{% extends "ubuntu/templates/one-column.html" %} {% block title %}How to create a bootable USB stick on OS X{% endblock %} {% block head_extra %}{% endblock %} {% block extra_body_class %}{% endblock %} {% block header %}{% endblock %} {% block content %}
We would encourage Mac users to download Ubuntu Desktop Edition by burning a CD. But if you prefer to use a USB stick, please follow the instructions below.
Note: this procedure requires that you create an .img file from the .iso file you download.
Tip: Drag and drop a file from Finder to Terminal to 'paste' the full path without risking typing errors.
Open the Terminal (in /Applications/Utilities/ or query Terminal in Spotlight).
Convert the .iso file to .img using the convert option of hdiutil (e.g.,hdiutil convert -format UDRW -o ~/path/to/target.img ~/path/to/ubuntu.iso)
Note: OS X tends to put the .dmg ending on the output file automatically.
Run diskutil list to get the current list of devices.
Insert your flash media.
Run diskutil list again and determine the device node assigned to your flash media (e.g. /dev/disk2).
Run diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskN (replace N with the disk number from the last command; in the previous example, N would be 2).
Execute sudo dd if=/path/to/downloaded.img of=/dev/rdiskN bs=1m (replace /path/to/downloaded.img with the path where the image file is located; for example, ./ubuntu.imgor ./ubuntu.dmg).
Run diskutil eject /dev/diskN and remove your flash media when the command completes.
Restart your Mac and press alt/option key while the Mac is restarting to choose the USB stick.