How can I burn an ISO to a USB on my Mac?
I have an ISO file that I need to burn onto a USB drive using my Mac, but I’m not sure how to go about it. I’ve heard that there are several methods to achieve this, including using the Terminal, third-party software, or the Disk Utility app. However, I’m a bit overwhelmed with all the different options and I’m worried about encountering issues such as the USB not being bootable or the process failing midway. I’m looking for a reliable and straightforward approach to make sure the ISO is properly written onto the USB so that it works as intended. What steps do I need to follow to successfully burn an ISO to a USB on my Mac?
5 Answers
For those who prefer a more advanced approach, consider using Homebrew, a package manager for macOS. Follow these steps: 1. Install Homebrew if you haven’t already, by typing /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install.sh)" in Terminal. 2. Install dd if you don’t have it: brew install coreutils. 3. Insert your USB and find its identifier: diskutil list. 4. Unmount it: diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskN. 5. Use the dd command: sudo dd if=/path/to/your.iso of=/dev/diskN bs=1m. 6. Wait for the command to complete and eject the USB: diskutil eject /dev/diskN. This approach gives you more control and might be preferred by developers or tech enthusiasts.
Another method you might find useful is using UNetbootin, an open-source application: 1. Download and install UNetbootin from unetbootin.github.io. 2. Insert the USB drive into your Mac. 3. Launch the UNetbootin application. 4. Select the “Diskimage” option and choose your ISO file. 5. Under “Type,” select “USB Drive” and ensure your USB drive is selected. 6. Click “OK” to begin the installation process. 7. Once complete, safely eject the USB drive.
For those who prefer a graphical interface, Disk Utility is a more user-friendly option. Here’s how you can burn an ISO to a USB using Disk Utility: 1. Connect your USB drive to your Mac. 2. Open Disk Utility from the Applications > Utilities folder. 3. Select your USB drive from the list on the left. 4. Click the “Erase” button at the top and choose the format as “MS-DOS (FAT)” and the scheme as “GUID Partition Map.” Click “Erase” to format the drive. 5. Once formatted, go to the “Restore” tab. 6. Drag the ISO file into the “Source” field and your USB into the “Destination” field. 7. Hit the “Restore” button and wait for the process to complete.
If you are looking for an easier, third-party software solution, Balena Etcher is a great option. Here’s how you can use it: 1. Download and install Balena Etcher from their official website. 2. Launch the application after installation. 3. Insert your USB drive into your Mac. 4. Click on “Flash from file” and select your ISO file. 5. Click on “Select target” and choose your USB drive. 6. Hit the “Flash!” button and allow the process to finish.
To burn an ISO to a USB on your Mac, you can utilize the Terminal, which is a powerful built-in tool. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process: 1. Insert the USB drive into your Mac. 2. Open Terminal from the Applications > Utilities folder. 3. Type diskutil list and press Enter to identify your USB drive. 4. Unmount the USB by typing diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskN (replace N with your USB’s identifier) and press Enter. 5. Use the dd command to burn the ISO: sudo dd if=/path/to/your.iso of=/dev/diskN bs=1m (replace /path/to/your.iso and N with the appropriate values). 6. Wait for the process to finish, which might take several minutes. 7. Eject the USB drive by typing diskutil eject /dev/diskN and press Enter.