How to Create macOS Sonoma ISO File for VMware and VirtualBox

Create macOS Sonoma ISO File

Want to download macOS Sonoma ISO File for VMware and VirtualBox? Then, this guide will help you to create macOS Sonoma ISO File.

On September 26, 2023, Apple officially released macOS Sonoma, which is the 14th major version of macOS. It comes with so many new useful features, like, home screen widgets, new screen savers, screen sharing, enhanced video effects, privacy features in Safari, game mode for M- Series Mac, communication safety features, new accessibility features, and many more. You can check the Apple macOS Sonoma PDF to find details about all features.

If you own a Mac Device, then you can simply upgrade from macOS Ventura to macOS Sonoma. However, if you or your friend want to try new macOS on Windows 11. Then, they need macOS Sonoma ISO. So that, they can create a macOS Virtual Machine in VMware or VirtualBox.

Can you download macOS Sonoma ISO?

No, like Windows, you cannot directly download macOS ISO files from the Internet. If you have a Macbook or Mac, then only you can Create a macOS Sonoma ISO File. With the help of the App store and Terminal. Yes, on some sites you can get a macOS Sonoma ISO download link. But, that ISO can be malicious or older versions of macOS Sonoma. So, it would be better if you created your own Sonoma.ISO file. You can borrow your friend’s laptop for it.

How to Create macOS Sonoma ISO File

Download macOS Sonoma on Mac

  1. First, open the App Store on your MacBook or Mac. In the App Store, search for “macOS Sonoma”. Now, In search results, click “view” next to macOS Sonoma.
  1. The macOS Sonoma page will open, Click on Get.
Get macOS Sonoma from App Store
  1. System Settings will open and it will check for the update. And, you will see a popup screen to download macOS Sonoma. Click on Download.
Download macOS Sonoma Latest Version ISO
  1. The macOS Sonoma download process will get started. The macOS Sonoma (14.2.1) file size is around 13.38 GB. So, the download process will take some time.
Downloading macOS Sonoma
  1. Once, the download process is completed. The macOS Sonoma installer will get open.
  1. Click on “Install macOS Sonoma” from the menu bar and click on “Quit Install macOS”
Quit Install macOS Sonoma
  1. The Installation Setup will ask for confirmation, click on Quit.
Quit macOS Sonoma Installation
  1. Now, with the help of terminal commands, we will build a macOS ISO file.

Create macOS Sonoma ISO File using Terminal

  1. Press Command + Space Bar to open Spotlight Search. And, search for Terminal, and open Terminal App.
Open Terminal using Spotlight Search

Note: Do copy and paste each command mentioned in this article. And, don’t forget to press enter key after the command to run it.

  1. Once, the Terminal App is opened, type the following command to create an empty disk image.
hdiutil create -o /tmp/Sonoma -size 16384m -volname Sonoma -layout SPUD -fs HFS+J
  1. Once Sonoma.dmg get created. After that, type the following command to mount the created disk.
hdiutil attach /tmp/Sonoma.dmg -noverify -mountpoint /Volumes/Sonoma
  1. After that, type the following command to create installation media.
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sonoma.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Sonoma --nointeraction
  1. Next, type your password and press enter key. You will see an installation disk on the desktop.
Create macOS Sonoma Installation Media
  1. Next, type the command to unmount the disk image and press enter. The installation disk will be removed from the desktop.
hdiutil eject -force /Volumes/Install\ macOS\ Sonoma
  1. Now, we are going to create CDR Files.
hdiutil convert /tmp/Sonoma.dmg -format UDTO -o ~/Desktop/Sonoma
  1. That’s it, now we will convert CDR Files into ISO through the following command.
mv -v ~/Desktop/Sonoma.cdr ~/Desktop/Sonoma.iso
  1. That’s it, you have successfully created a macOS Sonoma ISO File. You can find the ISO files on your desktop. The ISO File will be around 17.18 GB.
Sonoma ISO for VMware and VirtualBox
  1. Now, type the final command to clean up all files except the ISO File.
rm -fv /tmp/Sonoma.dmg
Create macOS Sonoma ISO file and Clear Temp Files

You can also delete the macOS Sonoma Installer. Just open Finder > Applications. Now, right-click on “Install macOS Sonoma” and click on “Move to Bin”. No worries, it will not delete your ISO file.

Move Install macOS Sonoma to Bin

That’s it, now you can close the Terminal. And, you can use the macOS Sonoma ISO image file to install macOS Sonoma on VMware or VirtualBox. Yes, you can use this ISO file to run macOS Sonoma on a Windows 11 PC. So, that’s how you can create a macOS Sonoma ISO File. Alternatively, if you want, you can also Create macOS Ventura ISO File.