Download and Create macOS Sonoma ISO File [Full Guide]

macOS Sonoma 14 introduces a lot of new features and improvements. If you wish to experience it on a Windows PC or another Mac computer, you may need a macOS Sonoma ISO file.

In this post, we will explain how to download a macOS Sonoma ISO file for free and provide a step-by-step guide on creating one yourself if you can't find the desired file.

Before You Start

Most of the time, an IOS file is larger than 10 GB. Before you start downloading one, it's necessary to make sure your Mac has enough free space.

To check the available storage space on your Mac, click the Apple menu > System Settings > General > Storage.

If your Mac is running low on storage space, you can use the best Mac cleaning tool BuhoCleaner for quick cleaning. Click the button below to give it a try. (I cleared over 50 GB of free space. I didn't know I had so many useless files on my Mac computer!)

How to Download macOS Sonoma ISO Files for FREE

Creating a macOS Sonoma ISO file is time-consuming. Thankfully, there are free sources to download macOS Sonoma ISO files.

After much searching and testing, we have listed below some of the free resources available. Simply download the one that meets your needs.

• macOS Sonoma ISO by techrechard.com (14.82 GB)
• macOS Sonoma Installer from Internet Archive (15.6 GB)
• Sonoma.iso from Internet Archive (16 GB)

How to Create a macOS Sonoma ISO File for VMware and VirtualBox

Didn't find your desired macOS Sonoma ISO file? Don't worry; we will show you how to create one for virtual machine software like VMware and VirtualBox, step by step.

Step 1. Download the macOS Sonoma Full Installer

To create a macOS Sonoma ISO file, you need to prepare a full installer first. While you can download macOS Sonoma's installation package from the App Store, it's advisable to download it from the links below to avoid upgrading your Mac to the latest macOS Sonoma.

• MacOS Sonoma 14.7.1 InstallAssistant.pkg

Once the download process is complete, you will find the .pkg file in your Downloads folder. What you need to do is run the .pkg file and get an application named Install macOS Sonoma in the Applications folder.

Step 2. Create Your Own macOS Sonoma ISO File with Terminal

Now that you have the macOS Sonoma full installer, let’s move on to how to create a macOS Sonoma ISO file using Terminal.

1. Open Terminal via Spotlight.

2. Paste the command below into Terminal and press Enter.

   hdiutil create -o /tmp/Sonoma -size 16384m -volname Sonoma -layout SPUD -fs HFS+J

   Note: This command will create an empty disk on your Mac.

   

3. When a disk is created, run the command below in the Terminal window.

   hdiutil attach /tmp/Sonoma.dmg -noverify -mountpoint /Volumes/Sonoma

   Note: This command will mount your created disk.

   

4. Execute the following command in the Terminal and enter your administrator password.

   sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sonoma.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Sonoma --nointeraction

   Note: This command will create your installation media. If your macOS Sonoma installer is not named Install macOS Sonoma.app, replace it with the actual name, and don't forget to use the backslashes (\) to escape the space characters.

   

5. Continue to run the command below.

   hdiutil eject -force /Volumes/Install\ macOS\ Sonoma

   Note: This command will unmount your disk image.

   

6. Run the command below.

   hdiutil convert /tmp/Sonoma.dmg -format UDTO -o ~/Desktop/Sonoma

   Note: This command will create a CDR file.

   

7. Continue to run the command below:

   mv -v ~/Desktop/Sonoma.cdr ~/Desktop/Sonoma.iso

   Note: This will convert your CDR file to ISO format.

   

8. Finally, run the rm command to clean up files.

   rm -fv /tmp/Sonoma.dmg

   

   Once everything is done, you will find a file named Sonoma.iso on your desktop. Now you can use it to clean install macOS, upgrade your Mac, and run macOS Sonoma on a Windows PC using VMware or VirtualBox.

The Bottom Line

Hopefully, you have successfully downloaded or created your desired macOS Sonoma ISO file for virtual machine tools like VMware and VirtualBox.

It's worth noticing that whether you're downloading or creating a macOS Sonoma ISO file, it's necessary to free up enough storage space on your Mac beforehand. BuhoCleaner is a handy tool to help you get that done. Don't forget to check it out.