How to Install macOS Catalina on VMware on Windows 10 – PC

In this article, I am going to show you how to install macOS Catalina on VMware on Windows. So, Apple announced macOS Catalina in WWDC 2019. If you want to give macOS Catalina a try, then you’re in the right place. We will provide a link to download macOS Catalina ISO or a guide to create your own ISO if you want. So without wasting any more time, let’s get started. If you want Catalina on Virtualbox then follow the article on how to install macOS Catalina on VirtualBox on Windows.

Required: If you haven’t already then you should enable Virtualization Technology (aka Intel VT or AMD-V).

Steps to Install macOS Catalina on VMware on Windows 10

1. Download the prerequisites
2. Install the Prerequisites
3. Unlock VMware to Install macOS Catalina on Windows
4. Create a New Virtual Machine
   • Edit macOS Catalina VMX File (Optional)
5. Install macOS Catalina as VM on VMware
6. Complete Basic macOS Account Settings
7. Install VMware Tools (Optional)

Step 1: Download the Prerequisites

Before you begin, you should download some files, and you may also download & install the Virtualisation application, which is required later on in this guide. But if you have done any of the followings already, then you may skip it. Here is the list:

• Download VMware Workstation Pro 15.5.x or VMware Player 15.5.x.
  • VMware Workstation 15 Pro or
  • VMware Player 15
• Download the macOS Unlocker V3 for VMware
  • Download – GitHub (latest Version)
  • Direct Download – MediaFire (3.0.3)
• Download macOS Catalina ISO
  • macOS Catalina 10.15.5 ISO

Step 2: Install the Prerequisites

Now install the following application, and if you already have it by any chance then you’re welcome to Skip but make sure then it works properly and updated to the latest version.

• Install VMware Workstation Pro 15.5.x or VMware Player 15.5.x

After downloading the VMware Workstation pro/player, run the setup and follow the prompt leaving all the options as default.

Step 3: Unlock VMware to Install macOS Catalina on Windows

Firstly make sure VMware Workstation application is closed completely otherwise the VMware unlocker won’t work. You can do this by Clicking on File Tab > Exit.

Exit VMware Workstation

You should have downloaded macOS Unlocker V3 for VMware GitHub or the direct link above. So now extract the macOS Unlocker V3.0 for VMware Workstation. Right-click on win-install.cmd and select Run as Administrator.

Note: You may always uninstall the previous version of the Unlocker before using a new release. Failure to do this could render VMware unusable. – David Parsons

Run win-install.cmd As Administrator

Unlocker 3.0.3 for VMware Workstation

Step 4: Create a New Virtual Machine

#1. Open VMware and click on Create a New Virtual Machine (Ctrl+N) then select Typical (Recommended) and click Next.

#2. Now select I will install the operating system later and click Next. Choose Apple Mac OS X from operating system list then select macOS 10.15 from version and click Next.

#3. Name the virtual machine as you prefer like macOS Catalina. Click Browse then choose a location to save virtual machine files and click Next, or you may let it as default.

Name & Save macOS Catalina VM

#4. Specify the disk size of 120 GB or more than 50 GB. Then select Store virtual disk as a single file and click Next.

Specify Disk Capacity

#5. On Ready to Create Virtual Machine, Click Customize Hardware.

Customize Hardware

#6. Increase the Memory from 4 GB to 8 GB or higher for better performance.

Increase RAM

#7. Select Processor menu then increase the CPU processor core from 2 cores to 4 or Higher cores for better performance.

Note: If you don’t have enough resources then you may not increase the Memory and Processor since the minimum requirement is 4 GB Memory and 2 Cores of Processor.

Increase Number of Processors

#8. Select New CD/DVD (SATA) from the menu then click Use ISO image file: and click Browse.

Click Browse

#9. Locate the macOS Catalina 10.15.5 (19F101).iso file then click Open. If you don’t have this file then you should download this from Step 1: Download the Prerequisites section.

Browse macOS Catalina ISO

#10. After selecting the macOS Catalina ISO, to save all the changes click Close.

Save Changes

#11. Finally on the New Virtual Machine Wizard Window, Click Finish.

