How to Install MacOS on Windows 10 in a Virtual Machine

The only catch with Apple PCs and laptops is that they have their own operating system, and that’s macOS. It functions in the same way as Windows, with the difference that Windows can operate on any computer and laptop without difficulties, unlike macOs. However, recently, there are tricks on how you can install macOS on Windows 10. So, stay here to learn the tricks.
What programs are necessary for the installation of a macOS Virtual Machine on Windows 10
Installing macOs on Windows 10 isn't a complicated action, but rather an action carried out in more steps, i.e. it takes time to complete the installation. This is because macOS is made to work only on Apple laptops and computers. That’s why you need to install some tools that will make macOS work on your computer or laptop with Windows 10 operating system.
In order to create a macOS virtual machine you need to download and install Oracle VirtualBox Manager or with VMware Workstation Player, including a copy of macOS, as well. The latest stable MacOS is Monterey, but MacOS Ventura will be soon available. Download and install procedures are easy, but we’ll guide you throughout all steps.
Installation of a macOS Monterey Virtual Machine with VirtualBox
When you’re done with installation of VirtualBox, you can proceed with the installation of macOS Monterey Virtual Machine. These steps are for intel-based computers and laptops. It’s a lot easier to install macOS on Windows 10 with an Intel hardware device, because Apple also uses Intel hardware for macOS.
Downloading and Installing VirtualBox
You won’t be able to install macOS virtual machines without having VirtualBox on your device. To download VirtualBox, you just need to type in into your browser ‘’Oracle VirtualBox Manager for Windows Download’’ and click on the original VirtualBox site.
This is the screenshot of the site which you’ll see if you open the right site. To download the VirtualBox, click on the ‘’All supported platforms’’ to download it, and then double-click for installation.
You should limit the amount of RAM for the VM to half of what your system has. Otherwise, your operating system may work poorly. The minimum should be 4GB. The more RAM you can give to the VM, the better, but leave some for the host system. For example, if you have 32 GB, you can usually give 24GB without any issues.
Creating macOS Monterey Virtual Machine
Take a look at our screenshot, and follow the steps. Here they are:
- Open VirtualBox
- Select ‘’New’’ and type ‘’macOS’’. (VirtualBox automatically detects the OS)
- Name the machine as you like it, and remember the name, you’ll need it later
- Select the amount of RAM you want - consider the above-mentioned advice
- Select ‘’Create a hard disk now’’ and click on ‘’Create’’ - it will open a new screen
- Select ‘’Virtual Hard Disk’’ and set the disk size (minimum 50GB - macOS requires at least 35 GB of storage)
Editing the macOS Monterey Virtual Machine Settings
After creating the macOS Monterey VM, you need to edit its settings before starting it. To do that, you need to right-click on the macOS VM and click on ‘’Settings’’. Here are the steps:
- Click on ‘’Settings’’
- Under the settings menu, choose ‘’system’’ and remove ‘’Floppy’’ from the boot order
- Make sure that the Chipset is set to ICH9
- Choose the ‘’Processor tab and assign two processors - having a CPU with a lot of power to spare enables you to assign more processes, but that’s not so crucial
- Then check-mark the ‘’Enable PAE/NX box
- Under ‘’Display’’, set ‘’Video Memory’’ to 128MB.
- Under ‘’Storage’’ select the empty disc under ‘’Storage Devices’’
- Select the disk icon in ‘’Optical Drives’’ and browse until you find the macOS disk Monterey disk image and choose it
- Then’ click on the ‘’USB’’ tab and click on ‘’USB 3.0’’
- Press ‘’OK’’ button
Add Custom Code to Virtual Box
Even after this long procedure, your VM isn’t ready yet. Be patient. You need to patch VirtualBox before the macOS VM will function at all. For that, you need to enter a code using the Command Prompt. Here are the steps:
- Close VirtualBox
- Press the Windows key + X
- When the menu is opened, select Command Prompt (Admin)
- If you see only ‘’PowerShell or Windows Terminal, type ‘’command’’ into the Start menu search bar, right-click the ‘’best match’’, and choose ‘’Run as Administrator'’
- Use the following command to locate the Oracle VB directory:
- Enter the following commands, one by one, but adjust the name of the OS you gave it. For example, we name it macOS Monterey, but if you name it after yourself, let’s say you replace ‘’macOS Monterey’’ in the code with your name.
- If you need to take a short break, because you must check the inserted commands before closing the Command Prompt.
Boosting your macOS VM
This is the last step you have to do. Here are the steps:
- Reopen VirtualBox
- Double-click on the macOS VM to start it.
