Summary :

Mac emulator for Windows

Which is the best Mac emulator for Windows? How to install a macOS virtual machine on PC? In this post, MiniTool Segmentation Wizard gives you lot a pace-by-step guide on how to install a macOS virtual machine on PC via VMware.

Quick Navigation :

  • Best Mac Emulator for Windows
  • Preparatory Work
  • How to Create a MacOS Virtual Machine with VMware
  • Bottom Line
  • Mac Emulator for Windows FAQ
  • User Comments

Best Mac Emulator for Windows

For many years, Mac and Windows PC accept been 2 incompatible camps. Apple tree Mac serial computers accept always been niche products, and fewer people use them. In full general, under the aforementioned configuration, Mac computers are most twice as expensive every bit Windows computers.

However, comparison Windows PCs, the Mac PCs have a more beautiful pattern and are easier to use. If you don't desire to buy an Apple computer only want to endeavour this operating system, y'all can cull to either use hackintoshes or install a macOS virtual machine on Windows.

Withal, installing hackintoshes is very complicated. If your PC's specs are not very bad, installing a macOS virtual machine is recommended. So, which is the all-time Mac emulator for Windows? Virtually people will cull between VirtualBox and VMware. I am of no exception.

Tip: If you want a Windows emulator for Mac PC, you tin can directly download one from Apple tree store and the Windows VM installation process is very easy. But if you desire to install MacOS on Windows, the installation process is slightly difficult, because y'all need to utilize some tools to interruption the limit of MacOS.

At first, my choice is VirtualBox, considering many people recommend using this software. I follow steps in these posts to install the macOS virtual machine, only the installation fails with no exception.

The reason may exist that installing a macOS virtual machine on VirtualBox needs a file named "VirtualBox Boot.vmdk". I see this process in many videos but unfortunately many posts don't mention this stride. In addition, if you desire to go this file, you must download information technology from some posts that are some individual websites full of ads. I don't like that, then I choose to try VMware.

Fortunately, my colleague in technical department has ever succeeded in installing a macOS virtual machine with VMware. Thank you to him, this post can be completed smoothly. So, in my mind, VMware is the best Mac emulator for Windows, although this judgment is a picayune subjective.

VMware vs VirtualBox, Which Is Better For You

Preparatory Work

To run Mac on Windows smoothly, you lot should make certain your PC meets the following requirements:

  • CPU: 4th Intel i5 or higher (if you AMD CPU, you will see more errors and bugs)
  • RAM: at least 8GB
  • Storage: more 100 GB free space
  • OS: 64-bit Windows 7 or later

How to Cheque PC Total Specs Windows x in 5 Ways

If your PC doesn't see the to a higher place organisation requirements, the macOS VM volition freeze frequently. Then, you should get the post-obit thing prepared:

  1. VMware software and unlocker file.
  2. A division specialized for the macOS virtual automobile (optional).
  3. A macOS image in .cdr format.

ane. Install VMware and Download Unlocker

Both VMware Workstations Pro and VMware Workstation Player (the gratuitous version) are OK. You merely demand to install i of them. The installation process is very uncomplicated. You just demand to download this software from its official website and install it usually. If y'all have VMware installed already, you can skip this step.

vmware workstation pro cant run on windows thumbnail

This post shows you what causes error "VMware Workstation Pro tin can't run on Windows" and offers you lot 4 solutions.

Then, you need to download the unlocker file that is the key file making VMware let you to install macOS virtual automobile. The unlocker file is released on GitHub, an open-source project hosting platform. On this platform, the developer will publish the source code of the unlocker file. Therefore, in my heed, the unlocker file is reliable. Please follow the steps below:

Step 1: Go to the website: https://github.com/paolo-projects/unlocker and click Release. Then, download the latest unlocker.zip file.

download unlocker file

Footstep 2: Close VMware software. Then, right click bare area of the Taskbar and choose Chore Manager. In the Processes tab, correct-click and stop whatever tasks related to VMware.

end any task related VMware

Stride three: Extract the unlocker.aught file. Open up the extracted folder to find win-install.cmd file. Right click this file and choose Run as administrator. And then, this file will run to go some tools for VMware. All yous need practice is to wait for the window to shut down automatically.

run win-install.cmd file
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two. Make a Partitioning

This step is recommended, considering the virtual machine file will become larger and larger. Placing all virtual machine files into one partitioning is in favor of centralized direction. To make a segmentation, you can use the compress volume feature in Disk Management. But MiniTool Partition Magician can help you brand a sectionalization more easily.

Free Download

Step i: Launch MiniTool Partition Sorcerer (free edition) and become to its chief interface. Right click a segmentation and choose Movement/Resize. This will open a window.

choose Move/Resize

Stride 2: In the window, elevate the pointer to resize the segmentation. If you drag the whole partition block, yous can alter the location of the partition. Through this manner, you can make unallocated space on the location y'all want. Click the OK push button to keep.

move or resize partition

Step 3: Right click the unallocated space and choose Create. Just keep everything in default and click the OK button.

create a partition

Pace 4: Click Apply button to execute the pending operations.

click Apply button
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You lot can enlarge the hard disk of virtual auto if you set up the disk to exist then pocket-size at the beginning of creating virtual auto, and here are detailed steps.

3. Get a MacOS Image in .cdr Format

Where to get macOS .cdr prototype? You can create it by yourself or download information technology online. If you want to create past yourself, hither is the guide:

Stride 1: Download a macOS installation package (for example, Install macOS Catalina. app) from the Apple Shop into the apps directory.

