How to Install macOS 11 Big Sur on VMware on Windows PC

Yesterday 22nd June, 2020 at WWDC “Worldwide Developer Conference” Apple released the biggest operating system macOS 11 Big Sur. The new macOS 11 Big sure, with a unique name, is pretty interesting for Mac users. macOS 11 Big Sur is the advanced operating system of Apple company ever, the world new level of power and beauty. You can complete your experience with the fullest with refined and new designs. Enjoy the new and biggest Safari update on macOS 11 Big Sur. The other changes that discover new features for Maps and Messages, and more transparency around the privacy.

Apple announced the biggest design update to macOS since the introduction of macOS X with macOS Big Sur. Overall, everything is new in macOS Big Sur with the Window corner curvature, colors, and dock icons. macOS 11 Big Sur has a lighter appearance for a cleaner look and rounded edges.

Worldwide Developer Conference 2020 gone online due to CoronaViruse Pandemic. With this pandemic everything gone clear as satisfied for users. With this Keynote 2020, Apple kicked out the latest iOS, macOS, iPad OS, AirPods, Apple Watch, and other Softwares that in build.

Apple wanted to select a macOS version like previous version macOS 10.16, but according to its schedule, they have changed the version into 11. macOS Big Sur-name has taken from the section of the central coast of California between Carmel Highlands and San Simon. The latest and biggest macOS 11 Big Sur complete version will be released till the end of this year in September and October 2020. But Apple put a section by the name of “Developer Beta”, which macOS Big Sur is available there if you have a Developer account you can get the beta version of macOS 11 Big Sur.

The latest operating system of Apple is having lots of features to be tested out. Before testing it on your actual Mac PC you have to test it on the following platform. Or to test its latest features, you can install macOS 11 Big Sur on VMware on Windows PC.

Learn how to install macOS Big Sur on VMware & VirtualBox using VMDK file.

  1. Install macOS Big Sur on VMware on Windows – VMDK
  2. Install macOS big Sur on VirtualBox on Windows – VMDK

macOS 11 Big Sur Features

When macOS 11 Big Sur is new in the market, so let’s get some important hints about its latest features. Check out the below list of new features of macOS 11 Big Sur.

  • Control Center: Apple took the idea from iOS, and brought it inside the macOS 11 Big Sur. They designed a dropdown in the upper right area screen that allows you to access the display brightness option, Volume, Dark Mode, WiFi Control, and many more.
  • Notification Center: The notification center is totally cool in macOS 11 Big Sur, now in macOS Big Sur there is a specific notification center to clear all lots of notifications at one time.
  • New Maps: The maps are redesigned in macOS 11 Big Sur that supports the following things, in-door maps, guides, favorite locations, etc.
  • Safari: Safari now monitors the saved passwords to look for those that might be exposed in breaches. A “Privacy Report” meanwhile breaks down what data is being tracked by the site you are on there.

Install macOS 11 Big Sur on VMware on Windows PC

1. Download macOS 11 Big Sur

For downloading macOS 11 Big Sur operating system you have to download it firstly. If you don’t about the downloading process then follow this guide on how to download it. For downloading the macOS 11 Big Sur you need to login to Apple Developer Account. Apple Developer Account costs an amount per year $99. Check out below how to sign in to the Apple developer account.

  • Over ahead to your browser and search for Apple Developer Account.
  • When the Developer page opened click on top on the “Account” option.
  • Follow the process of creating an Apple Developer account.
  • When you signed in to your Apple Developer account, click on “Discover”  at the top left, then click on the macOS tab.
  • Click the download option at the top-right screen.
  • Again Sign in to your Developer Account.
  • Click on the install button of macOS 11 Big Sur, and wait for it to download.
  • Open your download folder, then open the macOS Big Sur Developer Beta Access Utility, double-click on macOSDeveloperBetaAccessUtility.Pkg to run the installer.
  • When the installer download, system preferences will check for the update of macOS 11 Big Sur. If you want to update directly from the current macOS to macOS 11 Big Sur click Update to install.

2. Download macOS 11 Big Sur Required files for VMware

Once the beta version of macOS 11 Big Sur successfully downloaded, you can create it to VMDK (Virtual Machine Disk Image). Manually, you can download the macOS 11 Big Sur beta version VMDK file for VMware and VirtualBox from the links below down.

The next thing is you have to download and install properly the VMware Workstation/VMware Player on your Windows PC. For the extraction of macOS 11 Big Sur, you need WinRAR/ 7zip, if you have them in your PC then extract the VMDK file of macOS 11 Big Sur with that. If not then simply download and install them on your Windows PC.

– Create macOS Big Sur ISO file

One of the important points in here while downloading macOS Big Sur in Beta version. Then that is not available in ISO file. Therefore, you have to create a macOS Big Sur ISO file, using some commands. Firstly, download the macOS Big Sur installer file, then move that to the Applications folder. The name of macOS Big Sur will be located as “macOS Big Bur. Beta”. After that, open the terminal for applying the commands to create macOS Big Sur ISO.

macOS Big Sur
macOS Big Sur

Navigate to search spotlight then search for terminal and press enter to open.

