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Need help to burn ISO to USB on Mac M3

I read the old OSX for burning ISO to USB on earlier mac operating systems. But the top suggested answer (Burn Disk Image) was no longer available on macOS Sequoia. I also tried the Disk Utility and could not find a valid option there.


I need to make a Windows 10 bootable USB on my MacBook Air with Apple Silicon M3. It seems a simple task with the bootcamp app with an Intel Mac. However, many solutions are not working on the latest macOS Sequoia. What is the correct way to burn ISO to USB on Mac now?


P.S. I also mounted the Windows 10 ISO on my Mac and copied all files to USB flash drive. But the USB is not seen as a bootable device when booting from my PC.

MacBook Air (M3, 2024)

Posted on Dec 25, 2024 11:34 PM

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8 replies

Dec 29, 2024 11:16 PM in response to owensbad

Challenges to make Windows 10 or Windows 11 bootable USB on Apple Silicon Mac:

  • Bootcamp app discontinued.
  • NTFS partition not supported on Mac.
  • Take too much time to create a Windows 10 virtual machine.


As far as I know, you need to use a dedicated app to burn Windows 10 ISO to USB on Mac now! Below is the screenshot taken on the latest macOS Sequoia 15.2. Took about 20 mins to make a Windows 10 bootable USB on my Mac.


Dec 26, 2024 12:49 AM in response to owensbad

Creating a bootable USB drive involves more than just copying files from an ISO to the USB storage. While it might seem straightforward to drag and drop files, bootable media require specific configurations and structures that enable a computer to recognize and execute them during the boot process.


What makes USB bootable? For a USB drive (or any storage media) to be bootable, it must contain:


  • Bootloader: A small program that initiates the boot process by loading the operating system.
  • Proper File System Structure: The media must use a file system recognized by the computer's firmware (BIOS or UEFI) during startup.
  • Bootable Configuration: Specific files and settings that instruct the system on how to boot from the media.


When you copy files from an ISO to a USB drive, you're merely transferring data. This process doesn't install a bootloader on the USB drive's master boot record or set up the necessary boot configuration. Without a bootloader, the computer's firmware doesn't know how to initiate the boot process from the USB. Hence, you need special tool to burn ISO to USB on Mac to does the job in a correct way.

Dec 26, 2024 7:02 AM in response to owensbad

Burning an ISO to USB on Mac M3 can be pretty smooth sailing if you know what to watch out for. Here are some common errors I've run into and tips to keep you on the right track:


  • If your USB isn’t formatted properly, you’re setting yourself up for a headache. For compatibility’s sake, format it as ExFAT or MS-DOS (FAT) before burning the ISO. I once went in with a USB and didn’t check, which made my system throw up all kinds of errors when I tried to boot from it later.
  • Make sure the ISO you’re using isn’t corrupted or incomplete. The last thing you want is to spend time creating a bootable USB only to find out the file was bad. I’ve had to redo projects because I used a glitchy ISO, and it’s just a pain.
  • There are a lot of tools out there, and not all of them are created equal. Some just don’t work well on macOS or with certain ISO types. I learned the hard way by trying to use a program that promised the moon but left me high and dry instead. Stick to well-reviewed tools like Balena Etcher or UNetbootin.

Dec 26, 2024 7:13 AM in response to owensbad

In my experience, dealing with the transition from Intel to Apple Silicon has been a bit of a learning curve, especially with tasks like ISO burning. Boot Camp isn’t available the way it used to be for Apple Silicon Macs like the M3. Boot Camp Assist was fantastic for Intel Macs, but now it doesn’t support Windows installations like it once did. So if you're relying on that, you're outta luck. My old Intel Mac used to handle dual booting with no issues, but that’s just not the case here.


Even though you can use virtualization software (like Parallels or VMware) to run Windows on your M3, it’s not the same as natively booting into Windows. Some software and functionalities just don’t run as smoothly in a virtual environment. If you're trying to burn an ISO purely to run Windows apps, it can feel like you’re driving in a lane that’s constantly merging.


The burning speed can also differ significantly with these tools, especially if you're using older USB drives. On my Mac, I've noticed that some software takes longer than expected to burn ISO to USB on Mac, which can be super annoying when you just want to get things done.