- After a long stream of text is done, select your language of choice
- Press ‘’Continue’’
- Choose ‘’Disk Utility’’ - clean drive for the macOS to install to
- In the Disk Utility, choose ‘’VBOX HARDDISK MEDIA’’ , under the Internal drive column
- Then choose ‘’Erase’’ option, placed at the top of the Utility
- Name your drive as you wish
- Click on ‘’Format’’ to set it to ‘’Mac OS Extended/Journaled’’
- Then set ‘’Scheme’’ to GUID Partition Map
- Choose ‘’Erase’’
- Close ‘’Disk Utility’’
- Select ‘’Install macOS Monterey’’
- Choose the drive you created in the Disk Utility
- Press ‘’Continue’’
- Wait until the installation is done
One important note - installation can last even for two or three hours, not 15 minutes as it’s written on the screen.
Take a Snapshot of the installed macOS VM
After the installation is over, the last thing is to take a snapshot within VirtualBox. This is done just as a backup precaution. Here are the steps:
- Click on Machine in the toolbar
- Select ‘’Take a Snapshot'’
- Name it
- Wait for its completion
Using VMware Workstation Player to create a macOS Monterey VM
This is another option which serves for installation of a macOS Monterey VM on your Windows 10 OS. It works the same as VirtualBox, and it’s just a matter of preference. We’ll provide you with detailed steps for using VMware Workstation Player.
Download VMware Workstation Player
First, you need to download VMware Player Patch Tool if you don’t have it installed on your device. To download it, just write VMware Player Patch Tool for Windows 10 Download, and follow the installation procedure.This installation procedure will include extracting the downloaded content.
Patch VMware Player Patch Tool
To patch it, do the following:
- Close VMware
- In the Unlocker folder, right-click on the win-install command script
- Choose ‘’Run as Administrator’’ - this will open a Command Prompt window
- Pay attention to the patch running and watch out for any ‘’File not Found’’ messages - it means that VMWare is installed in a different location that the default folder
- When the patch is done, open VMware
Creating the macOS Monterey VM with VMware
Here are the steps:
- Open VMware
- Click on ‘’Create a New Virtual Machine’’
- Choose ‘’I will install the operating system later’’.
- Choose ‘’Apple Mac OS X
- Change the Version to macOS 12
- Name the VM as you wish, but remember the name, better write it down
- Set a disk size of at least 50GB
- Select ‘’Store virtual disk as a single file’’
- Complete the virtual disk creation wizard
- Don’t start the VM yet
Edit the settings of the macOS Monterey VM
Before booting the VM, you need to edit the hardware specifications. Do the followings:
- Open VMware main screen
- Select the macOS Monterey VM and do the right-click to open its menu, then select ‘’Settings’’
- Choose as much RAM as possible, at least 4GB. It’s the same as with VirtualBox
- Under ‘’Processors’’ edit the number to 2(or more, if available)
- Select ‘’New CD/DVD (SATA)> Use ISO image file
- Browse until you find the macOS Monterey ISO file and select it
- Close the hardware window
- Select ‘’Finish’’
- Don’t run your VM yet
Edit the macOS Monterey VMX File for Intel Hardware
Before doing this, you need to know that it is for the Intel users. This activity refers to the final set of actions you need to do before turning on your VM. Here are the steps:
- Close VMware
- Go to the location you stored the macOS VM. The default location is:
- Browse until you find macOS Monterey.vmx, do the right click and choose ‘’Open with> Notepad (or your preferred text editor)
- Scroll all to the bottom of the configuration file
- Then add the following lines:
- Click on ‘’Save’’
- Then ‘’Exit’’
- Open VMware
- Select your macOS Monterey VM
Configuration of the macOS Monterey VM
After launching your macOS Monterey VM, you need to configure the storage drive before installation. To do that, do the following:
- Select ‘’Disk Utility’’
- Create a new drive for macOS Monterey to install to
- After you selected the drive, go to the ‘’Erase’’ option, placed at the top of the utility
- Name your drive as you wish, set its ‘’Format’’ to ‘’APFS’’, and the ‘’Scheme’’ to ‘’GUID Partition Map’’
- Choose ‘’Erase’’
- When the action is done, exit the DIsk Utility
- Go back to the Monterey recovery screen
- Select ‘’Install macOS Monterey’’
- Select the drive you created in the Disk Utility
- Press ‘’Continue’’
- Installation will start soon, but it takes a while to be done
- When you load it, you can configure the OS
Installation of VMware Tools to the macOS Monterey VM
The last part of the installation is to install VMware tools. These tools are actually extensions and utilities that improve mouse handling, video performance, and many more. Here are the steps:
- Open the macOS VM
- Go to ‘’Player’’ section
- Click on ‘’Manage’’
- Click on ‘’Install VMware Tools’’
- Follow the installation instructions
- After it’s done, restart your device
VMware Workstation Player Troubleshooting
As it’s the case with any installation, you might encounter some issues while installing the macOS virtual machine with VMware Workstation Player. Here are the solutions for the possible problems.
