Create a Windows 10 Bootable USB Flash Drive on a Mac

If you're using a Mac and need to create a bootable USB flash drive for Windows 10, this guide will walk you through the process. With a few simple steps, you'll have a Windows 10 bootable USB flash drive that can help troubleshoot issues with your operating system.

Step 1: Prepare the USB Flash Drive

Insert an 8GB or larger flash drive into an available USB port on your Mac. Make sure the flash drive is formatted as exFAT.

Step 2: Download Windows Support Software

Open Boot Camp Assistant in the Utilities folder and download the current Windows Support Software from the 'Action' dropdown in the menu bar. Quit Disk Utility after this operation completes.

Step 3: Format the Flash Drive

In Disk Utility, format the flash drive as exFAT.

Step 4: Mount the Windows ISO

Mount the Windows ISO downloaded from Microsoft by double-clicking on it in Finder.

Step 5: Add Drivers and Files

Drag all the files and folders from the mounted ISO to the USB flash drive. Also, drag the contents of the Windows Support Software to the USB flash drive.

Step 6: Add AutoUnattend.xml (Optional)

If you're using a MacBook Air or later model, you may need to add an AutoUnattend.xml file to the top level of the drive. This file provides the location of the $WinPEDriver$ folder to load drivers during boot. Download and unzip this file, then add it to the drive.

Step 7: Remove IntelMEI Folder (Optional)

If you're using a MacBook Air or later model, you may need to remove the IntelMEI folder from the $WinPEDriver$ folder on your USB flash drive.

Step 8: Create the Bootable USB Flash Drive

Once all the files and folders are in place, restart your Mac and boot from the USB flash drive. You should see a Windows 10 installer screen, followed by a DOS prompt where you can troubleshoot issues with your operating system.

In conclusion, creating a Windows 10 bootable USB flash drive on a Mac is a relatively straightforward process that requires some preparation and attention to detail. By following these steps, you'll have a handy tool for troubleshooting Windows 10-related issues on your Mac.

Create windows 10 bootable usb mac