Alternative Options:


  • Terminal Method: If you’re feeling adventurous, you can use Terminal to burn an ISO to USB directly. It involves some command-line magic, but it gives you more control than some GUI apps. Just keep in mind, it's not super beginner-friendly!
  • Rufus on a Windows PC: If you have access to a Windows PC, Rufus is arguably one of the best tools for creating bootable USB drives. If you've got a friend with a Windows machine, you can leverage that, then pop the USB back into your M3 Mac.

Dec 26, 2024 7:59 PM in response to owensbad

It is pretty hard to burn Windows 10/11 ISO to USB on Apple Silicon Mac because the large size of install.wim file. On a PC, it is easily done with a NTFS partition. Now, an effective trick is using Terminal to format the USB, copy files from mounted Windows 10 ISO and split install.wim file.


How to burn ISO to USB on Mac using Terminal:


Step 1: Format USB to FAT on Mac:


diskutil eraseDisk FAT WINSTALLER GPT /dev/disk2


  • FAT: File system format compatible with both macOS and Windows.
  • WINSTALLER: Name assigned to the USB drive. You can choose a different name if desired.
  • GPT: GUID Partition Table, required for UEFI-based systems.
  • /dev/disk2: Replace with your USB drive's identifier.


Step 2: Copy all files from Windows 10 ISO:


rsync -avh --progress /Volumes/CCCOMA_X64FRE_EN-US_DV9/ /Volumes/WINSTALLER/


This process takes about 15 minutes, depending on the USB drive's speed and system performance.


Step 3: Split install.wim file:


wimlib-imagex split install.wim install.swm --max-size=3000


This command splits install.wim into multiple .swm files, each with a maximum size of 3000 MB.


After this, you have successfully made a Windows 10 bootable USB on Apple Silicon Mac!

Dec 26, 2024 1:11 AM in response to owensbad

A lot of things has been changed since the release of Apple Silicon Mac, which is whole different architecture to the traditional x86 CPU. In the past, the official bootcamp assistance app was best way to burn ISO to USB on Mac. It worked flawlessly with Windows 7 and Windows 10 ISO.


Now, the Windows 10 ISO contains a large install.wim file with more than 4GB in size. This makes its hard as FAT 32 can only hold a single file less than 4GB and NTFS writing is not supported Mac natively. You have to format the USB, split the install.wim file and copy files to USB within the Terminal app.

Dec 26, 2024 8:56 PM in response to owensbad

You cannot boot Windows on bare metal on an M-series Mac.....there is no Bootcamp Assistant for an M-series Mac.


If you want to use Windows on an M-series Mac, then you will need to use the ARM version of Windows 11 within a Parallels Virtual Machine, there are some limitations (I don't think Win10 is supported anymore). You may be able to use an Intel version of Windows if you use UTM, but performance will likely be very slow and there will be other limitations here as well. Either way, you should be able to use the downloaded Windows ISO file as a source instead of needing to use a CD/DVD/USB stick.


Some of the suggestions in this thread are not entirely correct. And some may only work under certain circumstances. The most reliable way to make a bootable Windows USB stick is by using Windows. Yes, some other methods may work as well and some may break with the next release of the Windows installer.


It would really help to know on which system you plan to actually install Windows as that can play a role as well.

Dec 29, 2024 11:28 PM in response to nextwinds

nextwinds wrote:

• Challenges to make Windows 10 or Windows 11 bootable USB on Apple Silicon Mac:
Bootcamp app discontinued.
• NTFS partition not supported on Mac.
• Take too much time to create a Windows 10 virtual machine.

As far as I know, you need to use a dedicated app to burn Windows 10 ISO to USB on Mac now! Below is the screenshot taken on the latest macOS Sequoia 15.2. Took about 20 mins to make a Windows 10 bootable USB on my Mac.

This seems a much better approach now!


In the past, I tried making a new virtual machine but it took longer time to install Windows 10. In addition, it eats up about 80GB free space. If your Mac does not have enough free space, don't use the virtual machine trick!

Need help to burn ISO to USB on Mac M3

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