Download and Create macOS Tahoe 26 ISO File [Full Guide]

There are many situations where you might need a macOS Tahoe ISO file. Unfortunately, Apple doesn't provide a direct download for this file, and the process of creating one can be tricky for most users. With the support of our in-house tech team, we have put together a step-by-step guide that includes all the explanations and details you will need.

With this guide, you will be able to create a macOS Tahoe ISO successfully, even if you have never done it before.

What Can a macOS Tahoe ISO Be Used for?

What is a macOS ISO?

A macOS ISO is a disk image file that contains the full installation data for macOS. Standard Mac installers from the App Store come as .app files, and from Apple Support come as .dmg, which can only be installed directly on your Mac. In contrast, a macOS ISO uses the .iso format, offering a portable, virtualized version that can be used across different platforms.

You can use a macOS Tahoe ISO in the following scenarios:

Clean installation - You can use a macOS Tahoe ISO to perform a clean installation on a Mac. Having a portable installation file is especially useful when installing macOS on multiple Macs, as it allows you to do so without downloading the installer on each device or relying on an internet connection.

Testing environment - When testing products updated for the latest macOS version, it is important that the test Macs provide a consistent environment to ensure reliable results.

Virtual machines - A macOS ISO file allows you to run macOS Tahoe in software like VMware, VirtualBox, or Parallels on Windows or another Mac. Unlike macOS Tahoe DMG installers, ISO files are often converted from .dmg to ensure compatibility with virtual machines, so you can use macOS in an isolated environment without affecting your actual computer.

Recovery purposes - The macOS Tahoe ISO file can be used to create a bootable USB installer, making it easy to repair or reinstall macOS when your Mac is in recovery mode.

Where to Find the macOS Tahoe ISO File for Free?

While a macOS ISO file can be very useful for installations, recovery, or virtualization, Apple does not officially provide ISO downloads for macOS. As a result, if you need an ISO, you will have to either create one yourself by converting the official macOS DMG file or obtain it from a reliable and trustworthy source.

Here are links to macOS Tahoe ISO files hosted on MediaFire and Archive.org. Please note that downloading from there is your own choice and responsibility.

• macOS Tahoe Public ISO Download (19.53 GB)
• macOS Tahoe Developer Beta 9 ISO Download (19.5 GB)
• macOS Tahoe Developer Beta 8 ISO Download (18.1 GB)

How to Create macOS Tahoe 26 ISO by Yourself?

If you prefer to create a macOS Tahoe 26 ISO yourself to ensure it's safe and up to date, the process is straightforward as long as you follow the instructions carefully. It requires using Terminal commands, but don't worry, as you can simply copy and paste them.

How to create macOS Tahoe ISO in 8 steps:

1. Free up enough storage space on your Mac to download the macOS installer.
2. Download the macOS Tahoe installer from the App Store or a reliable third-party resource.
3. Create an empty disk image for the macOS Tahoe installer.
4. Mount the disk image so it can be written to.
5. Copy the macOS Tahoe installer to the disk image and make it bootable.
6. Unmount the disk image so it can be converted.
7. Convert the macOS Tahoe DMG into an ISO in CDR format.
8. Rename the macOS Tahoe CDR file to an ISO file for compatibility.

Step 1. Prepare Your Mac

Before getting started, it is a good idea to check your Mac's storage. Downloading and creating disk images need a lot of storage. We recommend using BuhoCleaner, which can quickly remove system junk and fix slowdowns to keep your Mac running at its best. This ensures the successful creation of a macOS Tahoe 26 ISO file.

Here's how to free up storage space on your Mac using BuhoCleaner:

1. Free download and install BuhoCleaner on your Mac.
2. Click Flash Clean or other features to remove unnecessary data.

   

3. Navigate to other furthers for a more thorough cleaning of your Mac.

Step 2. Download the macOS Tahoe Installer

You’ll first need to download the macOS Tahoe installer. Later, this installation file will be copied into a disk image to create a macOS ISO file.

You can download the macOS Tahoe 26 full installer with or without the App Store. Since the App Store download link isn’t available yet, you can use the link below to download the macOS Tahoe InstallAssistant.pkg to get the installer.

Download macOS Tahoe 26 InstallAssistant.pkg

For detailed steps, check out How to Download and Install macOS Tahoe 26 in 3 Ways.

Step 3. Create a Disk Image for the macOS Tahoe installer

Once the macOS Tahoe installer is in your Applications folder, the next step is to create a temporary empty disk image to hold the installer.

1. Open Terminal via Spotlight search.

2. Run this command to create a blank disk image:

   hdiutil create -o /tmp/tahoe -size 20000m -volname TahoeISO -layout SPUD -fs HFS+J

   

3. Press Return.

4. Wait for a confirmation that says created: /tmp/tahoe.dmg.

Step 4. Mount the Disk Image

Next, we need to mount the blank image, which means making it appear as a physical disk so that macOS can write data to it.

1. In the same Terminal window, run this command:

   hdiutil attach /tmp/tahoe.dmg -mountpoint /Volumes/TahoeISO

2. Open Finder and under Locations, you will see a new mounted drive called TahoeISO in the sidebar.

Step 5. Create the Bootable macOS Tahoe Installer

With your macOS Tahoe disk image now mounted as TahoeISO, it is time to turn it into a bootable macOS installer. This process copies the macOS Tahoe installer you downloaded in Step 2 onto the mounted disk image.

1. In Terminal, paste the following command:

   sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Tahoe.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/TahoeISO

2. Press Return, then enter your Mac admin password when prompted.

Step 6. Unmount the macOS Tahoe Disk Image

After the bootable installer for macOS Tahoe is created, you need to unmount it so it can be converted.

1. Back in Terminal, now run this command:

hdiutil detach /Volumes/Install\ macOS\ Tahoe

2. In Finder, confirm that the macOS Tahoe volume is no longer visible.

Step 7. Convert the Disk Image into a macOS Tahoe ISO

Finally, you will reach the step where the macOS Tahoe ISO is created. This process converts the macOS Tahoe DMG with the bootable installer into an ISO file.

1. Paste this command and hit enter:

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

2. By default, macOS names the converted file with a .cdr extension, so you will see a file named macOS-Tahoe.iso.cdr on your Desktop.

Step 8. Rename .cdr to .iso

As mentioned above, no matter what name you give your macOS ISO, it will initially have a .cdr extension. However, most virtual machine tools like VirtualBox, VMware, or UTM can only accept a .iso extension. Therefore, you need to rename it manually in Terminal.

1. Paste this command:

mv ~/Desktop/Tahoe.cdr ~/Desktop/Tahoe.iso

Buttom Line

A macOS Tahoe ISO file can be incredibly useful, whether you need it for a clean installation, creating a bootable USB, running macOS in a virtual machine, or testing apps in a stable environment. While Apple doesn't officially provide ISO files, you can download one from a trusted platform or create your own by converting the macOS Tahoe DMG into an ISO.

The process involves eight steps, each equally important and connected to ensure success. As a first step, remember to use a professional Mac cleanup tool like BuhoCleaner to free up space for the macOS installer and keep your Mac running at its best.