Tip: All of these operations are performed in macOS system. Therefore, if yous accept no macOS product, downloading macOS .cdr prototype online directly is recommended.

Footstep 2: Open the terminal and perform the post-obit commands:

  • hdiutil create -o /tmp/Install\ macOS\ Catalina -size 8300m -layout Tater -fs HFS+J (* This command will create an empty .dmg disk epitome with a size of 8300m under /tmp The .dmg image should be at least 500M larger than the macOS app file. In addition, Install\ macOS\ Catalina is the proper noun of the .dmg disk epitome, you lot can replace it accordingly.)
  • hdiutil attach /tmp/Install\ macOS\ Catalina.dmg -noverify -mountpoint /Volumes/Install\ macOS\ Catalina (* This command volition mount the .dmg image that you created just now to directory /Volumes/Install\ macOS\ Catalina.)
  • sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Catalina.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Install\ macOS\ Catalina (* This command will write the macOS app file into the .dmg disk image y'all mounted just now. Then, you demand to enter password and expect for the writing process to complete.)
  • hdiutil detach /Volumes/Install\ macOS\ Catalina (* This command will unmount .dmg deejay epitome.)
  • hdiutil convert /tmp/Install\ macOS\ Catalina.dmg -format UDTO -o ~/Desktop/Install\ macOS\ Catalina (* This command volition convert the .dmg image into .cdr prototype and save it into desktop with the name "Install\ macOS\ Catalina". Wait until the procedure to complete and then you lot tin can find the .cdr file on your desktop.)
  • rm /tmp/Install\ macOS\ Catalina.dmg (* This command will delete the .dmg image in the tmp folder to gratuitous up space.)

Note: Don't convert the .dmg prototype into .iso image with UltraISO or dmg2iso tool, considering I read a post saying the converted iso file can't be read by VMware.

create a macOS .cdr image

How to Create a MacOS Virtual Machine with VMware

At present you lot can install Mac on Windows with VMware, the best Mac emulator for Windows. Here is the guide:

Step 1: Open VMware and click File > New Virtual Automobile. Cull Typical and click Next.

Step two: Choose Installer disc image file (iso) and click Browse. This volition permit you to choose the macOS image file. But please note that y'all can see the .cdr image only if you lot modify the file type to All files. And then, click Next.

choose macOS .cdr image in VMware

Step three: Choose Apple Mac OS X and choice the right version. Then, click Next.

Note: My VMware can merely support macOS version upward to 10.11. The reason may be that my VMware version is 12, not the latest version. If you lot want to install slightly newer macOS versions, please install more than recent VMware versions.

choose macOS version

Step four: Check the proper name and the location of the macOS virtual machine. And then, click Next. Specify disk capacity. Please make sure the max size is at least 40 GB and and so click Next. So, click Finish.

check location and specify disk size

Footstep 5: Get to VM > Settings. In the Virtual Machine Settings window, y'all tin can change the macOS hardware settings. I recommend you to change the Retention to at least 4GB, otherwise the macOS virtual machine will not run smoothly. Click OK to save changes.

customize VM settings

Footstep 6: Then, you lot need to alter the configuration file, otherwise you lot will get VMware unrecoverable error when booting the macOS. Get-go, delight navigate to the location of the macOS virtual car in your PC. Right click the macOS virtual auto configuration file (.vmx) and open information technology with notepad.

open macOS vmx file with notepad

Stride 7: In the notepad, scroll down to find the code line: smc.nowadays = "True". Under this lawmaking line, add the following lawmaking line: smc.version = "0". Then, save and exit. At present, you tin starting time the macOS virtual machine and it should open smoothly.

add extra code line
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Footstep eight: Follow the on-screen wizard until you are asked to choose a disk for installing the macOS. In this case, go to Utilities > Disk Utility. Click the VMware Virtual SATA Difficult Drive Media in the left panel and click Erase. Follow the wizard to rename and erase the deejay. Subsequently completing this process, exit Utilities tool and choose the disk you just renamed to install macOS on it.

Step nine: Follow the wizard to customize settings and and then y'all tin can use the macOS on your PC.

Exercise y'all want to run Mac on Windows? Installing hackintoshes on PC may be complicated. You tin can try using a Mac emulator for Windows. This postal service gives you a step-past-step guide on how to install a macOS virtual machine on Windows PC via VMware. Click to tweet

Bottom Line

Is this post useful to you? Have you lot encountered problem when post-obit the above steps to install macOS virtual machine? Practise you know other skillful Mac emulators for Windows? Please leave a annotate in the following zone.

In addition, if you have difficulty in moving/resizing partition, please contact us via [e-mail protected]. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

Mac Emulator for Windows FAQ

Can you emulate Mac on Windows?

Yes, y'all tin. Every bit I know, you can emulate Mac on Windows with VMware and VirtualBox. Only to make the macOS run smoothly, your PC needs to meet some requirements.

Is information technology legal to run macOS on PC?

Apple doesn't qualify whatsoever end user to run Mac Bone on non-Apple machines. Information technology'southward illegal to install macOS on annihilation but a genuine Macintosh computer.

How do I emulate a Mac in Windows 10?

  1. Install VMware and download unlocker file from GitHub.
  2. Get a macOS paradigm in .cdr format.
  3. Create a macOS virtual machine in VMware with the macOS image.
  4. Modify the macOS configuration file.
  5. Perform macOS installation process.