How to Install macOS Sequoia on VMware on Windows?

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macOS Sequoia is Apple's latest operating system, packed with advanced features, design enhancements, and deeper integration with Apple's ecosystem. However, if you're a Windows user looking to test macOS Sequoia—perhaps for app development, exploring Apple's environment, or just for curiosity—you're in luck. Thanks to virtualization technology like VMware, you can run macOS Sequoia on a Windows machine without a Mac.

This article walks you through installing macOS Sequoia on VMware on Windows PC. We'll guide you step-by-step—from downloading the ISO, setting up the virtual machine, installing macOS, fixing common issues, and optimizing performance.

Preparation for Installing macOS Sequoia on VMware on Windows

System Requirements

Before you begin, ensure your PC meets the minimum system and software requirements.

Hardware Requirements

• Processor: Intel or AMD with virtualization support (VT-x / AMD-V enabled in BIOS)
• RAM: Minimum 8GB (16GB recommended)
• Disk Space: Minimum 100GB of free storage
• Graphics: Integrated or dedicated GPU with decent performance

Software Requirements

• VMware Workstation Pro or VMware Player (latest version)
• macOS Sequoia ISO or pre-made VMDK file
• VMware Unlocker for macOS guest support
• WinRAR or 7-Zip for extracting downloaded files

Download the Necessary Files

You'll need to collect the following files before starting:

1. VMware Workstation/Player: Download from the official VMware website
2. macOS Sequoia ISO or VMDK: You can create one using a real Mac or search for trusted sources offering pre-built images. (Avoid shady torrent sources.)
3. VMware macOS Unlocker: Unlocker enables macOS installation options in VMware. Search for "VMware Unlocker for macOS GitHub" or a trusted forum like InsanelyMac.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

macOS is licensed to run only on Apple hardware. While virtualizing macOS on a Windows PC is popular among tech enthusiasts and developers, it does go against Apple's End User License Agreement (EULA).

If you plan to build or publish macOS apps commercially, use a genuine Mac or Apple's cloud-based development environments.

Steps to Install macOS Sequoia on VMware on Windows

Step 1. Install VMware Workstation on Windows

1. Download the installer for VMware Workstation Pro or Player.
2. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
3. Once installed, do not launch VMware yet. You'll first need to apply the macOS unlocker.

Step 2. Apply VMware macOS Unlocker

Since VMware does not officially support macOS guest systems, you need to patch it.

1. Close VMware completely.
2. Extract the Unlocker zip file.
3. Choose Run as Administrator from the menu when you right-click the win-install.cmd file.
4. The script will patch VMware and add the option to create macOS VMs.
5. After completion, launch VMware and ensure "Apple macOS" is available in the guest OS list.

Step 3. Create a New macOS Virtual Machine

1. Click Create a New Virtual Machine after launching VMware.

2. Select Typical (recommended) and click Next.

3. Choose "I will install the operating system later" and click Next.

4. For guest OS. Select Apple macOS. Version: macOS 15.

5. Name the VM (e.g., macOS Sequoia) and choose a file location.

6. Specify disk capacity (80–100GB recommended) and choose Store virtual disk as a single file.

7. Click Finish, then go to Edit Virtual Machine Settings.

Step 4. Edit VM Settings for macOS

1. Memory: Set to at least 4GB (8GB+ recommended)
2. Processors: Use 2 or more cores
3. Hard Disk: If using a VMDK, replace the existing virtual disk with the downloaded VMDK file
4. CD/DVD (IDE): If using an ISO, select Use ISO image file and browse to your macOS Sequoia ISO
5. USB Controller: Ensure it's enabled
6. Display: Check Accelerate 3D graphics
7. Close Settings and save.

Step 5. Modify VMX File (Optional but Recommended)

Navigate to the VM's directory and open the .vmx file with Notepad. Add the following lines at the bottom:

smc.version = "0"
usb.generic.allowHID = "TRUE"
usb.generic.allowLastHID = "TRUE"

This ensures compatibility and fixes potential keyboard/mouse issues.

Step 6. Start the Virtual Machine and Install macOS Sequoia

1. Power on the VM.
2. If using an ISO, you'll boot into the macOS installer. Go to Disk Utility.

3. Select the VMware virtual disk, click Erase, and format as APFS.

4. Once formatted, exit Disk Utility and select Install macOS Sequoia.

5. The installation may take 30–60 minutes depending on your PC.

The VM may restart several times—this is normal. Don't interfere unless it freezes for over 30 minutes.

