How to Run macOS on Windows 10 in a Virtual Machine! (Step-by-Step Guide)

Microsoft released Windows 10 in 2015 and this is the last version of Windows till now.

However, Windows is one of the most efficient and widely used operating systems that is incorporated with a broad range of amazing features. 

However, now with advancing technology, you can even run two operating systems on one computer.

There are several ways to do that, but in this article, we will talk about how you can run macOS on Windows in a Virtual Machine (VM.)

This is a good option if you want to multitask with the creative features of macOS and efficiency of Windows. 

Before we start the guide, you must be focused and read the article carefully so that you don’t miss any important point.

Because any kind of negligence will hinder your whole process. 

Files Required to Create A macOS Virtual Machine On Windows 10!

How to Run macOS on Windows 10 in a Virtual Machine - USA Tech News

Before you begin with the main process, you must install and download the important files. You would also need a macOS copy, and for this purpose, Catalina is the latest version for macOS. 

This guide aims to provide you with steps and solutions to install macOS Catalina in Virtual Machine (VM) that is running on intel hardware.

This process may include the use of either VMware Player or VirtualBox.

Download macOS Catalina Virtual Image!

Download macOS Catalina VMware & VirtualBox Image – Latest Version

We have provided you with a link at the end of this section, from where you can download macOS Catalina for both VMware and VirtualBox.

When you are downloading macOS Catalina Virtual Machine image file and Google Drive touches its download limit, then right-click on the file and choose COPY to make a copy in the Google Drive of your own.

From here download the macOS Catalina virtual image file.

Moreover, we have provided an alternative link of media fire too. You can download it from there if the problem with Google Drive continues.

Right-click on a virtual image file when the downloading is finished and extract it using the suitable tool.

For example, Right-click on Winrar and then click on Extract to macOS Catalina. 

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Below are the links from where you can download the respected files. 

Main Link: macOS Catalina Virtual Machine Image

Alternative Link: Mediafire mirror

Note: the above-given link can stop working sometimes, you don’t need to worry if you have another link you can download it from there too. 

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Using VirtualBox To Create macOS Catalina Virtual Machine

How to Install macOS Catalina on VirtualBox on Windows PC [New]

You have to download the VirtualBox Extension before you begin with creating macOS Virtual Machine.

This includes fixes of all the essential applications i.e mouse and keyboard support, USB 3.0 support, and other useful VirtualBox patches.

You can download the VirtualBox extension from the link we have given below.

Download link: Virtual Box Patch. 

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When you open VirtualBox, click on New and type macOS. The VirtualBox will identify the OS and default for Mac OS X when you enter the name.

Concerning Virtual Machine name, you can give it a creative name.

But, you would have to type the name in a series of commands and as you head further it gets annoying to type the difficult name a number of times. 

Then, you will set the capacity of RAM storage that can be used by macOS Virtual Machine (VM).

For this purpose, a minimum of 4GB is advised. But, this more you gave the better performance and efficiency you will get. 

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Note: Don’t be foolish by assigning more RAM then your system has. Since you need to keep the balance, so you must leave some RAM for the host computer too. 

Once the RAM is assigned, it’s time to assign the HardDisk. That is a virtual image you must have downloaded already.

From the options provided, you will select “Use an existing virtual hard disk file”, then you need to put the location to the VMDK file and click on Create. 

Edit Settings Of macOS Catalina Virtual Machine 

Install macOS Catalina on VMware on Windows PC – Geekrar

Until you are done with the process, don’t think of starting your macOS Catalina VM.

Before you start the Virtual Machine, there are some changes needed to make in the settings. Go to Settings by right-clicking on macOS VM. 

In System, un-check the floppy in the boot order section. Verify that the Chipset section is set to ICH9. 

Now click on Processor Tab, set 2 processors. You can assign more if you have a PC with powerful specs, but it is not necessary. Moreover, Check the Enable PAE/NX box with Extended Feature.

Then you will go Display, here you will set the video memory to 128mb. Then in the Storage window, make sure that the box alongside Use Host I/O Cache is checked. 

Lastly, you will go to the USB section and choose USB 3.0, then click on OK. 

Add Custom Code to VirtualBox Using Command Prompt. 

