How to Get macOS Running on Windows 11
Trying to run macOS on a Windows 11 PC might feel a bit like trying to squeeze a square peg into a round hole. But fair dinkum, it’s often easier than you’d think. The trick is using a virtual machine, which creates a little sandbox that acts like a Mac right on your Windows box. Sounds a bit techy, but with a bit of patience, you’ll surprise yourself. That’s the plan anyway.
This whole setup stuff boils down to grabbing a virtual machine program, finding a macOS image, and tweaking some settings so everything plays nice. It’s not exactly a Sunday arvo job—there might be some troubleshooting involved. But no worries, that’s all part of the adventure!
Get VirtualBox Installed
Your first port of call is VirtualBox. It’s a free as a beer app that’s top notch for running other OS’s. Head over to the VirtualBox official site and grab the latest version for Windows.
Once it’s down and you open it up, just follow the instructions to get it set up. Pretty straightforward—like installing any other app. Just double-check for any extra components needed so you don’t end up scratching your head wondering why the internet’s not working in your VM. Usually, switching to Bridged Adapter or NAT mode sorts that out.
One thing to keep in mind: if you’ve got an older rig, it might not play ball with virtualization. Check your BIOS/UEFI and make sure hardware virtualization support is switched on. You can quickly verify this in the Task Manager under the Performance tab—look for Virtualization.
Grab a macOS Image
Next, you’ll need a macOS image file—think of it as the installer in digital form. Aim for a macOS ISO or DMG. For the keen beans, tools like gibMacOS can help create one. Just be careful where you get these files from, and always verify the SHA-256 hash to dodge any dodgy downloads.
If you’ve got a .app installer from a Mac, converting it to an ISO can be a bit tricky, but here’s a quick idea of the commands you’d run:
hdiutil create -o /tmp/macos -size 16384m -volname macOS -layout SPUD -fs HFS+J
hdiutil attach /tmp/macos.dmg
# Continue with the rest of the steps to copy your installer data.
On Windows, your best bet is to use Disk Utility to convert it, or just find a good pre-made ISO from a trusted source. Always double-check where it’s coming from to keep things clean as a whistle.
Create the Virtual Machine
Fire up VirtualBox and make a new VM. Think of it like building a little computer inside your current one. Click on “New,” type in a name like macOS Big Sur, and pick Mac OS X (64-bit) with the right version.
For the memory, set it to at least 4096 MB—more if your PC can handle it without breaking a sweat. Like this:
Memory size: 4096 MB or moreWhen creating the virtual hard drive, go for at least 50 GB and choose the VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image) format, with dynamically allocated storage. Don’t forget to attach your macOS ISO: go to the VM’s Settings > Storage, click on the empty optical drive under Controller: IDE, and load up your ISO file.
Select Optical Drive > Choose a virtual optical disk file and pick your macOS ISO.
Tweak the VM Settings
Now, let’s fine-tune a few settings to get it running smoothly:
- In System > Motherboard: enable EFI, since macOS often needs UEFI to boot up correctly.
- Set the memory to
4 GB, like we said earlier. - Give it at least 2 CPU cores for decent processing power.
- In Display > Video: crank the Video Memory up to 128 MB and turn on 3D Acceleration.
- Make sure the macOS ISO is mounted properly in the Storage section.
- For the network: pick either Bridged Adapter or NAT so your VM can access the internet.
Installing macOS
When everything’s set, hit Start to boot up the VM. You should see the macOS installer load up. Follow these steps:
- Select your language and preferences.
- Open Disk Utility from the Utilities menu, select your virtual disk, erase it using APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled), then format it.
- Close Disk Utility and proceed with the macOS installation on the freshly formatted drive.
This part might take a bit of time, so hang in there. Once it’s finished installing, your VM will reboot, and you’ll see the setup assistant to finish configuring macOS—think region, Wi-Fi, Apple ID, and all that.
A handy tip: to open Terminal during the setup, press Command + Space to bring up Spotlight, then type Terminal. If you need to run commands later, some useful ones are:
VBoxManage modifyvm "Your VM Name" --vram 128
VBoxManage modifyvm "Your VM Name" --firmware efi
After all that, you’ll have macOS running inside Windows 11. Good for trying out apps and fuzzing around without switching hardware. Just make sure your VirtualBox tools are up to date for the smoothest ride.
Honestly, this whole process can be a bit of a rollercoaster—sure to test your patience and make you appreciate a real Mac even more. Expect some bumps along the way, especially around drivers or updates.
But it’s all about tinkering, adjusting VM settings, and enjoying that macOS vibe on Windows. Just a heads-up: your experience might vary depending on your hardware, so take your time and don’t be afraid to experiment.