afraid that improper operation will damage the entire USB flash drive. And after trying several times, the bootable disk still can't be recognized on the target computer.


Does anyone know how to create bootable USB from ISO Windows 10, especially on Mac? I hope the steps are simpler and don't require too many command operations. Thank you very much for your suggestions!

MacBook Pro (M3, 2023)

Posted on Dec 11, 2024 11:48 PM

Reply
5 replies

Dec 12, 2024 1:54 AM in response to GreenKinsey

Now, let's get started! Here are some steps to create a bootable USB from Windows 10 ISO file with Microsoft's Media Creation tool:


  1. Download the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's official website.
  2. Run the tool and select "Create installation media for another PC".
  3. Choose your language and architecture (32-bit or 64-bit).
  4. Select "USB flash drive" as the media type.
  5. Choose your USB drive and click "Next".
  6. Wait for the process to complete.


Some additional tips:


  • Always create a backup of your important files before proceeding with any creation process.
  • Use a reliable source for downloading ISO files, such as Microsoft's official website or reputable torrent sites.

Dec 12, 2024 2:11 AM in response to GreenKinsey

Hey, I used Boot Camp Assistant to make a Windows 10 bootabe usb drive before. The whole process is quite simple and suitable for people like me who have little patience for the command line 😂. However, I also stepped on a few small pits when I used it for the first time. I will share my real experience.


Steps:

  1. Open Boot Camp Assistant

Search "Boot Camp Assistant" directly on Mac. This is a tool that comes with macOS. It is convenient and does not require additional software downloads.


2. Insert your USB drive (at least 8GB), and then Boot Camp will prompt you to select the ISO file of Windows 10. I downloaded the ISO from Microsoft's official website at the time, no problem.


3. After selecting, click "Next", it will automatically format the USB drive and start writing the ISO to the boot disk. The whole process took about 10-15 minutes.


4. After making it, I plugged the USB drive into my friend's old computer and selected USB boot in BIOS. It was successful at the first try and entered the Windows installation interface directly.


My real experience:

The advantage of this method is that you don't have to do too much manual operation. Boot Camp Assistant will help you with most of the steps. But the pitfall I stepped on was that the USB drive I inserted for the first time was not formatted cleanly, which caused an error in the middle, so you must check in advance whether the USB drive is empty, and it is best to format it to FAT32 or exFAT.


In general, this method is very friendly to novices, and it is recommended to try it! I

Dec 12, 2024 1:34 AM in response to GreenKinsey

When creating a bootable USB from an ISO file. Make sure the ISO file you're using is valid and not corrupted. You can check this by downloading the ISO file from a trusted source. And choose the correct USB drive to create the bootable image. Double-check the drive letter or volume name to ensure you're selecting the right one.


Ensure the USB drive has enough free space to accommodate the ISO file and any additional files required for booting (e.g., bootloader, firmware). A minimum of 8GB is recommended, but 16GB or more is ideal. Some USB drives may not be compatible with the creation process due to their hardware or firmware limitations. Try using a different USB drive if you encounter issues. Verify that your USB drive is set to "FAT32" or "NTFS" file system, as some creation tools might not work with other file systems like exFAT.

Dec 12, 2024 1:38 AM in response to GreenKinsey

Creating a bootable USB from an ISO file for Windows 10 on a Mac involves a few steps. Here's a straightforward guide:


Step 1: Get the ISO file from the official Microsoft website.


Step 2: Insert a USB drive (8GB or larger). Ensure it doesn't contain important data, as it will be erased.


Step 3: Select your USB drive. Click Erase and choose: Format: ExFAT (or MS-DOS (FAT) for smaller ISOs). Scheme: Master Boot Record (MBR). Click Erase to format the drive.


Step 4: Write the ISO to the USB by running the following command:


sudo dd if=/path/to/iso of=/dev/diskX bs=1m


Press Enter and wait for the process to complete (this may take a while to create a bootable usb from Windows 10 ISO). There won’t be visible progress, but the command will finish when done.


Dec 12, 2024 2:12 AM in response to vrndout

The dd command, once commonly used to create bootable USB drives from ISO files on macOS, may no longer work effectively for making a Windows 10 bootable USB due to changes in how Windows installation media is structured.


Windows 10 ISO files require a specific partitioning scheme and file system to be bootable. Windows requires the USB drive to be formatted as FAT32 and use a GUID Partition Table (GPT) for UEFI systems. And the Windows 10 ISO files contain files larger than 4GB, which cannot be stored on FAT32. When the dd command writes the ISO to the USB, it does not adjust for this, leading to boot failures.


In addition, The dd command copies the raw ISO data to the USB but does not set up the required bootloader correctly for Windows installation. Without a proper bootloader, the system will not recognize the USB as bootable. This is why you should not use it to create bootable USB from Windows 10 ISO on Mac.


The dd command fails for Windows 10 bootable USB creation on macOS due to structural differences in Windows ISOs, bootloader requirements, and modern macOS changes. For reliable results, tools like Balena Etcher or other dedicated utilities are recommended.

How do I create bootable usb from iso windows 10?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.