Install macOS Catalina 10.15 on VirtualBox on Windows PC. macOS Catalina is the next operating system after macOS Mojave. The new update of macOS Catalina is accepted by macOS users due to having well and comfortable features, performance. The macOS had the super credibility in using the latest OS in every update. The upgrading to macOS Catalina is pretty easy, every Mac users can upgrade to macOS Catalina in a few clicks.
Overall the macOS Catalina is the full fill of expectations of macOS users with huge credibility. However, macOS Catalina raised the flag in WWDC Worldwide developer conference 2019 Keynote in California America, the issue was pointed out aside with release date too. So when macOS Catalina comes out with all new bunch of features that make it beautiful to update it now. Moreover, this update of macOS Catalina brought unbelievable features with high-security performance. There are features to show out by installing macOS Catalina. In this post, I’ll show how to install macOS 10.15 Catalina on VirtualBox on Windows PC.
I hope you are familiar with the macOS Catalina installation. By installing the macOS beta version on different platforms can be a great experience and also explore all the issues too. macOS Catalina is successfully installed on Mac PC without facing any kind of problem. But again you can install macOS Catalina on VMware, or VirtualBox on Windows PC. If you are satisfied with all macOS Catalina features then in few simple steps install it in VirtualBox with a new method.
Install macOS Catalina 10.15 on VirtualBox on Windows PC
When it comes to the era of Virtual machines, VirtualBox is a complete Virtualization platform that everything is existing on that. This App is creating a separate machine to install macOS Mojave, macOS Catalina or any other OS on it. The environment which you have on your actual operating system is the same on virtual machines. But the functions are different from an actual operating system. Here’s how to install macOS 10.15 Catalina on VirtualBox on Windows PC.
However, this installation process of macOS Catalina is different from the previous installation on VirtualBox. In the previous method, we use the VMDK file but here we use the macOS Catalina ISO file. Again we install it on VirtualBox whether you use macOS Catalina VMDK or macOS Catalina ISO file. Also, you can create a macOS Catalina ISO file by yourself. Or easily download the ISO file from below given link.
- Installing macOS Catalina with ISO file is much easy than using VMDK “Virtual Machine Disk File”. You need to prepare all the files and in a few clicks you can continue it up.
Here’s how to Create macOS Catalina ISO.
Install VirtualBox with Extension Pack
Now it is time to install VirtualBox plus Extension Pack. Visit the VirtualBox official site and download the setup plus Extension Pack. Extension Pack allows the user while they are getting stuck on Mouse & Keyboard, by installing Extension Pack with VirtualBox you can bypass the issue. Open the website then from the list VirtualBox platform packages click on Windows supported. And bellow that click on all supported platforms for Extension Pack.
Install VirtualBox
Create a New Virtual Machine for macOS Catalina
Step 1. The installation needs to prepare a new virtual machine. When VirtualBox installed open that then click on New for a fresh new virtual machine.
Create a new Virtual machine
Step 2. Click on Export Mode to continue into next step
Export Mode
Step 3. Now type macOS Catalina by typing the name it can obtain the “Type, Version” then specify the location. Choose the Memory size then select the option “Create a virtual hard disk file”. It is ready then click Create.
Create a virtual machine
Step 4. Choose the file size then select the option “VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image) and click Create.
Create virtual Disk
Edit Virtual Machine Settings
Step 5. These setting we are showing in this step, properly configure the settings. Indeed it will help the installation work and performance. Don’t miss any of the settings otherwise you will fail to boot into the installation. Click on the create virtual machine settings from the top menu.
Edit settings
Once the setting window opened click on the System tab, uncheck the “Floppy”. And check the box of “Enable EFI (special Oses Only).
System
Navigate to the next tab, processor tab and increase the processor up to 4. The processor will increase the speed of the Virtual machine during the installation.
Increase processor
On the Display, tab increase Video Memory up to 128MB
Increase Video Memory
Come down to Storage tab, then on Storage devices select “Empty”. And click on the Optical drive disk icon, then select “Choose/Create a virtual Optical disk”.
Storage
Now click Add button and navigate to the folder of macOS Catalina ISO file then select it and click open.
Open macOS Catalina
After inserting macOS Catalina should be like below screenshot
macOS Catalina
Here select the USB tab, then select “USB 3.0 (xHCI) Controller. After that, click OK to end the setting.
