How to Install macOS Big Sur on VMware Fusion?

by Admin

macOS Big Sur was announced in WWDC 2020 (Apple Word Wide Developer Conference 2020). It was the 17^th major release of macOS by Apple. Major releases were made including iWatch, iPads, iPhone, and MacBooks.

However, the major update was the transitions of Apple from Intel chips to ARM silicon. it was released as the successor of macOS Catalina and later was succeeded by macOS Monterey.

Table of Contents

How to Install macOS Big Sur on VMware Fusion?

On installation of Big Sur on VMware, here are all the steps in the easiest manner possible.

Download and Install VMware

You can use any version of VMware that you want, as long you are comfortable with it. Here I have selected VMware Fusion for the purpose; however, you can use VMware Workstation or VMware Workstation Player.

Download VMware Fusion and double-click on the setup file to start the installation.

The terms and conditions window will appear, click on Agree.

The license key will be asked. You will need to insert the license key or you can click on “I want to try VMware Fusion for 30 days” then click on Continue.

Since I am using VMware Fusion, this will be different than users who are other editions. Select either VMware Fusion simple or VMware Fusion Professional and click on Continue.

Now, click on Done and you have successfully installed VMware.

Note: those who want to use VMware Workstation or Player, will need to download and install macOS Unlocker on their VMware. Without macOS Unlocker, you won’t be able to use macOS at all on VMware; since VMware doesn’t support macOS (except VMware Fusion).

Download macOS Big Sur ISO

macOS Big Sur was available on 12 of November 2020 for the public. The last update(version) of macOS Big Sur (11.5.1 with code 20G80) was released on July 26, 2021. Later versions are coming up, for now, we have used this version. You can download macOS Big Sur here or you can create macOS Big Sur ISO by following the procedure below:

Create macOS Big Sur ISO

Go to Apple Store and download macOS Big Sur Package Installer. While the setup of Big Sur won’t come in ISO, still it is not a problem for us. Now, you will need to open the Terminal to create the ISO.

You can open Spotlight and type Terminal then press Enter.

Inside the Terminal apply the commands one by one.

c# Create a 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 an Installer Image

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Beta.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/bigsur –nointeraction

# Unmount Volume Big Sur

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

Create macOS Big Sur DMG

For those who want to create DMG of macOS Big Sur instead of ISO, they will need to follow these procedures.

Open Terminal by typing terminal in Spotlight. Type the command in Terminal one by one.

cd ~/Downloads

# Create and mount sparse volume:

hdiutil create -o install_container -size 20G -layout SPUD -fs HFS+J -type SPARSE

hdiutil attach install_container.sparseimage -noverify -mountpoint /Volumes/install_build

# Copy contents of installer .app into mounted volume:

/Applications/Install\ macOS\ Beta.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia –nointeraction –volume /Volumes/install_build

# Detach the completed image:

hdiutil detach -force /Volumes/Install\ macOS\ Beta

# Convert and rename the image:

hdiutil convert install_container.sparseimage -format UDZO -o $dmgName.dmg

# Cleanup

rm install_container.sparseimage

exit 0

Create new VM for Big sur

So, let start the installation of macOS Big Sur. First, you will need to create a new virtual machine for your macOS Big Sur.

create a custom virtual machine- install macOS big sur on VMware

Run the application and select “Create a Custom Virtual Machine: and click on Continue.

choose operating system- install macOS big sur on VMware

Choose Operating System will appear. On the right side, you will find Apple OS X, click on it, and chose the version of your macOS. Since here we are using Big Sur, then you will need to select macOS 10.14. once selected, click on Continue.

create a new virtual disk- install macOS big sur on VMware

Here you will need to select the “Create a new virtual disk” option and click on Continue.

Now, your virtual machine is almost ready. Click on the Finish to complete the virtual machine.

Clicking on Finish will ask you for a location to save the VM. Try to locate your VM in a place that is easily accessible to you and click on Save.

Select Big Sur file for booting

The virtual machine is created; you will need to configure it. Select the new virtual machine and click on the Settings icon on the top.

choose a disc or disc image- install macOS big sur on VMware — CD DVD- install macOS big sur on VMware

Click on CD/DVD (SATA), inside you will find “Chose a disc or disc image…”. now you will need to select the macOS Big Sur file and click on Open. Now that you have selected the file and click on the Play icon on the top.

An Apple logo will appear.
Select Language accordingly and click on Continue
Select the Disk Utility in macOS section and click on Continue.
Inside the Disk Utility you will need to select the disk (on the left side) that you want to install macOS Big Sur in. if needed, you will also need to format it too. Select the disk, click on Erase. Put the Name, Format: Mac OS X Extended (Journaled), Scheme: GUID Partition Map and click on Erase.
Once the disk is formatted, click on Done and close the Disk Utility section.
Now select Install macOS and click on Continue.
To set up the installation you will need to click on Continue.
Terms and conditions will appear, accept to move to next step.
You will be asked to select location(disk) to install macOS Big Sur on.
Installation will take place. have patience as the installation might take some time.

Install macOS Big Sur

You will VM will restart several times until the installation will get completed. Once installation of macOS Big Sur on VMware got completed, you will be asked for:

Select Language and click on Continue.
Select written and spoken languages and click on Continue.
You will be moved to Accessibility, click on Continue.
In Data & Privacy, you will need click on Continue.
Sign in your Apple ID or skip this step for now.
Accept terms and conditions of macOS Big Sur.
Here you will be asked to accept Terms and Conditions by clicking on Continue.
Express set up will appear, click on Continue.
Analytics will appear, click on Continue.
Sign up later in the screen time for now.
Either enable or disable Siri and move to next.
Chose one of the theme for your macOS out of Light, Dark and Auto.

if you have completed all the tasks given above then congratulation you have successfully installed macOS Big Sur on VMware Fusion. Some users have experienced BiErrorDomain error3 after the installation which is quite easy to solve.

How to Install macOS Big Sur on VMware Fusion?