How to run VirtualBox virtual machines from the command line ...

Be patient, because the time to start up your macOS Catalina VM still has not arrived. The current settings of VirtualBox are not compatible to work properly with your macOS VMDK.

You effectively have to patch VirtualBox until the virtual machine in macOS works.

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For this purpose, a code must be entered with the Prompt command. We have given all the details at the end of this section.  

Start with the VirtualBox closing. If VirtualBox or any of its associated processes is running, the commands do not function properly. Hold Windows Key + X when done, then pick Command Prompt from the display menu.   

If only the PowerShell option appears on your screen, type the command in the Start menu search bar.

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After that, right-click on Best Match, and choose to Run as Administrator. 

To locate Oracle Virtual Box directory, you can use the following command:

cd “C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\”

Then, you will input the below-mentioned commands one by one. The command that you set must be similar to the name of VM. For example, if my commands name is “ether”, then the commands will be followed as:

  • VBoxManage.exe modifyvm “ether” –cpuidset 00000001 000106e5 00100800 0098e3fd bfebfbff
  • VBoxManage setextradata “ether” “VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemProduct” “iMac11,3”
  • VBoxManage setextradata “ether ” “VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemVersion” “1.0”
  • VBoxManage setextradata “ether ” “VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiBoardProduct” “Iloveapple”
  • VBoxManage setextradata “ether ” “VBoxInternal/Devices/smc/0/Config/DeviceKey” “ourhardworkbythesewordsguardedpleasedontsteal(c)AppleComputerInc”
  • VBoxManage setextradata “ether ” “VBoxInternal/Devices/smc/0/Config/GetKeyFromRealSMC” 1

When you are done with this process with no errors encountered, you can close the Command Prompt. 

Time To Boot Your macOS Mojave Virtual Machine

How to Backup & Restore Your macOS Mojave Virtual Machine – Geekrar

VirtualBox needs to start again. To start the virtual machine, double-click on your macOS. A wide stream of text, then a grey screen, is shown. 

It could take a minute or two to clear the grey screen, but do not panic. Once the screen is clear, the installation of macOS Catalina starts.

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When completed, the message “Welcome” should show on the macOS. You can configure the virtual machine macOS Mojave to suit from here. 

Tip: take a virtual machine screenshot when the grey screen is passed. Try going back to the Welcome Screen Setup and start the cycle again if something goes wrong along the road.

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You can take one more so that you can immediately hop into the macOS program when the macOS setup is completed.

Run to Machine > Take Screenshot, type a name for your screenshot, wait for it to continue.

Use VMware Workstation Player to Create a macOS Catalina Virtual Machine

Workstation 15.5 Pro and Player Available Now! - VMware ...

Will you choose VMware over VirtualBox? You can use VMware to build a virtual macOS Catalina machine which functions the way VirtualBox functions.

And, as with VirtualBox, patching is required before the virtual machine is running for the macOS Catalina. 

Intel and AMD modules operate this portion of the guide. When editing the VMX Virtual Machine script, AMD users will use the second code snippet.

Study the guide and see just what it entails.

Patch VMware Workstation Player

Vmware workstation patch keygen 9.0.2 | Vmware workstation ...

The VMware Player Patch Tool is included in the “MacOS Catalina Virtual Image” list. Download the patch tool before you head further 

Then search the location where the patch tool was downloaded. Extract the archive material.

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This method functions better if the files on the same drive are stored (e.g. the C:\ drives hold the Root folder of VMware and the directory extracted). 

Confirm that the VMware is totally shut down. Now click on the win-install command script in the patcher folder and select Run as admin. The file is accessed and the patch script will be executed.

Important Note: The script is running around and you have to check for a message that will be shown as “File not Found.” 

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The common explanation for a “not found” file or “the system cannot locate the requested file” error is to install VMware Workstation Player and to execute the patch from a separate directory in a specific position in the default folder. 

You can access VMware once the patch is completed.

Follow the Following Instruction to Create macOS Catalina Virtual Machine via VMware Workstation:

Firstly, the option Create a New Virtual Machine will be selected. after that you will click on  I will install the operating system later to continue.

