How to Download/Create macOS Sonoma DMG File for Clean Installation?

As the successor to macOS Ventura, macOS Sonoma has introduced a number of innovative features, enhancing both productivity and entertainment on Mac.

This new macOS update now features dynamic screen savers, enhanced video conferencing capabilities with Presenter Overlay and augmented reality effects, a dedicated Game Mode, advanced search filters and new sharing options in Messages, better privacy and security, and many more.

With the macOS Sonoma DMG file, you can easily install macOS Sonoma on your Mac or a virtual machine, such as VMware or VirtualBox, or create a macOS Sonoma bootable drive.

In this article, we'll offer you the direct download link for the macOS Sonoma DMG file and walk you through the steps to create a macOS Sonoma DMG file yourself.

What is a macOS Sonoma DMG file?

A macOS Sonoma DMG file is a disk image containing the entire operating system used to install macOS Sonoma on a computer. Its primary purpose is to serve as an installation medium. DMG stands for disk image, a file format commonly used on macOS.

When you open the macOS Sonoma DMG file, it will mount as a virtual disk on the desktop, allowing you to browse the installer and run the installation program. It's a convenient way to package and distribute large software applications like macOS Sonoma because it can be compressed for speed and encrypted for security.

How to download the macOS Sonoma DMG file directly?

If you want to download the macOS Sonoma DMG file for a clean install or other purposes, simply click the link we provided below. The file was created with the full installer of macOS 14.2.1 Sonoma.

Download the free macOS Sonoma DMG file here

Once you have the macOS Sonoma DMG file, you can proceed to install macOS Sonoma or create a bootable installer according to your preferences.

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How to create a macOS 14 Sonoma DMG file?

Ever since macOS High Sierra, Apple has stopped providing DMG files for new releases. Instead, they offer downloads of application files. If you want to create the macOS Sonoma DMG file yourself, follow the steps we'll discuss below.

Preparation: Download the full installer of macOS Sonoma

The first step for creating the macOS Sonoma DMG file is to download the macOS Sonoma installer. You can download it from either the Mac App Store or a third-party source, depending on whether your Mac is compatible with macOS Sonoma.

Here's the list of Mac models that support macOS Sonoma:

If your Mac falls into one of the categories, you can open the Mac App Store and search for "macOS Sonoma." Then click View > Get and confirm that you want to download macOS Sonoma by clicking the Download button.

After the download is complete, the installer will open automatically to allow you to set up the installation of macOS Sonoma. You can tap the installer window, then click "Install macOS Sonoma" from the menu bar in the top-left and select "Quit Install macOS," followed by Quit to shut down the installer. The installer will continue to be available in the Applications folder.

If your Mac isn't compatible with macOS Sonoma, you can download the macOS Sonoma package file from Mr. Macintosh and install the pkg file to place the full installer in your Applications folder.

Now that you're prepared, you can create the macOS 14 Sonoma DMG file with Disk Utility or Terminal. Both are built-in tools on your Mac. We'll start with the beginner-friendly Disk Utility first.

Way 1: Create the macOS Sonoma DMG file with Disk Utility

To create the macOS Sonoma DMG file, take the following steps:

Way 2: Create the macOS Sonoma DMG file in Terminal

Sometimes, Disk Utility may fail to create the macOS Sonoma DMG file due to various reasons. In such a case, you can count on Terminal to complete the task for you. It's the text-based interface that allows you to interact with macOS through command lines.

Step 1: Create an empty disk image

Go through the following steps to create a blank disk image to accommodate the macOS Sonoma installer:

The command creates a new disk image file named "Sonoma" with a size of 15GB, using Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and a single partition layout.

hdiutil: This is the command-line tool for manipulating disk images on macOS.

create: This subcommand is used to create a new disk image.

-o Sonoma: This option specifies the name of the output disk image file, in this case, "Sonoma".

-size 15000m: This option specifies the size of the disk image to be created. In this case, the size is set to 15000 megabytes.

-volname Sonoma: This option sets the volume name of the disk image to "Sonoma".

-layout SPUD: This option specifies the partition layout of the disk image. "SPUD" stands for "Single Partition - Universal Disk".

-fs HFS+J: This option specifies the file system format to be used for the disk image. In this case, "HFS+J" refers to the HFS Plus file system with the Journaled option enabled, also referred to as Mac OS Extended (Journaled). You can change it to APFS if your Mac is running macOS High Sierra or later.

Step 2: Mount the new disk image

To use the Sonoma.dmg file, you need to execute the following command in Terminal to mount it first.

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

hdiutil: This is the command-line utility used to manipulate disk images in macOS.

attach: This subcommand of hdiutil is used to attach a disk image.

Sonoma.dmg: This is the name of the disk image file that you want to attach. In this case, it's "Sonoma.dmg".

-noverify: This is an option that specifies that the disk image should be attached without performing verification checks. It can speed up the process of attaching the disk image.

-mountpoint /Volumes/Sonoma: This option specifies the mount point where the disk image should be mounted. In this case, it specifies that the disk image should be mounted in the "/Volumes/Sonoma" directory.

Now, the disk image should be mounted on your desktop.

Step 3: Copy the macOS Sonoma installer to the mounted disk image

Ensure you're logged in to your Mac with the administrator account. Then run the command below to create a bootable macOS Sonoma DMG file.

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

When prompted to enter the password, type in your login password and hit Enter. Note that your password won't echo on the screen.

Step 4: Eject the disk image.

After the install media is created, you can find the Sonoma.dmg file in your user folder. If you want to copy the DMG file to another disk, remember to eject it beforehand.

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Bonus: Clean up your Mac before installing Sonoma

Imagine you're excited to upgrade to macOS Sonoma, only to find that installation fails due to limited disk space on your Mac - a frustratingly common scenario. To avoid this, freeing up space on your Mac before installing macOS Sonoma is crucial.

Instead of tediously sifting through folders manually to find unnecessary files, there's a more efficient solution. Use iBoysoft DiskGeeker, a user-friendly disk cleaning tool that effortlessly declutters your Mac.

This handy tool can analyze your internal hard drive and organize files in descending order of size, allowing you to quickly identify and eliminate unnecessary, space-consuming files and folders.

What sets iBoysoft DiskGeeker apart is not just its simplicity but also its thoroughness in ensuring your Mac is in top shape for the new macOS. It's a safe, reliable way to prepare your machine for an update. 

Ready to give your Mac a thorough home cleaning? Click the button below to download iBoysoft DiskGeeker and pave the way for a smooth macOS Sonoma installation.

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