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In Short.
To create a macOS Bootable USB on Windows 11, you need a 16GB USB drive and a macOS DMG file. First, prepare the USB disk using either diskpart Command Prompt utility. Then, use TransMac to load the macOS DMG file onto the USB drive. Once done, insert the macOS bootable USB into your Mac's port, press and hold the 'Option' key while turning it on to get to Startup Disk Manager screen and select the bootable USB from there.

Computers, including macOS systems, can occasionally experience issues that prevent them from starting up properly. In such cases, having a bootable USB for macOS can be invaluable. Even if your macOS computer is unresponsive, it's possible to create a bootable USB using a Windows 11 computer. To make the process as beginner-friendly as possible, we've outlined the necessary components and steps below.

To create a bootable USB for your Mac using Windows 11, you will need:

  • 16 GB USB drive
  • macOS .dmg file

If you don't already have a .DMG file, you can download older versions directly from the Apple website, which can be updated after installation. Alternatively, you can obtain newer versions from third-party websites. However, please be cautious, as third-party sources may contain malware, viruses, or even be illegal. We strongly recommend using the official channels whenever possible.

For your convenience, we'll guide you through the official method for downloading a macOS .DMG file and writing on the USB to drive to create a bootable macOS USB in a clear and informative manner.

Downloading the macOS DMG file

To get the macOS DMG file, head to support.apple.com using your preferred browser. Then, scroll down on the page and right-click on one of the available options for macOS and click on the 'Save as' option. Then, choose your preferred download location.

Preparing the USB Drive for macOS

After downloading the macOS DMG file, you will need to first prep the USB disk and then download a third-party tool that can create a bootable USB for macOS on your Windows 11 computer.

Insert the USB disk if you haven't already. Once the system has detected it, head to the Start Menu and type Terminal to perform a search. Then, right-click on the 'Terminal' tile and select the 'Run as administrator' option.

After that, click on the chevron icon (downward arrow) and click on the 'Command Prompt' option.

On the Command Prompt screen, type the diskpart command and hit Enter on your keyboard.

Then, type or copy+paste the list disk command to continue. This will display all the storage partitions.

Next, use the command select disk <number>. Here, replace the placeholder with the number corresponding to the connected USB drive that you wish to create as a bootable USB. For example, we'll use Disk 1.

Note: You must identify your USB disk from the list by referencing the disk size. If your USB disk was 32GB, it might show up as 29GB in the list.

Once the disk has been selected, type clean and hit Enter to execute the command and format the disk clean.

Next, type convert GPT and hit Enter to convert the disk into GPT format.

Finally, type create partition primary and press Enter to execute the command.

Now that you have converted the USB drive from MBR (Master Boot Record) to GPT (GUID Partition Table) system, you can proceed with writing the DMG file to the USB drive.

the TransMac software and load the .DMG file on the USB drive.

Creating a Bootable macOS USB

To write the macOS DMG file to a USB drive, we'll use the free trial version of the TransMac application for Windows.

To download TransMac, head to acutesystems.com/scrtm.htm and click on the 'tmsetup.zip' link to download the application on your PC.

Next, head to to your computer's default 'Downloads' directory and double-click on the tmsetup.zip file to open it.

Then, double-click on the setup.exe file to run the installer.

On the installer window, click on the 'Next' button to proceed.

Then, click on the 'I accept the agreement' option and then hit 'Next'.

Click 'Next' on the Select Destination Location option screen. If you need to change the default installation directory, click on the 'Browse' button, select a location, and hit the 'Next' button.

On the Select Additional Tasks screen, click on the 'Next' button to proceed.

Finally, click on the 'Install' button to commence installation for TransMac.

Once the installation is completed, click on the 'Finish' button to exit the installer.

Now launch TransMac from by double-clicking on the 'TransMac' app icon on your Desktop.

On the TransMac Trial screen, click on the 'Run' button to continue with the 15-days trial run.

Now, even though you have already prepared the USB with GPT partitioning, it is better to once again repeat the step using TransMac's built-in utility to format and create a macOS compatible USB drive.

Right-click on the USB drive in the left pane and click on the 'Format Disk for Mac' option.

After that, click on the 'Yes' button to confirm.

When prompted to name the disk, provide an apt name for the drive and click on the 'OK' button. We're naming it "macOS_Bootable".

On the Last Warning screen, click on the 'Yes' button to continue.

Once the disk is formatted, again-right click on the USB drive from the left pane and click on the 'Restore with Disk Image' option.

You will receive another warning screen dialogue, click on 'Yes' to continue.

Finally, on the 'Restore Disk Image to Drive' dialogue box, click on the 'ellipsis' button below the 'Disk Image to restore' prompt and select the macOS DMG file that you previously downloaded to your computer. Then, click on the 'Yes' button to initiate the process.

Sit back and wait for TransMac to finish restoring the macOS DMG file to your USB drive.

Booting your Mac with the Newly Created macOS Bootable USB

Once TransMac has successfully restored/written the disk image to USB drive. Safely plug-out the USB drive from your Windows 11 PC.

Shutdown your Mac (if it isn't already), insert the bootable macOS USB drive into your Mac's USB port and turn it On. Make sure you press and hold the 'Option' key while you switch on your Mac.

Your Mac will take you to Startup Disk Manager screen. You should be able to see the macOS bootable disk there and you can then select it to install the macOS from the bootable USB.

Conclusion

Creating a bootable USB for macOS using a Windows 11 computer is a valuable tool for troubleshooting and fixing startup issues on Mac computers. By following the detailed steps provided above, you can safely download the macOS DMG file and use TransMac to create a macOS bootable USB drive.

With a macOS bootable USB in hand, you can easily restore your Mac to a functional state, even if it's unresponsive. Always remember to use official channels for obtaining a macOS DMG file to ensure the safety and legality of your actions.