Catalina How To macOS Virtual Machines VMware

How to Install macOS Catalina on Vmware Workstation 17 Pro

written by ShaadLife Team July 3, 2023

What You Will Learn in This Guide:

Apple announced macOS Catalina back in WWDC 2019. Meanwhile, if you want to test macOS Catalina on a virtual machine like VMware Workstation then you have landed at the right place. In this tutorial guide, you are going to learn how to install macOS Catalina on VMware Workstation Pro 17.

Virtualization Technology is one of the easiest ways to muck things up for testing. You can still go back to the default settings, no matter how badly you screwed up. There are many Virtual Machine tools and applications that can accomplish the mission. VMware and VirtualBox are the most common and user-friendly virtualization tools and apps. VMware is not free, but it does have a 10-day trial version for Mac, as well as a VMware player and a VMware Pro for Windows. The player edition is still available for free, but the other version is not. VirtualBox is open-source virtualization software for Windows and Mac that is comparable to VMware.

However, before installing macOS Catalina on VMware, let’s have some basic information about macOS Catalina and its features.

macOS Catalina (10.15)

The sixteenth big update of macOS, Apple Inc.’s desktop operating system for Macintosh computers, is called Catalina. It is the successor to macOS Mojave and was unveiled on June 3, 2019, at WWDC 2019 and launched to the general public on October 7, 2019. Catalina is the first macOS update to support only 64-bit apps and to have an Activation Lock. It’s also the last edition of macOS with the prefix 10. Big Sur, its replacement, is version 11 of the game. On November 12, 2020, macOS Big Sur will replace macOS Catalina.

Meanwhile, Santa Catalina Island, off the coast of southern California, is the inspiration for the operating system.

What Are the Key New Features in macOS Catalina?

Catalina introduces more significant new features than previous macOS updates. There are a few recent applications, as well as a few others with significant new functionality and UI changes. The performance and accessibility have also been strengthened.

Here’s a rundown on some of the latest applications and services:

Project Catalyst: iPad applications that have been ported to the Mac Music, Podcasts, and Apple TV apps, which have taken the place of the iTunes software.
The Photos app has been improved.
The Notes app has been improved.
Apple Mail also has three additional features: the ability to silence a thread, block a sender, and unsubscribe.
Safari has been modified.
Reminders have been revamped.
Find My iPhone and Find My Friends have been combined into a new Find My app.
For Mac, there’s a program called Screen Time.
Sidecar is a device that allows you to use an iPad as an external monitor.
Voice Controls.

Install macOS Catalina on VMware Workstation Pro 17

In order to install and run macOS Catalina 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:

VMware Workstation 17 Pro
Download the macOS Unlocker V3 for VMware
Download macOS Catalina ISO

Step 1. Install VMware Workstation Pro 17

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.

Install VMware Workstation Pro 17

Step 2. Unlock VMware to Install macOS Catalina 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.

Run as Administrator

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

Step 3. Create a New macOS Catalina Virtual Machine on VMware

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

Create a New Virtual Machine

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

Typical (recommended)

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

I will install the operating system later

Select Apple Mac OS X under the Guest operating system. Choose 10.15 for the version and click Next.

Apple Mac OS X

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

Give your virtual machine a name

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

Specify the disk size

Click Customize Hardware to configure macOS Catalina virtual machine.

Customize Hardware

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

allocate the amount of RAM

On the Processors tab, increase the CPU processor core.

increase the CPU processor core

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

New CD/DVD (SATA)

Locate the macOS Catalina ISO file and click Open.

Locate the macOS Catalina ISO

To save all the changes, click Close.

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

Finish

Step 4. Edit macOS Catalina VMX File

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

Notepad

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

smbios.reflectHost = "TRUE"

hw.model = "MacBookPro14,3"

board-id = "Mac-551B86E5744E2388"

smc.version = "0"

Save

Step 5. Power on macOS Catalina Virtual Machine

Launch VMware Workstation 16 Pro 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.

Select your preferred language

Select Disk Utility and click Continue.

Disk Utility

Choose VMware Virtual SATA Hard Drive Media then click Erase.

Erase VMware Virtual SATA Hard Drive Media

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

Erase

When finished, click Done.

Done

Click the Disk Utility tab and select Quit Disk Utility.

Quit Disk Utility

Select Install macOS and click Continue.

Install macOS

Click Continue.

Continue

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

Agree

Select the macOS Catalina hard disk and click Install.

macOS Catalina hard disk

Now, wait patiently. It will take a good 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the speed of your PC or laptop.

Step 6. Setup macOS Catalina

Once the macOS Catalina installation is completed, it’s time to set up the macOS Catalina operating system for the first time on VMware Workstation 17 Pro.

On the Welcome screen, select your country and click Continue.
Click Customize Settings to customize Language, Input, and Dictation. Otherwise, click Continue.
On the How Do You Connect? page, select My computer does not connect to the internet then click Continue.
Click Continue on the next page.
Click Agree on the Terms and Conditions page and once again, select Agree.
Now, provide a full name and password then 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.
Now, select your preferred look like Light, Dark, or Auto, and click Continue.
Setting up your Mac.
Finally, macOS Catalina is successfully installed on VMware Workstation 17 Pro.

What Are the Benefits of Creating a Virtual Machine?

Running an operating system in a virtual environment has many advantages. The first is that you are unable to install the operating system alongside or outside of the current one. The second reason is that, since the VM operates in a completely different environment, you may be able to leave your data alone. The next step is that you are able to give the operating system a trial run rather than buying it. Though Macs are undeniably pricey, you might choose to experiment with or work with macOS for free, which is a great choice.

That’s it. This is how you can install and run macOS Catalina on VMware Workstation 17 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.

ShaadLife Team

We are professional How-to content writers. As a tech enthusiast and geek, we love to write and share articles about different operating systems such as Android, Windows, macOS, iOS, and some other products like a smartwatch and smart TV.