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 using VMDK
Step 1: Download the Prerequisites
Before you begin, you should download some files, and you may also download & install some applications, which are 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 WinRar, 7zip or any other .rar Extractor of your choice 7zip Winrar Download VMware Workstation Pro 15.5.x or VMware Player 15.5.x. VMware Workstation 15 Pro VMware Player 15 Download the macOS Unlocker V3 for VMware Download – GitHub (latest Version) Direct Download – MediaFire (3.0.3) Download macOS Catalina VMDK Download VMware Tools (Optional)
Step 2: Install the Prerequisites
Now install the following applications, 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 WinRar, 7zip or any other .rar extractor of your choice Install VMware Workstation Pro 15.5.x or VMware Player 15.5.x
Run the VMware Workstation Pro/Player and WinRar/7zip setup and follow the prompt leaving all the options as default.
Step 3: Extract macOS Catalina VMDK File
If you have downloaded the beta version of macOS Catalina then Locate the downloaded macOS Catalina Beta.rar then right-click on it and select Extract Here. You should end up with a .vmdk file. If you have downloaded macOS Catalina 10.15.5 VMDK then you don’t need to extract since it is already in .vmdk file.
Step 4: Unlock VMware to Install macOS Catalina
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. You should have downloaded macOS Unlocker V3 for VMware Workstation from GitHub or the direct link. 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
Step 5: 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 (recommended). #4. Don’t Specify the disk space just select Store virtual disk as a single file and click Next. On Ready to Create Virtual Machine, Click Finish.
Step 6: Edit the Virtual Machine
#1. Click on Edit Virtual Machine Settings. #2. Increase the Memory from 2 GB to 4 GB or higher for better performance. #3. 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 2 GB Memory and 2 Cores of Processor.
#4. Select Hard Disk from device section and Remove it. #5. Click Add button at the bottom of Virtual Machine window. Select Hard Disk from the Hardware section and click Next. #6. Select SATA as disk type and click Next. #7. Select the Use an existing virtual disk and click Next. #8. Now, browse for macOS Catalina VMKD file. Select macOS Catalina 10.15.5 VMKD File and click Open. #9. After selecting the macOS Catalina VMDK then click Finish. #10. Finally, click OK to save all the changes that you made to the virtual machine settings.
Step 7: Edit macOS Catalina VMX File (Optional)
Step 8: Start macOS Catalina Virtual Machine
#1. Open VMware and on the macOS Catalina VM window Click Power on this Virtual Machine. #2. Now, wait for macOS Catalina to boot up and complete the installation itself without you touching anything. It will take roughly 15 minutes depending on your system, be patient.
Step 9: Perform Clean Installation of macOS Catalina
Once the installation part complete, the VM will reboot, and after the reboot, you should see macOS Catalina Welcome page.
Step 10: 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 using VMDK on Windows. After reading and following this guide, you should have done the following:
Download the prerequisites Install the Prerequisites Extract macOS Catalina VMDK File Unlock VMware to Install macOS Catalina Create a New Virtual Machine Edit the Virtual Machine Edit macOS Catalina VMX File Start macOS Catalina Virtual Machine Perform Clean Installation of macOS Catalina Install VMware Tools (Optional)
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