USB 3.0
Apply Virtual Machine Codes
We did it, now we are at the final step of creating a virtual machine for macOS Catalina. Here we only apply some commands for a virtual machine using the command prompt. To apply the Virtual machine codes or command firstly close the VirtualBox.
Close VirtualBox
Copy the below code into notepad or Wordpad. Which you think to replace its name with the virtual machine name easily.
Code for Virtualbox:
cd "C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\"
VBoxManage.exe modifyvm "Your VM Name" --cpuidset 00000001 000106e5 00100800 0098e3fd bfebfbff
VBoxManage setextradata "Your VM Name" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemProduct" "iMac11,3"
VBoxManage setextradata "Your VM Name" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemVersion" "1.0"
VBoxManage setextradata "Your VM Name" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiBoardProduct" "Iloveapple"
VBoxManage setextradata "Your VM Name" "VBoxInternal/Devices/smc/0/Config/DeviceKey" "ourhardworkbythesewordsguardedpleasedontsteal(c)AppleComputerInc"
VBoxManage setextradata "Your VM Name" "VBoxInternal/Devices/smc/0/Config/GetKeyFromRealSMC" 1
Firstly, use the edit tab to replace the “Your Virtual Machine Name” with created virtual machine name “macOS Catalina” then click replace All.
Replace the Virtual Machine Name
Now go ahead and hit Windows Start menu, type CMD or command prompt and press enter to open.
Command prompt
Once the command prompt launched, copy and paste each of the code and press enter.
Apple the virtual machine codes in command prompt
Install macOS Catalina on VirtualBox on Windows PC
Every process to install macOS Catalina on VirtualBox on Windows PC is completed. Open VirtualBox then select the macOS Catalina created virtual machine then click Start button.
Start
Choose your language then click continue
Choose your language
In the macOS Utility window select “Disk Utility” and click continue.
Choose Disk Utility
Select the created drive of macOS Catalina, in my installation process the Virtual machine drive name is “VBOX HARDDISK Media”. Select the drive, click “Erase” from the top menu bar under, name the hard disk. Choose the “Format” “Mac OS Extended (Journaled), Choose the “Scheme” “GUID Partition Map”, then click the Erase button.
Erase the disk
When the disk successfully erased click “Done”, and close the Disk Utility window.
Click Done
Now select “Install macOS”, and click continue
Install macOS
Agree to the terms and conditions and license agreement of macOS Catalina, by clicking the agree button for two times.
Agree to the terms and conditions of macOS Catalina
Manage or select the disk which you erased for installing macOS Catalina, then click Install.
Select the disk
Wait to the installation process to be completed, while the installation is done the virtual machine will restart automatically.
Installing macOS Catalina
Install macOS Catalina 10.15 on VirtualBox on Windows PC
Again the virtual machine starts, wait for this step of installation also, again the installation will take some time. When the installation completed again the virtual machine will restart, and the Apple logo will appear. Then complete the rest of the installation too.
Installing
While the Apple logo screen disappeared wait for this black screen to bypass
Here, is the step to complete the installation of macOS Catalina by selecting your language.
Choose your language
- Choose your keyboard layout and click continue, again you don’t prefer the keyboard layout click on Show all.
- Select Don’t transfer any information right now and click continue.
You can add your Apple ID, or reject this step by clicking on Sign up later and Skip option.
Sign up later
Agree to terms and conditions of macOS Catalina
Agree to terms and conditions
Create a computer account, by filling the full name, Account name, Password, and hint then click continue.
Create a computer account
- Click continue on express set up
- On the screen time, window click Sign up later.
Select your theme and click continue
Choose your theme
When macOS Catalina installed on VirtualBox on Windows PC. Then you will see the beautiful window of macOS Catalina. Also, we can not be touched with all functions like a real macOS Catalina on Mac. It is only a testament of an OS in a Virtual machine.
macOS Catalina on VirtualBox on Windows
That’s the process of installing macOS Catalina on VirtualBox on Windows PC. The only thing is remaining is to fix the macOS Catalina screen resolution, I think that it is easy to fix it, need to check the below article.
- How To Use macOS Catalina full screen on VirtualBox on Windows
- How to Install Guest Tool on macOS 10.15 Catalina on VirtualBox
Bottom Line
That’s all about how to install macOS Catalina on VirtualBox on Windows PC. Using the ISO file out of the VMDK file is pretty easy. Again if you faced any issue feel free to share with us below in the comment section.
jdrans
Everything was going great until I got to “Select the disk where you want to install macOS and I got a “The selected volume is not large enough….” message. The partition is only 21.1gb as opposed to the 40gb in your screenshot above.
