If you have an ISO file on your Mac and need to turn it into a bootable or readable disc, you do not need a separate burning app. OS X includes the basic tool you need right inside Disk Utility.
In my example, I used an Ubuntu ISO image and burned it through Disk Utility with a disc already inserted in the Mac's SuperDrive.
Quick Answer
To burn an ISO on a Mac, open Disk Utility, drag the ISO file into the Disk Utility window, select the ISO from the sidebar, insert a blank CD or DVD, and click Burn. Disk Utility uses the selected ISO as the source image and writes it to the disc.
What You Need
This process is meant for a standard ISO disk image, like a Linux installer image. In the walkthrough, I used an Ubuntu ISO as the example.
You also need a Mac with OS X Disk Utility and a CD or DVD drive. In my case, the disc was already inserted in the SuperDrive before starting the burn.
- An ISO file on your Mac
- Disk Utility
- A blank CD or DVD
- A Mac optical drive, such as a SuperDrive
Add the ISO to Disk Utility
Open Disk Utility first. Then take the ISO file and drag it directly into the Disk Utility window.
Once the ISO is added, it should appear in the list on the left side of Disk Utility. Select it there so Disk Utility knows which image you want to burn.
Check the Source Image
After selecting the ISO, Disk Utility shows the source as the ISO image. This is the important check before burning, because you want to make sure Disk Utility is writing the image file itself, not just copying the ISO onto a disc as a normal file.
Once the ISO is selected correctly, the process is straightforward.
Burn the Disc
With the ISO selected and a blank disc in the drive, click Burn. Disk Utility will use the ISO as the source and write it to the CD or DVD.
That is the whole process. For a basic ISO burn on OS X, Disk Utility handles it without needing extra software.
Key Takeaways
- You can burn an ISO image on a Mac using the built-in Disk Utility app.
- Drag the ISO into Disk Utility so it appears in the sidebar.
- Select the ISO before clicking Burn.
- Make sure a blank CD or DVD is inserted in the optical drive.
- This works well for simple ISO images such as an Ubuntu installer disc.
Watch the Video
The video above above if you want to see the quick Disk Utility walkthrough and where the ISO appears before clicking Burn.
