How to Install macOS Big Sur on VMware 17 Pro in Windows 10/11

It does not matter if you don’t have a Mac or MacBook but still, you can test or run Apple’s macOS Big Sur on your Windows PC or laptop. Meanwhile, in our previous post, you learned how to install macOS Catalina on VMware. However, in this post, we are going to show you how to install macOS Big Sur on VMware Workstation in Windows 10/11.

macOS Big Sur

The latest major update of macOS, Apple Inc.’s operating system for Macintosh computers, is macOS Big Sur, which is the successor to macOS Catalina (version 10.15). On June 22, 2020, it was revealed at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), and it was launched to the general public on November 12, 2020.

Mac OS X Big Sur contains a redesigned user interface with new blurs to create a visual hierarchy, as well as a revamped Time Machine backup mechanism. It’s also the first version of macOS to support ARM-based processors. For the first time since 2000, the operating system’s major version number was increased from 10 to 11 to mark the change. The operating system is named after Big Sur, a coastal city on California’s Central Coast.

macOS Big Sur Features

Redesigning

macOS Big Sur is a major overhaul of the Mac operating system, introducing the first interface refinements to macOS in years. It completely redesigns the software’s appearance, from the curvature of window corners to the dock symbols to the classic interface sounds. All in the update looks new yet familiar, with Apple opting for a brighter, more sleek look.

Control and Notification Centers

A new Control Center, similar to the Control Center on iOS, places main device functions right at the fingertips, and the Notification Center has been redesigned.
The Notification Center includes iOS-style buttons in a variety of sizes, as well as dynamic alerts organized by the app to make it easy to display all of your incoming notifications at a glance.

Safari Modifications

Safari is quicker and more battery effective, and Apple has introduced a new start page that can be personalized with wallpapers and different parts such as Reading List and iCloud Tabs for a more tailored Safari.
Tabs have been updated with a new preview option so you can see what’s available at a glance, and a new built-in translation tool for automatic language translation has been included. For the first time, Chrome and Firefox plugins can be ported to Safari, and there is an ability to limit which pages an extension can visit for increased privacy.

Updates on Messages

With support for pinned chats, mentions, inline responses, and Memoji formation, Messages is more similar to the Messages app on iOS, and the built-in search function has been overhauled to make it much easier to locate connections, images, and conversations inside the app.

Monitoring of the Battery

There’s a new Battery section in System Preferences for keeping an eye on battery life, and the macOS App Store can help people better appreciate privacy policies in the future by providing detailed transparency on the details that an app gathers. Following the installation of macOS Big Sur, potential macOS updates can begin in the background and finish even faster, making it easy to keep your Mac up to date.

Install macOS Big Sur on VMware Workstation 17 Pro

In order to install and run macOS Big Sur on VMware on Windows 10/11 PC or laptop, you’ll need to download some required files first.

Note: Make sure that Virtualization Technology is enabled on your Windows 10/11 PC or laptop. If it’s disabled, follow the given below links to enable Virtualization Technology on HP and Dell laptops:

• How to Enable Virtualization in BIOS for Dell Inspiron Laptops

• How to Enable Virtualization Technology in BIOS for HP Laptops

1. VMware Workstation 17 Pro
2. Download the macOS Unlocker V3 for VMware
3. Download macOS Big Sur

Step 1. Install VMware Workstation 17 Pro

VMware Workstation Pro is a piece of software that helps you to run various operating systems on a single desktop machine without having to install them. This method allows engineers, teachers, and businesses to test applications on their devices without the need for several machines to manage various procedures. It also creates the ideal environment for cloud and platform testing.

VMware has a long history of creating virtualization applications for both students and businesses. They update their software so much that it’s difficult to pinpoint the most recent edition and they’re always modernizing to keep up with the times. The workstation offers a sandbox system in which you can test and allow whatever you’re working on to function under different circumstances. On both Linux and Windows, the software runs smoothly.

Steps to install VMware:

• Once, you’ve downloaded the file, go to the VMware setup.exe. file and double-click on it. If you are prompted, click Yes.
• Click Next to start the installation.
• Check the box next to I accept the terms in the License Agreement and click Next.
• Once again, click Next on the next pages.
• Here, click Install.
• At last, click Finish.