Now you can pick and adjust Apple Mac OS X to macOS 10.14. It is because the patch hasn’t loaded correctly that you don’t see the macOS option. 

Next, for your Catalina virtual machine macOS, you will select a name. Pick something that is likely to remember, and then transfer the file-path to anywhere convenient, you may have to change it at once. 

On the next page, choose Store virtual disk as one file, keep to the recommended maximum hard disk capacity. Fill out a wizard for virtual disk creation, but don’t just start the virtual machine now.

Edit the Settings Of macOS Mojave Virtual Machine

How to Install macOS Mojave on VMware on Windows PC [New Method]

 

You need to update the hardware specs until you can start the virtual machine. Moreover, to locate the macOS VMDK, you need to tell VMware. 

Pick the virtual machine from the main VMware tab, then right-click and choose Settings from your Catalina macOS. Bump virtual machine memory up to a minimum of 4 GB, like VirtualBox. If you have RAM to spare, you might assign more.

In the processor tab, change the number of available processors to 2.

Then in the Hard Disk (SATA) tab, you will eliminate the already created hard disk. The VMware will eliminate the hard disk once you click the Remove. 

After that click on Add, go to Hard disk (SATA) and select the option “use an existing disk” Then, you will find and select the location of macOS VMDK.

How To Edit the macOS Catalina VMX File for AMD Hardware?

You can leave this section if you are not an AMD user. AMD users must update the VMX file before continuing, as in the above section. Since the AMD edit consists of many lines more than Intel, the details can be copied and pasted in the file. 

Close VMware. Go to the macOS virtual machine location where you installed. By default the location is:

C:\Users\YOURNAME\Documents\Virtual Machines\YOUR MAC OS X FOLDER

Select Notepad (or your preferred text editor) to browse the macOS.vmx, right-click and select Open with. Scroll down to the bottom of the configurations file and include the following data:

  • smc.version = “0”
  • cpuid.0.ebx = “0111:0101:0110:1110:0110:0101:0100:0111”
  • cpuid.0.ecx = “0110:1100:0110:0101:0111:0100:0110:1110”
  • cpuid.1.eax = “0000:0000:0000:0001:0000:0110:0111:0001”
  • cpuid.1.edx = “0000:1111:1010:1011:1111:1011:1111:1111”
  • cpuid.1.ebx = “0000:0010:0000:0001:0000:1000:0000:0000”
  • cpuid.0.edx = “0100:1001:0110:0101:0110:1110:0110:1001”
  • cpuid.1.ecx = “1000:0010:1001:1000:0010:0010:0000:0011”
  • cpuid.0.eax = “0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:1011”

Before you Exit, make sure to save the edit.

Open VMware now, click on your macOS Mojave virtual machine to start it up. 

Installing VMware Tools for The macOS Catalina Virtual Machine

How to Install VMware Tools on macOS Catalina - wikigain

Now you have to install a set of utility and extension VMware Tools that will improve video performance, mouse handling and more. 

Navigate to Player, click on Manage and then Install VMware Tools with the virtual machine macOS running. 

On the macOS desktop, digavsc is installed. Select Install VMware Tools when the option shows, then allow the removable volume to enter. Ignore the directed installer that needs to be restarted upon completion.

Troubleshooting Errors or Mistakes:

While you are working on the macOS Virtual Machine installation in Vmware Player Workstation, there are a few things that can trouble you or go wrong:

  • You need to restart the patch phase if you can’t see “Apple Mac OS X” in the virtual machine development wizard. Ensure that all VMware Player operations are stopped. 
  • You have a strong chance of triggering virtualization in your BiOs / UEFI setup if you get a notification “Mac OS X is not enabled with the binary translation” while beginning your virtual machine. 
  • You will be told to go back to the configuration file macOS.vmx and ensure that you’ve added the additional line and saved the change if you get the notification “VMware Player unrecoverable error:(vcpu-0)” after running the virtual machine.
  • Power off the virtual machine first when the AMD hardware is working and the Apple logo is stopped. Go to Settings, click on Options and then select General now. Switch Guest to Microsoft Windows and Windows 10 x64 models for Guest operating system. Click OK and then try to re-start the virtual machine. When the Apple logo has been gone, power the virtual machine down then set Apple Mac OS X to the Guest OS option and pick the right distribution.

