How to Install macOS in VirtualBox

Apple has always made it hard to install its operating system on non-Apple hardware, making it hard to take advantage of the benefits of this refined OS. Here we will show you how to install macOS in a virtual machine. You will need a compatible set of hardware, along with a system with powerful enough components to run both Windows and macOS. 

Also read: How to Fix Ubuntu Freezing in VirtualBox

What You’ll Need

First, you’ll need to download a copy of Oracle VM VirtualBox. You’ll also need an ISO image of the macOS version you want to install.

Getting hold of an ISO is actually more difficult than you might expect. Even if you have access to a Mac, you won’t be able to download a copy of the OS you already have installed. Regardless of the macOS version your Mac is running, open the App Store page of the latest macOS version – Monterey – and download the installer from there. You will still need to convert this APP file to a DMG and then convert it from a DMG to an ISO in order to be able to install it in VirtualBox.

An easier but also less secure option is to search for an ISO of your desired version of macOS online. There are plenty of sites that have them, but downloading an ISO from an unofficial site does come with a level of risk. However, the amount of technical knowledge you need for this is way less. This is an easier, and hence preferred, method for getting access to Apple software.

Also read: How to Install macOS on a USB Drive

How to Create Your macOS Virtual Machine

1. Install VirtualBox on your Windows PC by following the instructions in the installation wizard. Click “New” to create your new virtual machine.

2. Use the name of your macOS version to name your virtual machine – for example, Monterey. Then, switch the Type drop-down option to “Mac OS X” and Version to “Mac OS X (64-bit).”

3. Select the amount of RAM to be allocated to your virtual machine. Allocating more RAM will help to speed up your virtual machine, but make sure you leave enough for your host OS. Even though macOS Monterey requires a minimum of 8GB RAM, it’s recommended that you have at least 16GB RAM in your system to run both macOS and Windows comfortably.

4. Choose “Create a virtual hard disk now,” and click on the “Create” button.

5. Leave the default setting of “VDI” checked, and click “Next.”

Also read: How to Downgrade macOS to a Previous Version

6. Decide whether you want a dynamically allocated or fixed-size virtual hard drive. A dynamically allocated drive will start small and grow in size as more space is needed. A fixed-size drive will immediately take up the set amount of space on your physical hard drive.

7. Choose the size of your virtual hard disk. Click on “Create” to finish creating your virtual machine.

Also read: How to Share Files Between Host PC and Virtual Machines

Final Configuration

1. With your virtual machine highlighted, click on the “Settings” cog. Select “System” from the side menu and make sure that “Floppy” is unchecked in the “Boot Order” settings. This will ensure that your virtual machine boots from your Monterey disc image. Make sure you set “Base Memory” to a suitable level – 2048MB at a minimum.

2. While you’re in the “System” menu, click on the “Processor” tab. Set the number of CPUs to at least two, and ensure “Enable PAE/NX” is enabled.

3. Select the “Storage” menu from the sidebar. Under Storage Devices, click on “Empty.” Click on the icon of an optical disk in the top-right corner of the screen, and select your Monterey ISO file, ensuring that “Use Host I/O cache” is enabled. Click “OK” to save the changes.

Also read: How to Install Google Play Store on Windows 11

4. Proceed to the “Display” section and set “Video Memory” to 128MB, and then click “OK” to save.

5. Next, move to the audio section and turn on both “Audio Output” and “Audio Input.”

6. Before you can run macOS on a virtual machine, you’ll need to run the following commands from a command line or PowerShell with admin privileges on Windows or a terminal on Linux. Make sure VirtualBox is closed before you attempt this.

For Windows users, the following should work as provided. Linux users will need to add “sudo” to the start of each VBoxManage command and replace the location on the first line with the location of VirtualBox, as installed on your Linux distribution.

cd "C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\"
VBoxManage.exe modifyvm "Type Your Virtual Machine Name Here" --cpuidset 00000001 000106e5 00100800 0098e3fd bfebfbff
VBoxManage setextradata "Type Your Virtual Machine Name Here" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemProduct" "iMac11,3"
VBoxManage setextradata "Type Your Virtual Machine Name Here" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemVersion" "1.0"
VBoxManage setextradata "Type Your Virtual Machine Name Here" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiBoardProduct" "Iloveapple"
VBoxManage setextradata "Type Your Virtual Machine Name Here" "VBoxInternal/Devices/smc/0/Config/DeviceKey" "ourhardworkbythesewordsguardedpleasedontsteal(c)AppleComputerInc"
VBoxManage setextradata "Type Your Virtual Machine Name Here" "VBoxInternal/Devices/smc/0/Config/GetKeyFromRealSMC" 1

7. Finally, reopen VirtualBox, click on the “Start” arrow to launch your virtual machine, and then follow the instructions to install macOS.

macOS should now be installed in VirtualBox. Any time you want to use it, simply launch VirtualBox, and start your virtual machine. When you’re done, you can either close VirtualBox or shut down through your macOS virtual machine. You can also transfer the VM as an OVA file and import it on to another machine.

Also read: Customize Your Mac Desktop for a New Look

Frequently Asked Questions

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Ojash Yadav - Staff Writer

Ojash has been writing about tech back since Symbian-based Nokia was the closest thing to a smartphone. He spends most of his time writing, researching, or ranting about Bitcoin. Ojash also contributes to other popular sites like MakeUseOf, SlashGear, and MacBookJournal.