Run macOS 11 Big Sur (and other versions) in VirtualBox on macOS
Overview
Simple script to automatically download, install and run macOS 11 Big Sur (and other versions) in VirtualBox on macOS. Since VirtualBox does not support booting from APFS volumes, this script is copying the APFS EFI drivers automatically.
ToC
Required Software
The following software is needed.
- macOS Installer
- VirtualBox
- VirtualBox Extension Pack (note: released under the Personal Use and Evaluation License)
Step by Step Video
Two minute summary video (Catalina):
Step by Step
Execute make all
to setup and run everything. After the installer reboots, press enter in the terminal to finish the installation.
$ make all
Running checks (around 1 second)....
Creating image '/Users/awi/VirtualBox VMs/macOS-VM.dmg' (around 20 seconds, version 14.2.2, will need sudo)....
Creating iso '/Users/awi/VirtualBox VMs/macOS-VM.iso.cdr' (around 25 seconds)....
Creating VM HDD '/Users/awi/VirtualBox VMs/macOS-VM/macOS-VM.vdi' (around 5 seconds)....
Creating VM 'macOS-VM' (around 2 seconds)....
Adding APFS drivers to EFI in '/Users/awi/VirtualBox VMs/macOS-VM/macOS-VM.vdi' (around 5 seconds)....
Starting VM 'macOS-VM' (3 minutes in the VM)....
Press enter to stop VM 'macOS-VM' (e.g. after installer restarted)....
Ejecting installer DVD for VM 'macOS-VM'....
Starting VM 'macOS-VM' (3 minutes in the VM)....
Customizing your build
Additionally the following parameters can be customized with environment variables:
variable name | description | default value |
---|---|---|
DST_DIR | root directory, where the VM will be stored | $HOME/VirtualBox VMs/ |
VM_NAME | name of the virtual machine | macOS-VM |
VM_DIR | sub directory, where the VM will be stored | $DST_DIR/$VM_NAME |
VM_SIZE | the size of the hard disk | 131072 |
VM_RES | monitor resolution | 1680x1050 |
VM_RAM | ram size in megabytes | 4096 |
VM_VRAM | video ram size in megabytes | 128 |
VM_CPU | number of cpu cores to allocate | 2 |
Execute make
to get some help:
$ make
Some available commands:
* all : run everything needed (check, installer, vm, patch, run, stop, eject)
* check : check environment
* installer: create macOS installer image
* patch : add APFS drivers to VM EFI to boot
* vm : create VM and disk
* run : run VM
* stop : stop VM
* wait : wait for VM to stop
* eject : eject installer medium
* clean : delete generated images and downloaded files
* stash : delete generated VM and disk
* test : test shell scripts
* style : style shell scripts
* harden : harden shell scripts
* release : make new release
* feedback : create a GitHub issue
FAQ
- Download macOS
- Q: Where can I download macOS?
- A: Execute the script
installinstallmacos.py
- this produces admg
file which you can open. Within this image you can find theapp
that should be copied to/Applications
.
- Graphic Issues
- Q: Applications such as Apple Maps do not work as expected.
- A: There is currently no 3D acceleration, therefore some applications do not work.
- Recovery
- Q: How do I start the recovery mode?
- A: Start the VM as usual and be ready to press
CMD+C
when you seeTrying to find a bootable device...
to interrupt the regular boot process. At the following EFI shell prompt try to find the relevant volume holdingboot.efi
in a single randomly-named sub-directory of the root directory. So try to change the current volume by enteringfs4:
(orfs5:
,fs6:
, etc.), then entercd TAB
(whereTAB
is used to auto-complete the randomly-named sub-dir), then look forboot.efi
in that dir. If existing, start Recovery by enteringboot.efi
.
- Installation Loop
- Q: After starting the installation the VM restarts and I see the installer again.
- A: You've to press enter in the terminal after the installer restarts.
- Installation Not Starting
- Q: I've pressed
Continue
to start the installation and nothing happens for minutes. - A: Your macOS installer might be incomplete or corrupted, please download it again from Apple.
- Q: I've pressed
- Error Message
- Q: I get the error code 2, 3, 4, or 6.
- A: You need to have some software components installed on your machine (VirtualBox, VirtualBox Extension Pack, awk). If you've installed Homebrew, the script will partly install these automatically. Otherwise, you need to install them manually.
- Reboot
- Q: I see the message
MACH Reboot
. What should I do? - A: The VM failed to restart. Restart manually. However, this should not happen anymore with the latest version.
- Q: I see the message
- Kernel Panic
- Q: I see the message
Error loading kernel cache (0x9)
. What should I do? - A: This error is shown from time to time. Restart the VM. However, this should not happen anymore with the latest version.
- Q: I see the message
- Black Screen
- Q: When I then boot I don't see anything, just a black screen. What should I do?
- A: Change the VM version in the settings from
Mac OS X (64-bit)
tomacOS 10.13 High Sierra (64-bit)
- Slow
- Q: Why is the VM so slow?
- A: Maybe #71 provides some insights.
- Other Issue
- Q: Something is not working. What should I do?
- A: Create a ticket