AMD Hardware’s macOS Virtual Machines

The Easiest Way to Install macOS Sierra on an AMD Ryzen System ...

Intel hardware is used by Apple for powering laptops and desktops. The macOS virtual machine is easier to configure with Intel hardware, as the hardware requirements are pretty nearly the same. 

The contrary is accurate of AMD. Since Apple does not develop macOS on AMD hardware, it is more difficult to create a macOS virtual machine on an AMD system. 

Besides, We don’t have an AMD system in which virtual macOS can be checked, so a comprehensive overview can’t be given.

Still, we can refer to some macOS-AMD virtual machine teaching guides as long as you are patient.

The AMD OS X platform is an outstanding tool for virtual macOS machines. Many AMD macOS virtual machines platform articles can be found over the internet if you want to know more about them.

Wrapping It Up!

For your macOS Catalina virtual machine, you can choose from two options.

Before switching from Windows, you can try macOS and enjoy the best Apple apps on offer. Both are viable options to consider.

Having said that, we come to the end of our guide. We are hopeful that this guide helps you learn and understand how this process functions.

You can leave your feedback and ask a question if you are confused.

21 thoughts on “How to Run macOS on Windows 10 in a Virtual Machine! (Step-by-Step Guide)”

  1. unknown option -cpuidset in frist command here VBoxManage.exe modifyvm “ether” –cpuidset 00000001 000106e5 00100800 0098e3fd bfebfbff

  2. yeti@paw:~/VirtualBox VMs/MacOS$ ls
    Logs MacOS.nvram MacOS.vbox MacOS.vbox-prev
    yeti@paw:~/VirtualBox VMs/MacOS$ vboxmanage modifyvm “MacOS” –cpuidset 00000001 000106e5 00100800 0098e3fd bfebfbff
    yeti@paw:~/VirtualBox VMs/MacOS$ vboxmanage setextradata “MacOS” “VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemProduct” “iMac11,3”
    VBoxManage: error: Could not find a registered machine named ‘“MacOS”’
    VBoxManage: error: Details: code VBOX_E_OBJECT_NOT_FOUND (0x80bb0001), component VirtualBoxWrap, interface IVirtualBox, callee nsISupports
    VBoxManage: error: Context: “FindMachine(Bstr(a->argv[0]).raw(), machine.asOutParam())” at line 934 of file VBoxManageMisc.cpp

  3. For Windows, specifically Intel systems (not sure about AMD), if you leave the Operating System Version on MAC OS X it will not work. It will error out every time. Simply go back to the settings and change the version to High Sierra 64 bit or 32 bit, depending upon your processor’s abilities. Then everything works as it should.

  4. Can you elaborate on this? I don’t understand..
    VBoxManage.exe modifyvm “ether” –cpuidset 00000001 000106e5 00100800 0098e3fd bfebfbff

    I entered VBoxManage.exe modifyvm “MacOS” –cpuidset 00000001 000106e5 00100800 0098e3fd bfebfbffand got “VBoxManage.exe: error: Unknown option: -cpuidset”
    then I got, “VBoxManage.exe: error: Unknown option: -cpuidset”

  5. Why can’t someone find a simple way to make this work? Why does everything in computer and especially in the IT world, have to be so difficult? Do they sit around and try to come up with ways to make it difficult? Do you really have to have an engineering mind to do these things. Its’ so ridiculous!

    • no one gas come up with a simple way to do this because no one is working on a simple way to do this. because they don’t want to. it’s considered a waste of their time. someone like you asks, “hey, can you smart people come up with a way to run a macOS VM on windows?” and they think, “macOS on windows? are you out of the mind? no, absolutely not. why would anyone want to do that. what a dumb idea and a waste of time” so the rest of us here get bs tutorials like this one instead.

