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Create a Windows Installation USB on a Mac

If you only have access to a Mac, you can still create a bootable Windows installation USB to install or reinstall Windows on a compatible PC.

This guide explains how to:

  • Format a USB drive correctly in macOS

  • Create a bootable Windows installation USB using a Windows ISO

  • Boot from the USB and install Windows

💡 Before you begin

You'll need:

  • A USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of storage (all data will be erased)

  • A Windows ISO file

  • A Mac running macOS

  • An internet connection to download the required tool

Step 1 – Format the USB Drive

  1. Open Disk Utility.

  2. Select your USB drive from the sidebar.

  3. Click Erase.

  4. Use the following settings:

    • Format: MS-DOS (FAT)

    • Scheme: Master Boot Record (MBR)

  5. Click Erase and wait for the process to complete.

Your USB drive is now ready.

Step 2 – Install WinDiskWriter

macOS cannot create a bootable Windows installation USB from an ISO file using its built-in tools. We recommend using WinDiskWriter, a free open-source utility.

Download WinDiskWriter:

🔗 https://github.com/TechUnRestricted/windiskwriter

Then:

  1. Download the latest .dmg release.

  2. Open the downloaded file.

  3. Drag WinDiskWriter into the Applications folder.

  4. Launch the application.

Step 3 – Create the Bootable USB

  1. Open WinDiskWriter.

  2. Select your Windows ISO file.

  3. Select your formatted USB drive.

  4. Click Write.

  5. Wait until the process is complete.

Your Windows installation USB is now ready to use.

Step 4 – Install Windows

  1. Insert the USB drive into the computer where you want to install Windows.

  2. Turn on the computer and open the Boot Menu.

    • Common keys include F12, F10, Esc, or Del, depending on your computer manufacturer.

  3. Select the USB drive as the boot device.

  4. The Windows Setup screen will appear.

  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows.

Troubleshooting

The USB doesn't appear in the Boot Menu

  • Try a different USB port (USB-A ports are generally more reliable).

  • Recreate the bootable USB using WinDiskWriter.

The computer won't boot from the USB

  • Verify that the Windows ISO downloaded correctly.

  • Reformat the USB and create it again.

  • If necessary, temporarily disable Secure Boot in your computer's BIOS/UEFI settings.

WinDiskWriter won't open

If macOS blocks the application:

  1. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security.

  2. Scroll down and click Open Anyway.

  3. Launch the application again.

💡 Tip

Once the Windows installation is complete, you can activate Windows using the product key you purchased from EM Digital Group. If you need help with activation, please refer to the activation guide for your Windows edition.

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