In case you don’t see the ‘’Apple Mac OS X’’ option during the virtual machine creation wizard, it means that you need to do the patch process over again. It’s possible that you did something wrong.
Message ‘’Mac OS X is not supported with binary translation’’ when starting the VM means that you need to do virtualization in BIOS/UEFI configuration. While message ‘’VMware Player unrecoverable error:(vcpu-O) when starting the VM means that you need to go back to the macOS Monterey.vmx configuration file to be sure that you added the extra line, saved the edit.
If you’re running AMD hardware, and get stuck with the Apple logo, you need to power off the VM, then go to the Settings menu, click on ‘’Options’’ and choose ‘’General’’. Under the ‘’Guest operating system‘’, choose Microsoft Windows’’, and choose the Windows 10x64 Version. Press ‘’OK’’, and start the VM again. When the Apple logo disappears, power down the VM, and change back the OS to the Apple Mac OS X, choosing the correct version.
Oracle VirtualBox Manager Versus VMware Workstation Player
There are two programs we can use to install macOs on Windows 10 in a virtual machine. They are Oracle VirtualBox Manager and VMware Workstation Player. Which one you will use is a matter of preference. What’s more important is to be sure that you studied and understand these steps of installation. Missing just one step leads to unsuccessful installation.
The installation takes time because of all the steps you need to do, and for that reason, you should perform it only when you have plenty of time and patience. Otherwise, contact IT experts or people you’re sure that can do this for you.
Even though these steps are for Intel-users, some actions can be done by AMD users. To be honest, to run macOS on the AMD devices is more complicated, and usually leads to failure. The Reason for that is because AMD hardware is not being used on macOS, but rather on Intel hardware.
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Possibly the first useful article from Shaun?
Many previous articles have described how to install an earlier version of Windows, right back to Windows 7, using a download from the MS website.
What is perhaps significant here is that there is seemingly no barrier to installing Windows 10 on a brand new computer shipped with Windows 11: no block set by MS if one could be set.
The first screenshot does, though, show an image that include a reference to the need for a Windows 10 licence: maybe not reflecting the current situation, or maybe the licence is deemed the same?
I have tried win10/11 .. I like the new win11 UI, BUT everything’s in the wrong spot. It should be like windows 7, with the UI of 11. You know how a man can have the most beautiful woman ever, and mess it all up, and wake up and she’s GONE!? Well this very thing MicroSoft has done to windows.
Windows 7, WOW she’s a sexy doll. And MicroSoft turns right around and mess’s everything up.
I know a lot of people online, and they are leaving win10/11 and going back to 7. They say
” I don’t care if Microsoft don’t support windows 7 any more, I’m going to use it”
Am I right that a clean W10 install would wipe the partition on which it is installed?
That would remove all ‘bloatware’ but also any possibly useful device manufacturer’s utilities, so anything wanted would have to be backed up in some way before going ahead?
Best useful article of 2023 just the first day. Thanks @Shaun, keep going on!
It would also probably wipe your OEM partitions as well FYI. In case you decided you wanted to actually go back to Windows 11. Although you could also make a Windows 11 install with the Microsoft creator tool for Win 11. I like both Win 10 & 11 I have no issues with either OS. On a new PC especially some CPU’s with the Intel P& E cores Windows 11 works better with those new CPU’s.
Happy new year. But why to go on windows 11 ? Wait for that, we have almost 3 years to the retirement of win 10 on 2025. Wait and see. If microsoft continues to destroy their os, we have to stay on older versions.
Note: “Only the Professional versions of Windows desktop operating systems include downgrade rights.”
It not quite so simple.
Before attempting a downgrade, I would recommend reading more about “downgrade” rights. Not all OEM licenses from manufacturers will allow the process.
In theory, though, the embedded license is interchangeable. Back to Windows 10 with an ISO, forward to Windows 11 with an ISO at some future date. Like downgrading is going to solve all of one’s problems . . . .
Is Windows 11 THAT bad? Not having issues here; it would be a pointless exercise unless one had an essential program that didn’t run on Windows 11, which would be next to impossible.
A number of factors could be involved that wouldn’t result in a Blue Screen Boot.
