How to Create macOS Big Sur ISO Image File?
Creating macOS Big Sur ISO Image File has never been easier before, here is how to create one for free. Just follow me, and by the end, your ISO image will be created. You can use the ISO file to perform a clean installation of macOS Big Sur or do virtualizations.
Two virtualization software; VMware Workstation and Virtual Box are the most famous ones.
Here is how to install macOS Big Sur on VMware Workstation and how to install macOS Big Sur on Virtual Box.
macOS Big Sur
Was announced on WWDC 2020 and was shortly released the beta version. Later on, the official versions were released with revamped Time Machine backup system. A new interface and tons of new features were also released.
Big Sur was released as a successor of macOS Catalina and macOS Mojave. macOS Big Sur was the first macOS that supports ARM which was last time supported in the way back 2000.
Create macOS Big Sur ISO Image File
To create a macOS Big Sur ISO file please following the procedure below precisely. Any step will make all your work go in vain.
Related: How to Create macOS Big Sur ISO Image File?
Download macOS Big Sur Installer
First thing is to download the macOS Big Sur installer from Apple App Store. Now, download the macOS Big Sur too. Download the macOS can take a while, so go make yourself a cup of coffee.
Related: Free Download macOS Big Sur ISO Image
Close the Installer
Once the macOS Big Sur is fully downloaded, you will need to close the installer. Make sure by clicking on the Quit Install macOS button.
Create empty macOS Big Sur Image on terminal
Here macOS is downloaded, now you will need to change it to an ISO file. Launch the Launchpad and search for Terminal. Open the Terminal and create an empty macOS Big Sur Image. You can create one by using the command below:
sudo hdiutil create -o /tmp/BigSur -size 16384m -volname BigSur -layout SPUD -fs HFS+J
Mount the created disk
Using the above command enabled you to create a disk image. In this step, you will need to mount the created disk image by using the command below:
sudo hdiutil attach /tmp/BigSur.dmg -noverify -mountpoint /Volumes/BigSur
Copy Installer on created disk image
Here we will use the createinstallmedia as to copy all the file installer on mounted disk image created before. Type the command below:
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/BigSur –nointeraction
Perform the installation
Once you reached here, it means that you have created, mounted, and copied the installer on your macOS Big Sur Disk Image. Very well, now type the command below to perform the installation of Big Sur on your Disk Image and eject the original macOS Big Sur.
hdiutil eject -force /Volumes/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur
Convert DMG to ISO
This step means that you have done most of the work. Now is the time to convert the DMG Disk Image File to ISO Disk Image File (basically we are converting the DMG to CDR file however, still no the same).
hdiutil convert /tmp/BigSur.dmg -format UDTO -o ~/Desktop/BigSur
Convert the CDR to ISO
To convert the CDR to ISO, please use the command:
mv -v ~/Desktop/BigSur.cdr ~/Desktop/BigSur.iso
Remove useless files
In case, if you want to remove all the temporary files from your ISO Disk Image; use the command given:
sudo rm -fv /tmp/BigSur.dmg
Note: using rm -rf will remove all the unnecessary files from your disk image and /tmp form folder. Even though, if you won’t remove the files, then after a while the system will delete them automatically.
