How to Install MacOS Sonoma on AMD Ryzen (VMWare) Opencore

Running macOS Sonoma on an AMD Ryzen system is possible—and easier than you think—thanks to VMware and OpenCore. Whether you want to develop for Apple devices, test software, or just tinker, here’s how to get macOS up and running on your Ryzen machine.

What You Need

AMD Ryzen PC (with virtualization enabled in BIOS)
VMware Workstation Pro 17.5.2 (Download)
macOS Sonoma ISO (Archive.org link)
OpenCore EFI folder for VMware (see “Which OpenCore Version to Use” below)
VMware macOS Unlocker
- Download Unlocker to patch VMware
- New version of Unlocker (tested on latest VMware)
VMWare Tools (Download)
At least 8GB RAM, 50GB free disk space

1. Prepare Your System

Enable SVM (virtualization) in your BIOS.
Download and install VMware Workstation Pro 17.5.2.
Download VMware macOS Unlocker
- Main version
- Newer version tested on latest VMware.

2. Unlock macOS in VMware

Extract the Unlocker zip.
Right-click win-install.cmd and select Run as Administrator.
When done, you’ll see “Apple macOS X” as a guest OS option in VMware.

3. Create Your macOS Sonoma Virtual Machine

Open VMware. Click Create a New Virtual Machine.
Choose Typical (recommended).
Select I will install the operating system later.
Choose Apple macOS X and select the latest version available (e.g., macOS 14).
Name your VM (e.g., “macOS Sonoma”).
Set at least 8GB RAM and 4 CPU cores (more is better).
Create a 50GB+ virtual disk (use single file).

4. Attach the macOS Sonoma ISO

Go to Edit virtual machine settings.
Click CD/DVD (SATA) > Use ISO image file.
Browse and select your macOS Sonoma ISO (Download here).

5. Which OpenCore Version to Use

Choose the right OpenCore EFI disk image for your CPU:

For Ryzen with 4 cores or more:
OPENCORE 1.0.0 – 4 cores (Mega)
For Ryzen with 8 cores or more:
OPENCORE 1.0.1 – 8 cores (Google Drive)
For Ryzen with 16 cores or more:
OPENCORE 1.0.1 – 16 cores (Google Drive)

Download the right version for your processor and extract the .vmdk or .qcow2 file.

6. Add the OpenCore EFI

In VMware, go to Edit virtual machine settings.
Add a Hard Disk > Use an existing disk.
Select the OpenCore disk image you just downloaded.

7. Tweak the VMX File

Shut down your VM.
Open the VM folder. Find and edit the .vmx file with Notepad.
Add these lines to improve AMD compatibility:
smc.version = "0"
cpuid.0.eax = "0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:1011"
cpuid.0.ebx = "0111:0101:0110:1110:0110:0101:0100:0111"
cpuid.0.ecx = "0110:1100:0110:0101:0111:0100:0110:0101"
cpuid.0.edx = "0100:1000:0100:1111:0101:0110:0110:0101"
Save and close.

8. Boot and Install macOS Sonoma

Start your VM.
At the OpenCore boot menu, select the macOS Installer.
Use Disk Utility to erase the VMware virtual disk (format: APFS, GUID Partition Map).
Return and install macOS Sonoma on the formatted disk.
Let the installer run. It may reboot several times—just let it continue.

9. First Boot and Post-Install

After installation, select your new macOS disk in the OpenCore boot menu.
Set up macOS Sonoma as you would on a real Mac.
For better graphics, sound, and USB support, install VMware Tools after the first login.

10. Troubleshooting

Boot loops? Make sure you’re booting via OpenCore, not directly to the macOS disk.
No macOS option? Rerun the Unlocker.
Performance issues? Increase CPU and RAM in VMware settings.

Related Resource

Want to try macOS Sequoia instead?
Check out: How to Install MacOS Sequoia on AMD Ryzen (VMWare) Opencore

Final Thoughts

This setup isn’t perfect—expect minor bugs—but for development, testing, or curiosity, it works. Never use for production or piracy. Support Apple and developers by buying genuine hardware and software.

Questions? Drop them in the comments.

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!