(I’m using the single file ISO download you provided)
Suggestions?
Zayn
Increase the disk size please
jdrans
You know, that’s just crazy enough to work. 🙂
jdrans
It sounds straightforward enough but I’m engaged in a bloody battle. I expanded the vdi no problem but when I try to change the partition size I get the MediaKit reports partition (map) too small error, which if you google has plagued mankind for millennia..
Not sure why Disk Utility doesn’t have much in the way of utility for disks. I can’t even delete the partition.
I’ll keep poking at it.
jdrans
I started over after I realized I had missed your instruction to set the file size to 40gb. The installation is working fine now. Maybe something about the instructions I followed to increase the size caused a problem?
Further proof that detailed instructions are only as good as the person following them.
jdrans
It sounds straightforward enough but I’m engaged in a bloody battle. I expanded the vdi no problem but when I try to change the partition size I get the “MediaKit reports partition (map) too small…” error, which if you google has plagued mankind for millennia..
I’ll keep poking at it.
Steve Wilson
I can’t even extract this from the RAR without a password, so I can’t even start.
Zayn
The password is written in the description
gerhard
Where? Cant find it
Claudio
After the first reboot, the system enters a loop state rebooting all time; what is the problem?
Zayn
Have you followed my steps?
Gilgamesh
Hello Zayn,
I called my VM “OS X”
I carefully followed your instruction twice.
After the first reboot, I get a “Boot error : Mac OS X” message, white on black screen.
After a while, the VM starts and the install process starts again.
Rinse and repeat.
Zayn
Hi, Gilgamesh have you added VM code correctly?
Michael
I get the same error. And yes, I have added VM Code correctly
AnVari
Hi, Michael can you explain which error you are facing?
Ryan
I have the same error as well, I followed the instructions multiple times already but the error still persists. I added the VM codes correctly. It finishes installing the macOS, it will take up space in the hard disk when it boots up again. But it just boots back to the macOS Utilities screen.
Alisson
Error before install:
“This copy of the install macOS Catalina Beta application is damaged, and cant be used to install macOS”.
How to fix?
De Quarentena
Great! It works for me!
Its safe update OS?
Enterrapar
After starting my VM for the first time it gets stuck at:
ifnet_attach: Waiting for all kernel threads created for interface XHC12 to get schedualed at least once.
zayn
Provide an screenshot please?
conesellamo
I’m facing the exact same issue. Here’s a pic of the logs. https://ibb.co/5K6pR2c
Robert
After installation and removing ISO, I get a few lines starting:
UEFI Interactive Shell v2.11
……..
Press ESC in 1 seconds to skip startup.nsh or any other key to continue.
Shell>
And then it hangs.
Followed all instructions. Using VirtualBox 6.0.18.
Andrea
Hi I make it all the way to mac installing but reboot fails . Now ine step that i had missed after copying the codes to comannd prompt was the extension pack. I went back and installed that. Do i need to do the command promot codes again?
AnVari
Hi, Andrea Extension Pack is not relevant to Commands. You can continue the installation.
Ken Gleason
The installation worked great! One weird thing though: there is a region of my screen in which the mouse will disappear if I move it into that spot. I have shutdown and restarted the virtual machine several times. (I’m running full screen and using a modified resolution of 3840 x 2160). Any thoughts?
Ivan
I’ve followed your step-by-step guide a couple of times now but still nothing. I only get the VirtualBox boot image.
My computer is a new custom build with an Asus motherboard, AMD Ryzen 9 3900X and Asus RTX2080S. are these not compatible with this virtual version of macOS?
Sam Gab
hello admin, everything worked perfect, but i am facing problem, after successfully installation, instead of going to Welcome (wordl map) screen, it goes back to MacOS Utilities screen, where it shows disk utilities and install OS. I installed it once again, but it always come back to this utilities screen. Any idea? or help please.
thank you.
Sunny
I follow the instruction but it is stuck on “ifnet_attach: Waiting for all kernel threads created for interface XHC12 to get schedualed at least once.”
Here is a screenshot
https://imgur.com/a/ieIGfVD
Daniel
Got error XHC12, changed usb to 1.1 and it work for me
javeria
After installing can we remove the installation install macOS Catalina which is being shown on the desktop of mac?
khairul
thanks for your good tutorial..
I managed to install the mac in my window computer
muzammal
i have a problem after rebooting it says a disk with mount point is required (-69854).