Isn't it exciting to run Windows OS on a Mac from an external USB drive without preparing an expensive spacious SSD to install two hybrid operating systems? Do you expect to play Windows games on Mac? When it comes to dual-booting different operating systems on a device, like a PC or Mac, many of us would take it for granted that we have to clean install both of the systems on the same hard drive or a second drive. This is one common solution. However, there is another better alternative way that can save a great amount of disk space while making your customized Windows operating system available everywhere.
In short, if you frequently use both a Windows PC and a Mac in your daily life and work, and you need to run Windows on your Mac, this guide is for you. Follow our instructions step by step to learn how to create a bootable Windows 11 or Windows 10 USB drive on a Mac.
The benefits of having a Windows bootable USB drive at your disposal are apparent. Picture this scenario: You own a Mac for personal use at home and work with a Windows laptop in the office. Occasionally, you need to bring the work laptop home to handle outstanding tasks since the specific toolkit used in the company cannot be installed on your macOS computer. Having a portable office operating system on a tiny USB flash drive can significantly simplify and streamline such situations. From what we've discussed, there are numerous other scenarios where such a tool would facilitate managing two distinct operating systems and devices.
So, what tool can assist us in creating a portable Windows USB drive that can be used across various devices? The answer is OS2Go tool, a trustworthy third-party software for making a Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7 bootable USB. It allows you to work and play in an identical operating system environment without the need to reinstall it on different devices with much effort.
Follow a detailed step-by-step guide here to easily create a Windows bootable USB drive and boot Windows on a Mac computer.
Step 1. Install OS2Go on your Windows computer, which will show the used space on your system drive. Insert a USB drive with a capacity larger than the used space on the system drive. Select the target USB drive and click Next to proceed.
Step 2. OS2Go will warn you that the following action will erase all data on your drive. Make sure you've backed up all important data. Click Continue to proceed.
Step 3. Adjust disk layout. The default disk layout on the target drive will be identical to the source drive. You can also edit the layout to suit your needs. Check the option if you're using a Solid State Drive as the Windows boot drive. Then, click Proceed.
Step 4. Then, OS2Go will begin creating the portable USB drive. This process may take some time, depending on your operating system and network conditions. Once the progress reaches 100%, the USB drive should be bootable.
Step 5. Insert the portable Windows USB and turn on your Mac. Press the Option/Alt key. Select the yellow EFI Boot icon to boot from the USB drive. Then, follow the on-screen instructions to boot your Mac.