Ready to macOS Catalina VM

Edit macOS Catalina VMX File (Optional)

1. Do these 2 steps only if you can’t boot into macOS or have other issues. Navigate to the virtual machine folder which you select in step #4.3 of this guide. If you didn’t specify a new location, then the default location is in Document > Virtual Machine. Right-click on macOS Catalina.vmx then open it via Notepad or any third-party text editor of your choice.
2. Scroll down to the bottom of texts and add the following code; then click on File > Save. After that, you may close it as you don’t need it anymore.

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

Step 5: Install macOS Catalina as VM on VMware

1. Open VMware and on the macOS Catalina VM window Click Power on this Virtual Machine.
   
   
2. Wait for it boot up.
   
3. Select English on the language page then click Continue Arrow.
   

   Select Language and Click Continue Catalina

4. Now, you’ll see macOS Utilities Window. From the list, select Disk Utility and click Continue.
   

   Go to Disk Utility

5. Select VMware Virtual SATA Hard Drive Media then click Erase. Choose the following options and again click Erase.
   • Name: Catalina HD (You can type any name you want)
   • Format: APFS (If you get an error, select Mac OS X Extended Journaled)
   • Scheme: GUID Partition MAP
     

     Format the VMware Virtual SATA Hard Drive Media

6. From Disk Utility Tab, click Quit Disk Utility
   
   

   Quit Disk Utility

7. From macOS Utilities, select Install macOS and click Continue.
   

   Install macOS

8. Click Continue on Install macOS Catalina screen.
   

   Install macOS Catalina

9. Agree to the macOS Catalina License agreement.
   

   Agree to the macOS Catalina License agreement

10. Select Catalina HD and click Install.
    

    Install macOS On the VMDK

11. Wait for macOS Catalina will restart 2/3 times to complete the installation itself without you touching anything. It will take roughly 15-20 minutes depending on your system, be patient.
    

    

    Installing macOS On the VMDK

    

    Installing macOS On the VMDK

    
    

Step 6: Complete Basic macOS Account Settings

Once the installation part complete, the VM will reboot, and after the reboot, you should see macOS Catalina Welcome page.

macOS Catalina Welcome Page

1. Select your Country and click Continue.
2. Choose a Keyboard Layout and click Continue.
3. On the Data & Privacy page, click Continue.
4. Select Don’t transfer any information now and click Continue.
5. Click on Set Up Later then Skip.
6. Click Agree to the Terms and Conditions.
7. Fill out the Full name, Account name, Password, and Hint then click Continue.
   

   Create a Catalina Computer Account

8. Click on Continue on the Express Set Up page.
9. On the Analytics, click Continue.
10. Click Continue on Screen Time.
11. Skip set up Siri
12. Select any appearance theme and click Continue. You can choose between dark mode or light and Auto mode.
    

    

    macOS Catalina Screent Time

    

    Choose Your macOS Catalina Look

    
    
13. Finally, wait a little while for macOS to finish setting up then it should boot into the macOS Catalina Desktop.
    

    Successfully Installed macOS Catalina on VMware

Step 7: Install VMware Tools (Optional)

So now you should have noticed that the resolution of macOS Catalina can’t be changed and it’s not working as smoothly as you expected. To fix macOS Catalina Resolution on VMware or Make it more responsive, you need to install something called VMware Tools. It’s quite easy and straightforward to work with any system. So to do that we have created a comprehensive guide. Please click the link below and follow the guide Step by step.

See this guide: How to install VMware Tools on macOS Catalina

Summary

Basically, in this article, I’ve shown you the step by step pictorial guide on how to install macOS Catalina on VMware on Windows 10 using ISO. After reading and following this guide, you should have done the following:

1. Download the prerequisites
2. Install the Prerequisites
3. Unlock VMware to Install macOS Catalina on Windows
4. Create a New Virtual Machine
   • Edit macOS Catalina VMX File (Optional)
5. Install macOS Catalina as VM on VMware
6. Complete Basic macOS Account Settings
7. Install VMware Tools (Optional)

Related: New version of macOS is out!. Check out How to Install macOS Big Sur on VMware on Windows and Install macOS Big Sur on VirtualBox on Windows.

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