Running macOS in VirtualBox: A Step-by-Step Guide
Ever wanted to try macOS but haven't made the leap to a Mac computer? VirtualBox, a free and open-source virtualization software, lets you run macOS within your existing operating system. This can be a great way to test out the latest macOS features, access Mac-specific software, or simply tinker around with a different platform.
Disclaimer: Installing macOS on a non-Apple computer violates Apple's licensing terms. Proceed at your own risk and responsibility.
What you'll need:
VirtualBox: Download and install VirtualBox for your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux).
macOS ISO file: You can't directly download macOS ISOs from Apple. You'll need to find a trusted source online. Be cautious of unofficial ISOs, as they may be corrupted or contain malware.
At least 4GB of RAM: macOS requires at least 4GB of RAM to run smoothly. 8GB or more is recommended for a better experience.
20GB of free disk space: Allocate at least 20GB of free disk space for the virtual macOS installation.
Step-by-step guide:
Create a new virtual machine: Open VirtualBox and click "New." In the "Name and operating system" section, choose a name for your virtual machine (e.g., macOS Ventura) and select "Mac OS X" as the type and "Mac OS X (64-bit)" as the version.
Image of VirtualBox Create New Virtual Machine windowOpens in a new window
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VirtualBox Create New Virtual Machine window
Allocate RAM: Set the RAM to at least 4GB (8GB recommended). You can adjust this later if needed.
Image of VirtualBox Set RAM size windowOpens in a new window
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VirtualBox Set RAM size window
Create a virtual hard disk: Click "Create virtual hard disk now" and choose "VDI" as the hard disk file type. Select "Dynamically allocated" and set the size to at least 20GB.
Image of VirtualBox Create virtual hard disk windowOpens in a new window
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VirtualBox Create virtual hard disk window
Attach the macOS ISO: Click "Choose Existing Disk" and select the downloaded macOS ISO file.
Image of VirtualBox Choose Existing Disk windowOpens in a new window
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VirtualBox Choose Existing Disk window
Start the virtual machine: Click "Start" to boot the virtual machine. You may see an error message about Oracle VM VirtualBox not being able to verify the developer's signature. Click "Continue" to proceed.
Install macOS: Follow the on-screen instructions to install macOS. This is similar to installing macOS on a physical Mac.
Image of macOS installation screen on VirtualBoxOpens in a new window
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macOS installation screen on VirtualBox
Configure macOS: Once installed, you may need to configure some settings in macOS, such as creating a user account and enabling network access.
Additional tips:
Enable USB passthrough in VirtualBox settings to use USB devices with your virtual macOS.
Use the Guest Additions ISO provided by VirtualBox to improve integration between your host and virtual machine, such as shared folders and clipboard.
Be aware that running macOS in VirtualBox may not be as performant as running it on a physical Mac.
Resources:
VirtualBox download: https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads
macOS Ventura ISO download (use at your own risk): https://www.wideanglesoftware.com/blog/ios16-and-macos-ventura-announced.php
VirtualBox Guest Additions: https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch04.html
By following these steps, you can install and run macOS in VirtualBox. This can be a valuable tool for developers, testers, or anyone who simply wants to try out macOS without making the switch to a Mac computer. Remember to proceed with caution when downloading ISOs and be aware of the limitations of running macOS in a virtual environment.
I hope this blog post has been helpful! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.