Step 2. Unlock VMware to Install macOS Big Sur on Windows

VMware Unlocker for macOS is a useful tool that replaces a few files, like VMware-vmx, vmwarebase.dll, and vmwarebase. So, and patches macOS settings and installation features including preferences, booting, and installation settings into VMware, as well as downloading a copy of the latest version of VMware Tools for macOS if you want. As a consequence, after you’ve installed the fix, you’ll be able to work out VMware settings and load every variant of macOS on VMware without any limitations.

Note: Make sure the VMware Workstation application is closed completely.

• When you downloaded macOS Unlocker V3 for VMware GitHub then extract it. Right-click on win-install. cmd and click Run as Administrator. Click Yes, if you are prompted.

• It will pop up a command prompt running some commands and wait until it’s done.

Step 3. Create a New Virtual Machine & Configure

Launch the VMware Workstation app and click on Create a New Virtual Machine.

Click Next. The default option is Typical (recommended).

Select I will install the operating system later and click Next.

Select Apple Mac OS X under the Guest operating system. Choose 11.0 for the version and click Next.

Give your virtual machine a name like macOS Big Sur and click Next.

Specify the disk size and select Store virtual disk as a single file and click Next.

Click Customize Hardware to configure macOS Big Sur virtual machine.

On the Memory tab, allocate the amount of RAM. Higher RAM, higher performance.

On the Processors tab, increase the CPU processor core.

Click the New CD/DVD (SATA) option, click Use ISO image file, and click Browse.

Locate the macOS Big Sur ISO file and click Open.

To save all the changes, click Close.

At last, click Finish and you are done with creating and configuring macOS Catalina virtual machine.

Step 4. Edit macOS Big Sur VMX File

Go to Documents > Virtual Machines > macOS Big Sur > Right-click on macOS Big Sur.vmx then open it using Notepad.

Scroll down to the bottom of the text and add the below code. Click on File > Save.

smc.version = "0"

Step 5. Power on macOS Big Sur Virtual Machine

Launch VMware Workstation and select Power on this virtual machine.

Here, you will see the Apple logo.

Select your preferred language and click the arrow icon at the bottom right-hand corner.

Select Disk Utility and click Continue.

Choose VMware Virtual SATA Hard Drive Media then click Erase.

Here, select the following options: Name: macOS Big Sur (optional), Format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled), and Scheme: GUID Partition Map. Click Erase.

When finished, click Done.

Click the Disk Utility tab and select Quit Disk Utility.

Select Install macOS Big Sur and click Continue.

Click Continue.

 On the next screen, click Agree and once again select Agree.

Select the macOS Big Sur hard disk and click Continue.

Now, wait patiently. It will take a good 1 hour to 2 hours, depending on the speed of your PC or laptop.

Step 6. Setup macOS Big Sur for the First Time

Once the macOS Big Sur installation is completed, it’s time to set up the macOS Big Sur operating system for the first time on VMware.

• On the Welcome screen, select your country/region and click Continue.
• Click Settings to customize Language, Input, and Dictation. Otherwise, click Continue.
• On the Accessibility page, click Not Now and then click Continue on the Data & Privacy page.
• On the Migration Assistant page, click Not Now.
• Here, select Set Up Later, if you don’t have Apple ID. However, if you are prompted, click Skip.
• Select Agree to Terms and Conditions. Once again select Agree.
• Create an account with your Full name and password. Click Continue.
• On the Express Set Up page, click Continue.
• Click Continue on the Analytics page as well.
• Select Set Up Later on the Screen Time page.
• Here, you can either enable or disable Siri and then click Continue. If you have decided to enable Siri then select your preferred language on the next screen.
• Now, select your preferred looks like Light, Dark, or Auto, and click Continue.
• Setting Up Your Mac.
• Finally, macOS Big Sur is successfully installed on VMware.

That’s it. This is how you can install and run macOS Big Sur on VMware Workstation 16 Pro on a Windows 10 PC or laptop. The installation process was really easy. All you need to do is download the required files and make sure Virtualization Technology is enabled from BIOS.

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