Initial macOS Setup

Once installation completes, macOS will reboot to the setup assistant.

1. Select language and region.
2. Choose "Not Now" for Apple ID (or sign in if you have one).
3. Set up local user account (username, password).
4. Choose default settings or customize system preferences.
5. Finish setup and enter macOS Sequoia.

Congratulations! You now have macOS Sequoia running on Windows via VMware.

Step 7. Install VMware Tools (Darwin.iso)

Once macOS Sequoia is installed and running on VMware, you'll notice that some essential features like full screen resolution, seamless mouse integration, clipboard sharing, and drag-and-drop between your Windows host and macOS guest are not working out of the box. That's where VMware Tools comes in.

What is VMware Tools?

VMware Tools is a suite of utilities that enhances the performance and usability of your virtual machine's guest operating system. For macOS, this comes in the form of Darwin.iso, a specially packaged installer.

Benefits of installing VMware Tools on macOS:

• Full screen and dynamic resolution resizing
• Improved mouse tracking and pointer integration
• Shared clipboard (copy-paste text, files between host and guest)
• Drag-and-drop support
• Time synchronization between host and VM
• Ability to share folders between Windows and macOS

Steps to Install VMware Tools (Darwin.iso)

1. If you're using VMware Workstation Pro, the Darwin.iso file may already be present in the VMware installation folder:

   C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Workstation\tools\

   If it's not available or you're using VMware Player, you can download it from a trusted GitHub repository, InsanelyMac or similar macOS virtualization forums

   💡 Be cautious: use only trusted sources to avoid malware.

2. Open VMware and power off the macOS Sequoia VM. Go to Edit Virtual Machine Settings. Click on CD/DVD (SATA) and choose Use ISO image file, Browse to the downloaded Darwin.iso. Click OK to save the settings.

3. Power on the VM and wait for macOS to boot. You should see a new mounted disk on the desktop labeled VMware Tools. Open it and double-click Install VMware Tools.pkg. The installer will launch. Click Continue and follow the prompts. When prompted, enter your macOS administrator password to authorize the installation.

4. If you see a warning saying the system extension was blocked: Go to System Settings > Security & Privacy, click Allow next to the VMware Inc. software. After installation completes, restart the VM.

5. After rebooting, resize the VMware window—macOS should scale to full screen automatically. Try copying and pasting text between your Windows and macOS VM. Test shared folders if configured. Check system info: Apple menu > About This Mac > System Report > Software > Extensions > Search for VMware Tools-related entries.

Post-Installation Optimization

Here are a few tweaks to improve your experience:

Display Resolution Fix:

• Use VMware Tools or modify screen settings in macOS

Enable Shared Folders:

• Go to VM Settings > Options > Shared Folders > Always Enabled
• Mount the folder in macOS via Finder

Enable Clipboard Sync and Drag-Drop:

• Under VM > Settings > Options > Guest Isolation
• Enable both clipboard and drag-and-drop sharing

Performance Tips:

• Allocate more RAM and CPU if your system allows
• Avoid background tasks on Windows while VM is running

Common Errors and How to Fix Them

1. macOS Not Booting / Stuck at Apple Logo

• Ensure VT-x/AMD-V is enabled in BIOS
• Re-check the VMX file for missing smc.version = "0" line
• Try reformatting the disk in Disk Utility before installation

2. The CPU Has Been Disabled Error

• Caused by missing smc.version = "0"
• Also ensure you're using an Intel/AMD processor with virtualization support

3. Keyboard or Mouse Not Working

• Use USB 2.0 in VM settings instead of USB 3.0
• Add usb.generic.allowHID = "TRUE" in VMX file

4. VMware Tools Not Installing

• Use correct version of Darwin.iso
• Temporarily disable Gatekeeper:

sudo spctl --master-disable

Conclusion

Installing macOS Sequoia on VMware on a Windows PC offers an exciting opportunity to explore Apple's ecosystem without owning a Mac. Whether you're testing software, learning macOS, or just experimenting, this virtualization setup can be a powerful tool when configured properly.

With the steps above, you should now have a fully functional macOS Sequoia virtual machine, along with post-install tweaks and fixes for common issues. Remember to regularly update your VM backup and maintain legal and ethical software usage standards.