Don’t know–drivers, BIOS?. Rather spend time on learning the new system and dealing with difficulties as as they present themselves.
Wouldn’t go there; it’s like upgrading to Windows 11 on a computer that isn’t supported. Possible, but why would one do it?
More screenshots for the courageous with lots of time on their hands:
https://pureinfotech.com/downgrade-windows-11-10/
Move forward.
Thanks for this article.
As the method in this article would wipe/remove user data on the PC, could we also have an article to restore a Windows PC back to Windows 10 while RETAINING data after a user has accidentally updated to Window 11? Forgive me if that has already been posted or I am misunderstanding this.
Also, I suppose it may be useful to make it even clearer that the article is about totally starting over and losing any data on the PC. Yes, it does say it in the article, but… just to be safe in case someone is reading it fast.
>As the method in this article would wipe/remove user data on the PC, could we also have an article to restore a Windows PC back to Windows 10 while RETAINING data after a user has accidentally updated to Window 11?
If a user inadvertently accepts a MS offer to upgrade their Windows version from 10 to 11, or accepts an offer and then regrets having done so, I think that we can assume that *only* Windows itself will be been updated: the disk will not have been wiped, and any user, OEM or other data or partition will be completely unchanged.
However, if a user plans to use the above method to replace Windows 11 by Windows 10, they would be very well advised, in accordance with normal advice, to image their complete drive before before starting, to enable anything that might be required later to be reinstalled..
One does not desire Windows 11. It’s becoming obvious that Microsoft is making an incredibly vain effort to make Windows 11 seem successful. Even while Windows 10 is still fully supported, they stopped licensing OEMs with the ability to downgrade to Windows 10 in October of last year. Consequently, Windows 11 is installed on all recently purchased machines. Because we remove the Windows 11 image and replace it with our Windows 10 image, this is not a major issue. Microsoft place their horrible Windows 11 where the sun doesn’t shine.
This site has become a mass advertisement of windows 11! Daily promotional articles for this OS! Why don’t you post an article about AtlasOS?! Oh yeah, you’re going to delete my opinion again – you’re censoring people’s free expression!
Whether one likes Windows 10 or Windows 11, the point not-to-be-missed here is that Microsoft is working really hard to make Windows a platform for monetized SaaS. Microsoft accounts (preferably with upgraded OneDrive storage), Microsoft 365, etc. etc.
I would absolutely go back to the days of paying Microsoft $80-100, or even $129.99 if they would offer an ad-free, telemetry-free Windows Pro OS that also doesn’t strip the Pro features in order to treat me like a consumer user. And since they will not? I feel perfectly justified in using the Windows Registry, Local Policies, and firewall-PiHole blocking techniques, whatever it takes, to block, strip, or blackhole the ads from their operating system. I already have half a dozen Windows 11 Pro licenses with matching Office 2021 Professional Plus licenses that indicate I’m willing to pay them. I just want them to leave me in peace.
Foolish, you’re basically saying “I am going to keep giving you money despite the sub-par user experience and product you provide, BUT it would be nice if you improved your product anyway”.
That doesn’t work in the real world – Microsoft is acting like this because they simply don’t care about the OS space, they have decided to milk the end users as much as possible.
Use Microsoft products only as much as you are required to, by your workplace, or your clients. Run windows 10/11 in a VM environment and find alternatives where possible. Microsoft’s behaviour in the past how many years has signaled that they are only gonna get worse.
Windows’ “System Image” backup feature has been broken for almost a decade. The only backup software I’ve used that has been able to integrate properly with windows 10 has been Macrium (native windows volume shadow copies, incrementals, easy recovery environment creation, encryption, etc).
Comments are messed up, again. Ghacks isn’t what it used to be…
I heard microsoft is working on windows 12 – should i wait for that? When would THAT be released? I have 3!! incompatible win 10 desktops.
I wonder EXACTLY how many laptops & desktops do NOT meet win 11 requirements!
In the hundreds of millions? Close to a billion?! Imagine how many would need to be recycled(or thrown away in countries not recycling), not necessarily using green power to do it. & to make new ones. My head is spinning.
I sure hope at least win 11 is a lot faster than the sooo slow win 10 file manager & picture viewer.
Windows XP was sooooo fast in those areas.
Microsoft should have come out with some sort of inexpensive device or software that would EASILY MAKE incompatible win 10 pc’s compatible.
Is it only for me or are the commands for configuring VB for macOS all “cut up”? Like it’s literally a screenshot with half the command? I’ve tried multiple browsers what should I do lmao
Thx in advance
Same here! I wasn’t sure if the author of the article is trolling or not