  6. .\VBoxManage.exe modifyvm “ether” –cpuidset 0000000×1 000106e5 00100800 0098e3fd bfebfbff

    .\VBoxManage setextradata “ether” “VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemProduct” “iMac11,3”

    .\VBoxManage setextradata “ether ” “VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemVersion” “1.0”

    .\VBoxManage setextradata “ether ” “VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiBoardProduct” “Iloveapple”

    .\VBoxManage setextradata “ether ” “VBoxInternal/Devices/smc/0/Config/DeviceKey” “ourhardworkbythesewordsguardedpleasedontsteal(c)AppleComputerInc”

    .\VBoxManage setextradata “ether ” “VBoxInternal/Devices/smc/0/Config/GetKeyFromRealSMC” 1

    “ether” use your name of VM

  7. Not booting on virtualbox. stuck at BdsDxe: starting Boot0002 “UEFI VBOX HARDDISK VB9cfda0db-b1108da0 ” from PciRoot (0x0)/Pci(9x1F,0x2)/Sata(0x0,0xFFFF,0x0)

    • Same here – all I get is the following:
      BdsDxe: failed to load Boot0001 “UEFI VBOX CD-ROM VB1-1a2b3c4d ” from PciRoot (0x0) /Pci (0x1F,0x2) /Sata (0x1,0xFFFF,0x0): Not Found

      BdsDxe: loading Boot0002 “UEFI VBOX HARDDISK VB9cfda0db-b1108da0 ” from PciRoot (0x0) /Pci (0x1F,0x2) /Sata (0x0,0xFFFF,0x0)

      BdsDxe: starting Boot0002 “UEFI VBOX HARDDISK VB9cfda0db-b1108da0 ” from PciRoot (0x0) /Pci (0x1F,0x2) /Sata (0x0,0xFFFF,0x0)

  8. Tried your AMD fix for VMware as my VM had been made on Intel and moved to AMD machine. You use different quotes to standard so adjusted them and also ordered them logically (not that VMware cares)

    cpuid.0.eax = “0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:1011”
    cpuid.0.ebx = “0111:0101:0110:1110:0110:0101:0100:0111”
    cpuid.0.ecx = “0110:1100:0110:0101:0111:0100:0110:1110”
    cpuid.0.edx = “0100:1001:0110:0101:0110:1110:0110:1001”
    cpuid.1.eax = “0000:0000:0000:0001:0000:0110:0111:0001”
    cpuid.1.ebx = “0000:0010:0000:0001:0000:1000:0000:0000”
    cpuid.1.ecx = “1000:0010:1001:1000:0010:0010:0000:0011”
    cpuid.1.edx = “0000:1111:1010:1011:1111:1011:1111:1111″

    But it generated an error: ” ‘cpuid.ds’ was absent but must be present” (shown twice) and “Module ‘FeatureCompatLate’ power on failed”

    It was a Leopard (10.5) VM made in VMware 10 so I tried a Catalina (10.15) made in VMware 16 but that did exactly the same.

    Are you SURE those are right as it looks like a different Mask is being applied to cpuid0 as to cpuid1.

    If someone could crack the masking for Ryzen to pretend to be, say Penryn, we’d be 100% sorted….

  9. Just in case anyone else had an issue where the virtual environment kept rebooting or gets stuck on the grey screen, make sure you don’t have the intel hyperv feature turned on. From what I can tell, the hyperv feature interferes with the Oracle VM Virtualbox software. I turned the feature off, went back through the walkthrough and magically everything worked like a charm.

  10. I too had a problem with the missing second dash, but found it. I had tried the process on another page, but could not get it to work. The one here on this page worked successfully for me. However, at times the mouse does not work, also I cannot click and drag windows down for some reason. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks for the guide.

  11. Hi
    Can you help, I cannot find Virtual Box Patch which I need as the only option for USB is 1
    Thank you

  12. I cannot assign 4 cpu’s, due to the fact that I cannot switch off hardware virtualisation on the systempage, because the hostsystem does not support it. It stops for me here.

  13. I get this error with virtualbox:

    Call to NEMR0InitVMPart2 failed: VERR_NEM_INIT_FAILED (VERR_NEM_VM_CREATE_FAILED).

    Result Code:
    E_FAIL (0x80004005)
    Component:
    ConsoleWrap
    Interface:
    IConsole {872da645-4a9b-1727-bee2-5585105b9eed}

  14. jag får felmeddelande att “The hardware virtualization is enabled in the Acceleration section of the System page although it is not supported by the host system. It should be disabled in order to start the virtual system” hur disablar jag det?

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