Launch the Terminal app and execute the following command to create a blank temporary disk image on your desktop. This example allocates 16GB of space, which is sufficient for modern macOS installers:
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Which (VMware or VirtualBox) do you plan to use?
hdiutil convert /tmp/Installer.dmg -format UDTO -o ~/Desktop/macOS_Sonoma Mac Os Download Iso 64 Bit
Once you have your macOS.iso file, you can load it into your virtualization software of choice. For VMware Workstation / Player
If you do not own a physical Mac, you cannot access the Mac App Store. However, you can use open-source scripts to download installation assets directly from Apple’s software update servers. Using the gibMacOS Script
To create an ISO, you must first obtain the official installer app (e.g., Install macOS Sequoia.app ). Launch the Terminal app and execute the following
Double-click gibMacOS.bat . The script will scan Apple's servers and display a list of available macOS versions.
Downloading a pre-made macOS ISO from a third-party website is not recommended
If you've decided to pursue the ISO route, this is the safe workflow. The golden rule is: . This is the only way to guarantee your file has not been tampered with. For VMware Workstation / Player If you do
: Since Apple doesn't provide a direct ISO, you must use Terminal commands to create a temporary disk image (DMG), mount it, copy the installer files over, and then convert that image to an Alternative Sources : Some community-driven repositories like Archive.org
Use the createinstallmedia command inside the .app bundle. Replace MyVolumeName with the actual volume name:
So, where do all the ISO files come from? They are almost always . The typical creation process starts by downloading the official installer from Apple. Then, this installer is manually converted into ISO format using special tools, primarily to make it compatible with other operating systems or specific use cases. This also means you'll have to rely on those third-party creators to trust their files.
You can find detailed tutorials for each macOS version online — but no direct download links here for copyright reasons.
(You will be prompted to enter your Mac administrator password to authorize this action.) hdiutil detach /Volumes/Install\ macOS\ Sonoma Use code with caution. 5. Convert the .dmg file into a universal .cdr image file: