How to Fix macOS Big Sur “BiErrorDomain Error 3.” on VMware & VirtualBox

While installing macOS Big Sur on VMware Workstation and VirtualBox, I faced an error “The operation couldn’t be completed. (BIErrorDomain error 3.)”. This error isn’t much critical when installing macOS Big Sur on VMware or VirtualBox. Because most of the people are facing this error, “BIErrorDomain error 3.”. Because this error is a common error in Beta version of macOS Big Sur.

When I encountered by this error on VMware and VirtualBox? after creating a perfect virtual machine for macOS Big Sur on VMware and VirtualBox. Then I pressed the button to run the installation, after that, I have successfully erased the disk for macOS Big Sur via Disk Utility then I closed the Utility window. And select the “Install macOS” option, when I reached to the window to choose the erased disk to install macOS Big Sur, then I faced the below screenshot error, and I won’t be able to select the disk to install macOS Big Sur.

After researching enough on the internet I found the solution, a user on Apple Developer Forums written about the solution of “BIErrorDomain error 3.”. When running macOS Big Sur on VMware and VirtualBox after applying some extra commands you will reject the “BIErrorDomain Error 3.”.

Fix macOS Big Sur “BiErrorDomain Error 3.” on VMware & VirtualBox

I think this error is a well-known error that it required you an actual Mac “BI” Board ID. If you faced this “BIErrorDomain Error 3.” installing macOS Big Sur on VMware and VirtualBox then follow the below guidelines.

1. Fix “BiErrorDomain Error 3.” on VirtualBox

If you are facing the BirDomain Error 3 while installing macOS Big Sur on VirtualBox, then follow the below steps to refuse the error. Note: Now inside the VirtualBox commands come a few changes, you can’t use the macOS Big Sur commands for the configuration of macOS Sierra, macOS High Sierra, macOS Mojave 10.14, and macOS Catalina 10.15 Virtual machine.

First of all currently if VirtualBox is running the background completely close that. Then copy and paste the below commands into Notepad.

cd “C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\”
VBoxManage.exe modifyvm “Your VM Name” –cpuidset 00000001 000106e5 00100800 0098e3fd bfebfbff
VBoxManage setextradata “Your VM Name” “VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemProduct” “iMac19,1”
VBoxManage setextradata “Your VM Name” “VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemVersion” “1.0”
VBoxManage setextradata “Your VM Name” “VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiBoardProduct” “Mac-AA95B1DDAB278B95”
VBoxManage setextradata “Your VM Name” “VBoxInternal/Devices/smc/0/Config/DeviceKey” “ourhardworkbythesewordsguardedpleasedontsteal(c)AppleComputerInc”
VBoxManage setextradata “Your VM Name” “VBoxInternal/Devices/smc/0/Config/GetKeyFromRealSMC” 1

Replace “Your VM Name” with name of the macOS Big Sur virtual machine.

Now over ahead to CMD “Command Prompt” and (Run As Administrator”. Copy the first line of command then press enter, and select the rest of commands, paste into the command prompt and press enter.

After the commands applied over ahead to VirtualBox and press the “Start” button. And finally, you will be able to select the erased disk to install macOS Big Sur.

2. Fix “BiErrorDomain Error 3.” on VMware

If you are already having a Mac or MacBook PC, then easily you can check its Mode ID and Board ID using some commands. To check your actual Mac Board ID follow my steps. Or if you faced this error “BiErrorDomain Error 3.” while installing macOS Big Sur on VMware then apply the commands in the VMX file.

Open your Mac PC over ahead search spotlight and open “Terminal”, once terminal opened, apply the below commands to view your Mac Board ID. Don’t forget to take a note of the Board ID.

ioreg -l | grep board-id

To check your Mac Model ID apply the below commands in terminal and make a note of the Model ID.

sysctl hw.model

In the VM configuration, under Hardware -> Boot Order -> Advanced Settings -> Boot flags, enter the following (inserting the information noted above where shown).

devices.mac_hw_model=""
devices.smbios.board_id=""

After you get succeed in the Model ID and Board ID, then Edit like below commands for VMware Workstaiton.

smbios.reflectHost = "TRUE"
hw.model = "MacBookPro14,3"
board-id = "Mac-551B86E5744E2388"

Again if you want to run macOS Big Sur on VMware Workstation on Windows PC. And you don’t have an actual Mac so copy the above commands for refusing the “BiErrorDomain error 3.” while installing macOS Big Sur on VMware on Windows PC.

To apply the above commands completely “Power Off the Virtual Machine”. Find the macOS Big Sur virtual machine location, and right-click on VMX then Open With>Notepad.

When the VMX file opened scroll down at the end paste the commands and press Ctrl+S to save changes.

Now open the VMware Workstation and “Power on the Virtual Machine”, continue the steps. When you reached to the step of selecting the disk to install macOS Big Sur you will see the changes and the “BIErrorDomain error 3.” is being fixed. So, select the disk and click the install option.

Check the below links on how to have a clean installation of macOS 11 Big Sur on VMware & VirtualBox on Windows PC.

1. How to Install macOS 11 Big Sur on VirtualBox on Windows PC
2. How to Install macOS 11 Big Sur on VMware on Windows PC