How to Install macOS on a VirtualBox VM

If you would like to try out the Apple macOS on a virtual machine, you can do so for free using Oracle VirtualBox. You just need to download the macOS ISO file online and then install the operating system on your VM. How well it works will depend on which version of the macOS you are using, where you got it and what version of VirtualBox you are running so your results may vary. If you get the iCloud unsupported device error, you may have to use a local account and try and add your Apple ID later. It seems to work better if you have 2 cores on your processor so make sure to have that configured.

Here is the information from the video.

Use this command to change to your VirtualBox installation directory.

cd "C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox"

Replace Your VM Name with the name of your virtual machine and run all of the following commands on your host.

VBoxManage setextradata "Your VM Name" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemProduct" "MacBookPro11,3"

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-2BD1B31983FE1663"

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

Someone in the comments who was stuck had success by adding this line as well so you might want to try it if you are having issues.
VBoxManage modifyvm "your VM name" --cpu-profile "Intel Core i7-6700K

macOS Monterey ISO file download

Check out our book (VirtualBox Made Easy) that is designed to take your virtualization skills to the next level!

#virtualbox
#macos

[ryanonrails]

Thank you so much for this, I can't even tell you how helpful this was. Such a great video too, no distracting graphics, no 20 minute intro, just concise and clear.

[kulcix]

It doesnt work on AMD CPU's, for this, you have to add this command at the end:
VBoxManage modifyvm "your vm name" --cpu-profile "Intel Core i7-6700K"

[mattshipman]

Got a machine in an unmutable state, in save state. To resolve this, I had to go in and select "Discard" on the machine, which effectively shut the VM down. Then I was able to run the cmd commands listed. Thank you for the tutorial. Very helpful!

[anthonyrodriguez]

This worked after making a few adjustments.

- First I figured out I needed to change
- VBoxManage setextradata "MacOS Monterey" 1
- to
- VBoxManage setextradata "MacOS Monterey" 0

- Secondly I had to switch
- CPU: 2 core
- to
- CPU: 1 core

- took about 2:30 hours for the Mac to fully install and become usable.

[jaileigh]

"The system automatically rebooted after panic".

[feelinglimed]

For everyone that is stuck in a boot loop with 29 minutes remaining while installing, close the VM window, go to settings and change the CPU cores to 2 and save. Hope this helps!

[gtrxdude]

Worked for me except for one tweak, the first command which changes the chipset caused the ISO to become unbootable, so I started over, skipped this command, and everything worked! I did the rest of the commands with no issue. I'm on the latest Virtual Box as of May, 2024 (Virtual Box 7.0.18 ), which looks a bit different than yours. Thanks for the video, very helpful!

[Dallasyyxz]

thanks for this, its not an ai talking, no viruses, easy steps, and a great YT! I subbed!

[retronerdyt]

i named my vm "Your VM Name" so i could just copy and paste the command to make it easier

[brockewander]

Thank you for this tutorial, I've made several unsuccessful attempts at installing a macOS VM and your method did the trick. Had some issues along the way but was able to get it worked out.

[monstermanthegreat]

Well, I cried a couple times, but it worked! Thx for the vid!👍👍

[YT_NIKIPLAYS]

Thank you so much for this. It’s a bit slow especially when I was setting it up but now it’s perfectly fine except for some restarts here and there. I got this to play Apple Arcade and it works. I’m so happy.

[mamdouh-Tawadros]

Thank you for a great tutorial. Like previous comments, I have tried installing macOS in VB but failed due to half baked videos about it. Your steps are easy to follow and are precise. Thats why I have subscribed!

[idkvalorant]

my vm keeps boot loping its says the installation will be done in 29 minutes and then its just restarting and nothing happened

[aleksandrsu]

some more info
For amd processor
VBoxManage modifyvm "Mac OS 12" --cpu-profile "Intel Core i7-6700K"

and in setting mast be enabled usb 3.0 controller.

[toussaintwiggins]

I followed step by step... but I keep getting "Failed to query SMC value from the host (VERR_INVALID_HANDLE)." I'm getting frustrated lol

[realTateWilliam]

Thank You for this tutorial, mine booted up first try!

[brodeo_power]

[I keep getting this error]
VM Name: MacOS Monterrey

Failed to query SMC value from the host (VERR_INVALID_HANDLE).
Result Code:
E_FAIL (0X80004005)
Component:
ConsoleWrap
Interface:
IConsole

[excalibur]

I did all the commands listed. It gave an error, and so I changed the last command from 1 to 0 and the VM started up, however it is now stuck at the point before entering all the commands. Any ideas?

[tataeress]

I solved the issue of rebooting every time by changing things to 2 cores