Open terminal
Open terminal

When the terminal opened one by one apply the below commands into terminal.

# Create a macOS Big Sur Virtual Disk Image
hdiutil create -o /tmp/bigsur -size 10250m -volname bigsur -layout SPUD -fs HFS+J
# Mount this Image to macOS
hdiutil attach /tmp/bigsur.dmg -noverify -mountpoint /Volumes/bigsur
# Use macOS Big Sur Createinstallmedia Tool to create a Installer Image
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Beta.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/bigsur --nointeraction
# Unmount Volume Install macOS Beta
hdiutil eject -force /Volumes/Install\ macOS\ Beta
# Convert the bigsur.dmg to a bigsur.iso for Virtual Machine
hdiutil convert /tmp/bigsur.dmg -format UDTO -o ~/Desktop/bigsur.cdr
# Move and Rename bigsur Image to Desktop
mv ~/Desktop/bigsur.cdr ~/Desktop/bigsur.iso
Apply commands
Apply commands

3. Install VMware Workstation on Windows PC

VMware Workstation/ VMware Player is an open-source that allows the Windows users to test other operating systems on Windows PC. Using the VMware Workstation you can test the following operating system Windows, Linux, macOS, or even Android OS. There will come two kinds of VMware versions for you, one of them is to use it for a 15-days trial. But if you want to use the VMware permanently you need to purchase it for a lifetime. OK, it depends on which one you prefer to use.

  • When the VMware Workstation successfully downloaded, double-click to open the installation.
  • On the VMware Workstation welcome wizard click next.
  • Click the box of (I accept with terms and conditions of VMware) then click next.
  • In the custom setup window simply click next.
  • On the user experience settings window click next.
  • Now check the boxes of shortcuts then click next.
  • When the VMware Workstation gets ready for the installation click install.
  • Wait for it until it should successfully install on your PC.
  • When the installation completed click Finish to close the window.

4. Install macOS Unlocker

macOS Unlocker will allow the macOS X service on the VMware Workstation/VMware Player. Without the macOS Unlocker, you won’t be able to install macOS on VMware Workstation. Don’t the VMware Unlocker from below downlink.

Once the macOS Unlocker downloaded, then the file is compressed with WinRAR. For the extracting use the WinRAR. When the macOS Unlocker extracted over ahead and open its folder, then find out the “Win-Install” file. Right-click on that and “Run As Administrator”, the installation process might take some time. But until it should download the required components for VMware Workstation.

Install macOS Unlocker
Install macOS Unlocker

5. Create a New Virtual Machine for macOS 11 Big Sur

When the VMware Workstation successfully installed on your Windows PC. Over ahead to VMware Workstation, and check if the latest update is not installed also check for update, and create a new virtual machine for macOS 11 Big Sur.

Step 1. Open the VMware Workstation/ VMware Player on the VMware main window click on “Create a New Virtual Machine”.

Create a new virtual machine
Create a new virtual machine

Step 2. In the Virtual machine wizard select the option “Typical (Recommended) then click next.

Select typical
Select typical

Step 3. When you reached to this window select the third option “I will install the operating system later” then click next.

Select I will install the operating system later
Select I will install the operating system later

Step 4. Here select the guest operating system “Apple Mac OS X”, and the Version “macOS 10.16” then click next.

Select Apple macOS
Select Apple macOS

Step 5. Select a name for the virtual machine, and specify the location where you want to place the macOS 11 Big Sur then click next.

Select a name
Select a name

Step 6. Select the maximum size disk for macOS 11 Big Sur, then select the first option “Store virtual disk as a single file” then click next.

Select the disk size
Select the disk size

Step 7. When everything completed, the virtual machine is ready to create so click finish to create the virtual machine.

Click Finish
Click Finish

6. Edit Virtual Machine Settings

For the better and fast installation of macOS 11 Big Sur on VMware Workstation, you need to edit some bios settings of the virtual machine. To do this select the created virtual machine, then click “Edit Virtual Machine Settings”.

Edit virtual machine settings
Edit virtual machine settings

When the Virtual machine settings opened, from the top left-handed select the “Hardware” option and increase the memory size for the virtual machine.

Increase the memory size
Increase the memory size

Select the processor tab, then increase the number of processors, and increase the number of core processors.

increase the processors
increase the processors

When you reached this step, click on the “CD/DVD (SATA)” tab then select “Use an ISO file” option, and click the “Browse” option, select the macOS 11 Big Sur vmdk file and click “Open”. Be sure that macOS vmdk is inserted after that click “OK” to save changes.

Insert macOS Big Sur vmdk
Insert macOS Big Sur vmdk

7. Edit the VMX file

VMware stores virtual machines as a package that includes the virtual machine settings filename.vmx and the virtual disks. When required you must provide the path to the vmx.file. The examples that follow are of default paths to Windows and Linux virtual machine for Mac OS X, OS X, or macOS. A small commands directory that configures the macOS virtual machine settings to install the operating system on VMware Workstation.

