macOS Big Sur is Currently in Beta, and obviously, it’s baggy. When a new release/version comes out then depending on how many vital fixes it has, I may update the ISO file linked below. Although you can make your own ISO. I will create a step by step guide on how to create your own macOS Catalina ISO and link it below. So, without wasting any more time, let’s jump into it. Required: If you haven’t already then you should enable Virtualization Technology (aka Intel VT or AMD-V).
Steps to Install macOS Big Sur on VMware on Windows
Download the prerequisites Install the Prerequisites Unlock VMware to Install macOS Big Sur Create a New Virtual Machine Edit macOS Big Sur VMX File Start macOS Big Sur Virtual Machine Complete Basic macOS Account Settings Install VMware Tools (Optional)
Step 1: Download the Prerequisites
To begin with, you should download some files, and you may also download & install some applications, which are required later on in this guide. But if you have done any of the followings already, then you may skip it. Here is the list:
Download VMware Workstation Pro 15.5.x or VMware Player 15.5.x. VMware Workstation 15 Pro VMware Player 15 Download the macOS Unlocker V3 for VMware Download – GitHub (latest Version) Direct Download – MediaFire (3.0.3) Create or Download macOS Big Sur Beta ISO macOS Big Sur Beta 11.0 (20A4299v) Dev Beta 1 macOS Big Sur Beta 11.0 (20A4300b) Dev Beta 2 macOS Big Sur Beta 11.0 (20A5343j) Dev Beta 4/Public Beta 1 macOS Big Sur 11.0.1 (20B29) Initial public release Latest Create macOS Big Sur ISO Image Download VMware Tools (Optional) VMware Tool – Mediafire
Step 2: Install the Prerequisites
Now install the VMware Workstation Pro applications, and if you already have it by any chance then you’re welcome to Skip but make sure then it works properly, and it’s compatible.
Install VMware Workstation Pro 15.5.x or VMware Player 15.5.x
After downloading the VMware Workstation pro/player, run the setup and follow the prompt leaving all the options as default.
Step 3: Unlock VMware to Install macOS Big Sur on Windows
Firstly make sure VMware Workstation application is closed completely otherwise the VMware unlocker won’t work. You can do this by Clicking on File Tab > Exit. You should have downloaded macOS Unlocker V3 for VMware from GitHub or the direct link. Extract the macOS Unlocker V3.0. Right-click on win-install.cmd and select Run as Administrator. Note: You may always uninstall the previous version of the Unlocker before using a new release. Failure to do this could render VMware unusable. – David Parsons
Step 4: Create a New Virtual Machine
#1. Open VMware and click on Create a New Virtual Machine (Ctrl+N) then select Typical (Recommended) and click Next. #2. Now select I will install the operating system later and click Next. Choose Apple Mac OS X from operating system list then select macOS 10.16 from version drop-down list and click Next. #3. Name the virtual machine as you prefer like macOS Big Sur Beta. Click Browse then choose a location to save virtual machine files and click Next, or you may let it as default. #4. Specify the disk size of 120 GB or more than 50 GB. Then select Store virtual disk as a single file and click Next. #5. On Ready to Create Virtual Machine, Click Customize Hardware. #6. Increase the Memory from 4 GB to 8 GB or higher for better performance. #7. Select Processor menu then increase the CPU processor core from 2 cores to 4 or Higher cores for better performance. Note: If you don’t have enough resources then you may not increase the Memory and Processor since the minimum requirement is 4 GB Memory and 2 Cores of Processor. #8. Select New CD/DVD (SATA) from the menu then click Use ISO image file: and click Browse. #9. Locate the macOS Big Sur Beta.iso file then click Open. If you don’t have this file then you should download this from Step 1: Download the Prerequisites section. #10. After selecting the macOS Big Sur ISO to save all the changes click Close. #11. Finally on the New Virtual Machine Wizard Window, Click Finish.
Step 5: Edit macOS Big Sur VMX File
#1. Navigate to the virtual machine folder which you select in step #4.3 of this guide. If you didn’t specify a new location, then the default location is in Document > Virtual Machine. Right-click on macOS Big Sur Beta.vmx then open it via Notepad or any third-party text editor of your choice. #2. Scroll down to the bottom of texts and add the following code; then click on File > Save. After that, you may close it as you don’t need it anymore.
Step 6: Start macOS Big Sur Virtual Machine
#1. Open VMware and on the macOS Big Sur VM window Click Power on this Virtual Machine. #2. Wait for it boot up. #3. Select English on the language page then click on Next Arrow icon. #4. Select Disk Utility and click Continue. #5. Select VMware Virtual SATA Hard Drive Media then click Erase. #6. For Name, type disk macOS Big Sur Beta then select APFS from Format drop-down list and click Erase. #7. Click Done to close the dialog box. #8. From Disk Utility Tab, click Quit Disk Utility. #9. Select Install macOS and click Continue. #10. Click Continue. #11. You have to Agree to the terms of the software license agreement. #12. Select the available disk then click Install. NOTE: If you get the Operation Couldn’t be Completed BiErrorDomain Error 3 then follow this step by step guide to Fix the Operation Couldn’t be Completed BiErrorDomain Error 3. #13. Now, macOS Big Sur will restart 2/3 times to complete the installation itself without you touching anything. It will take roughly 15-30 minutes depending on your system, be patient.
Step 7: Complete Basic macOS Account Settings
Step 8: Install VMware Tools (Optional)
So now you should have noticed that the resolution of macOS Big Sur can’t be changed and it’s not working as smoothly as you expected. To fix macOS Big Sur Resolution on VMware or Make it more responsive, you need to install something called VMware Tools. It’s quite easy and straightforward to work with any system. So to do that we have created a comprehensive guide. Please click the link below and follow the guide Step by step. See this guide: How to install VMware Tools on macOS Big Sur
Conclusion
That’s all on the step by step pictorial guide on how to install macOS Big Sur on VMware on Windows PC. We covered the following:
Download the prerequisites Install the Prerequisites Unlock VMware to Install macOS Big Sur Create a New Virtual Machine Edit macOS Big Sur VMX File Start macOS Big Sur Virtual Machine Complete Basic macOS Account Settings Install VMware Tools (Optional)
If I left out something and didn’t mention please let me know by commenting down below this post. Please share your feedback with us if that above guide worked for you. It would help if you also share some of your system information through the comments section below. We have lots of new posts related to macOS Big Sur so stay up to date with us.
