Released in late 2020 and updated throughout 2021, macOS Big Sur (version 11) marked a significant milestone in Apple’s operating system history, introducing a major redesign, support for M1 (Apple Silicon) chips, and improved app compatibility.
Open Terminal and create a temporary disk image: sudo hdiutil create -o /tmp/BigSur -size 16384m -volname BigSur -layout SPUD -fs HFS+J
For power users, IT administrators, or those running Windows, creating a image is essential for: Creating bootable USB installers. Installing macOS in virtual machines (VirtualBox/VMware). Performing clean installations on compatible Macs.
: Minimum 2 cores (Intel Core i5 or higher recommended) RAM : 4 GB minimum (8 GB allocated preferred) Storage : At least 50 GB of free hard drive space Graphics : 128 MB VRAM with 3D acceleration enabled How to Create a macOS Big Sur ISO (Step-by-Step) macos big sur iso 2021
Method 2: Where to Download Pre-Made macOS Big Sur ISO Files
Rename the resulting .cdr file to .iso .
Allocate a temporary blank disk space on your storage drive. Run the following command to create a 14 GB blank disk image named BigSur.dmg : Released in late 2020 and updated throughout 2021,
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/BigSur --nointeraction
Stay safe, and enjoy the legacy of Big Sur.
Eject the volume, convert the DMG to a CDR, then rename it to ISO: hdiutil eject -force /Volumes/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur hdiutil convert /tmp/BigSur.dmg -format UDTO -o ~/Desktop/BigSur.cdr mv ~/Desktop/BigSur.cdr ~/Desktop/BigSur.iso Key Details (2021 Context) How to download macOS Big Sur Performing clean installations on compatible Macs
If you are using VMware Workstation, you may need to apply a "patch" to support macOS.
Wait for the download to complete. The installer will appear in your /Applications folder.
What are you currently using? (Windows, Linux, or macOS?)
The safest and most reliable way to get a functional macOS Big Sur ISO is to build it yourself using an official Mac computer. This ensures the file is free from malware, spyware, or stability modifications often found in pre-compiled online downloads. Step 1: Download the macOS Big Sur Installer Open the on a compatible Mac. Search for macOS Big Sur .