To edit the VMX file for macOS 11 Big Sur on VMware Workstation, find out the location of macOS 11 Big Sur created virtual machine. Find out the macOS VMX file right-click on that and Open With>Notepad.

Open with Notepad
Open with Notepad

When the VMX directory opened with Notepad scroll down, at the end copy and paste the below commands and press Ctrl+S to save changes.

smbios.reflectHost = "TRUE"
hw.model = "MacBookPro14,3"
board-id = "Mac-551B86E5744E2388"
Smc.version = "0"
Edit VMX
Edit VMX

8. Install macOS 11 Big Sur on VMware on Windows PC

We reached to install macOS 11 Big Sur on VMware on Windows PC. Because everything perfectly and clearly done for the current guest operating system to run on the virtual machine on VMware on Windows. To install it run the VMware Workstation and select the created virtual machine of macOS 11 Big Sur and click “Power on this Virtual machine”.

Power on this virtual machine
Power on this virtual machine

When the installation of macOS 11 Begin started, wait for the Apple logo.

Apple Logo
Apple Logo

Select your language and click the arrow option.

Select your language
Select your language

Once this window appeared, select “Disk Utility” option, then click continue.

Disk Utility
Disk Utility

When the Disk Utility window opened, from left-handed window select the drive which you want to make partition for macOS Big Sur. Then click on the top “Erase” tab, and erase the disk according to the below down settings.

  • Name: macOS Big Sur
  • Format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
  • Scheme: GUID Partition Map
  • At Last, click erase option to erase the disk
Erase the disk
Erase the disk

Once the disk erased click Done and close the Disk Utility window.

Click Done
Click Done

Again coming back to this window select the “Install macOS” option and click continue.

Install macOS
Install macOS

To set up the installation of macOS Beta, click continue.

Click continue
Click continue

To continue the software installation of macOS Big Sur, you must agree with the terms and conditions of macOS Big Sur by clicking two times on the Agree option.

Agree with terms and conditions
Agree with terms and conditions

Select the disk where you want to install macOS Big Sur on it, if you remembered this disk was erased by Disk Utility. To continue the process click install.

Select the disk
Select the disk

When you clicked on install button, wait here until the installation should be completed. When the installation completed automatically the virtual machine will restart.

Installing macOS Big Sur
Installing macOS Big Sur

When the virtual machine restarted again the macOS Big Sur will begin starts installation, this portion of installation cover sometimes wait and don’t do anything.

Installing
Installing

Complete macOS 11 Big Sur Installation

When the installation completed, you need to configure the first macOS Big Sur settings. In the first welcome screen Select your Country or region and click continue.

Select your country
Select your country

Select your Written and Spoken Languages and click continue.

Select your language
Select your language

Accessibility features adapt your Mac to your individual need, therefore, you can customize it or simply click Not now.

Accessibility
Accessibility

On the Data & Privacy window click continue

Data & Privacy
Data & Privacy

In the Migrant Assistant window, you can choose two options, “From a Mac, time machine backup or startup disk”, or “From a Windows PC”. If you have information on another Mac or a Windows PC, you can transfer it to this Mac, or simply you can select Now now option.

Migrant Assistant
Migrant Assistant

Now sign in with your Apple ID, if you don’t have any then click “Set up Later” and click Skip.

Set up later
Set up later

Agree with the terms and conditions of macOS Big Sur 11.

Agree with terms and conditions
Agree with terms and conditions

Create a computer account for macOS Big Sur by entering your full name, Account name, Password, and Hint then click continue.

Create a computer account
Create a computer account

On express set up click continue without doing anything.

Express set up
Express set up

In the Analytics again click continue.

Analytics
Analytics

Click Set up later on the screen time window.

Set up later
Set up later

Disable the Siri option and click continue.

Disable Siri
Disable Siri

Select your look for macOS 11 Big Sur and click continue.

Choose your look
Choose your look

And wait until your Mac settings should get ready for the first use. Finally, macOS 11 Big Sur has been successfully installed on VMware on Windows PC.

macOS 11 Big Sur on VMware
macOS 11 Big Sur on VMware

Enter macOS 11 Big Sur Full-screen Mode

The last thing is to enter macOS 11 Big Sur full-screen mode on VMware is remaining. So, check the below link on how to enable the full-screen mode of macOS 11 Big Sur on VMware Workstation. Furthermore, when the installation completed after installing the VMware Tools on macOS 11 Big Sur. You will be able to see the full-screen mode of it. And also, for better instruction contact the below link.

35 thoughts on “How to Install macOS 11 Big Sur on VMware on Windows PC”

  1. Hi, I have my installation stopped with an error message ” An error occurred loading update. I have tried it many times on different days still same error, what do you suggest I do.
    Thank you for your support.

    Reply

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