Finally, macOS (Big Sur) is up for download, the first release of the Mac operating system after it’s a gradation from OS X to version 11. Like always you can download macOS 11.2 using the built-in software updater in your Mac. When Apple launched macOS Big Sur on November 12, users were experiencing issues with the update servers and incredibly slow download speeds. The macOS 11 is around 12 GB in size — people without a broadband connection may find it difficult to install an OS of this size. Above all, it’s going be a bigger issue if there are multiple Macs. In this article, we discuss the steps for downloading the macOS Big Sur as an offline installer in PKG, DMG and APP format. Subsequently, if you create macOS 11 Big Sur dmg, you can use it on a Windows 10 PC to build a macOS offline USB installer.
Download MacOS 11.2 Big Sur full installer
When you download macOS 11 from the App Store, the download is saved in the “Applications” folder as shown in the image. You ought to take a backup of this installer file before proceeding to OS installation. Else Apple may delete it after completing the upgrade.
Click here to download macOS 11.2 Big Sur form the App Store.
Apple usually transfers the macOS files in parts to the user’s computer. And in the end, a script is run to join the parts and form a full installer. Though this method has it’s advantages and disadvantages, some users prefer a direct download link. The good news with macOS Big Sur 11.2 is that you can download it as single file form Apple’s CDN.
Bootable USB Stick for macOS X Big Sur 11 – Full OS Install, Reinstall, Recovery and Upgrade
Legal Disclaimer: The methods we mention in the article are about downloading macOS on a Mac hardware. We do not host or distribute macOS in any means. All links, including the script that we introduce in the page, helps you download macOS 11 from SWCDN, or the Apple servers.
Click here to download macOS 11 Big Sur full installer [direct download link from Apple].
Clicking the link saves the macOS 11.1 Big Sur Install Assistant in PKG format. Open the run the PKG installer to add the macOS Big Sur full installer to your Mac’s “Applications” folder. After that, that you can copy the file “Install macOS Big Sur” (offline installer) of size 12GB to a safe location.
Alternative method to download macOS Big Sur 11.2 offline installer
CorpNewt’s script available in GitHub helps you download latest versions of macOS installer, directly to your Mac. In other words, it lets you grab a copy of macOS Big Sur without App Store. Download gibMacOS package and extract it to your Mac. Now, as shown in the video, run the “gibMacOS.command“, a Terminal shell script.
It opens Terminal and then fetch and lists compatible macOS build –starting from High Sierra, up-to Big Sur. You can see the script scanning the Apple’s catalogue https://swscan.apple.com for available downloads. All you need is to pick the right inputs from the options shown and press the Return key. For Instance, here I’m going put “1” for downloading Big Sur 11.1.
After getting all the files, you need to use another script (BuildmacOSInstallApp.command) in the folder to append everything and make the full macOS installer. However, this step is not required for Big Sur as you get the offline installer from Apple as a PKG file.
In addition to this, the tool can also be used to get the public Beta versions of the macOS Big Sur, and below.
How to get macOS Big Sur 11.2 DMG (bootable disk image)
Apple provides direct download links for the macOS DMG installer for versions up-to Sierra. Likewise, macOS incremental updates are also downloadable as offline installers. On the other hand, a DMG installer is officially not available for macOS releases from High Sierra to Big Sur. Hence, one who needs a macOS 11 Big Sur DMG file ought to download and convert the installer from the App Store. I do not deny the fact that it is available elsewhere, on the Internet. But, even if you manage to get the DMG file, it may not be a bootable disk image as shown below.
You certainly need a bootable DMG file for mounting it or for the use on a Virtualization software. Moreover, some third-party DMGs are not compatible with Windows software like TransMac that helps you create a macOS 11 USB disk from a PC. So, we suggest you follow the below method to build the macOS Big Sur DMG. 
- Firstly, make a macOS Big Sur bootable USB disk –check our article for reference.
- Enable viewing of hidden files on your Mac.
- Open the USB drive, and copy all the macOS Big Sur files and folders to a new folder.
- Now, use Disk Utility to make a macOS 11 DMG file from this folder using the setting shown in the below screenshot.
- The DMG image appears on your Mac after the conversion.
This disk image has boot files and folder architecture similar to a bootable macOS USB disk. It also works on a PC for Virtualization and apps like TransMac. You can even fix a Mac that is not booting up for OS related issues. But we are not sure about M1 Macs compatibility with macOS Big Sur DMG made in this way.
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