How to Install macOS Catalina in VirtualBox on Windows

Want to try macOS Catalina without buying a Mac? You can run it on your Windows PC using VirtualBox, a free virtualization tool. This guide walks you through the process step-by-step so you can set up Catalina in a virtual machine and start exploring Apple’s OS right from Windows.

What You’ll Need

Before we start, make sure you have:

• A Windows 10/11 PC (64-bit)
• VirtualBox (latest version) – Download here
• VirtualBox Extension Pack – Download here
• macOS Catalina ISO file – Download here
• At least 4GB RAM and 20GB free storage (more is better for performance)

Step 1: Install VirtualBox and Extension Pack

1. Download VirtualBox and run the installer.
2. Once installed, open VirtualBox and go to File > Preferences > Extensions.
3. Add the Extension Pack you downloaded. This improves USB support and compatibility.

Step 2: Create a New Virtual Machine

1. Click New in VirtualBox.
2. Name your VM something like “macOS Catalina.”
3. Set Type to Mac OS X and Version to Mac OS X (64-bit).
4. Allocate at least 4GB RAM (8GB recommended).
5. Create a Virtual Hard Disk:
   • Select VHD (Virtual Hard Disk)
   • Set size to at least 20GB (dynamic allocation is fine).
     (Need more space later? See How to Enlarge a Virtual Machine’s Disk in VirtualBox or VMware).

Step 3: Attach the macOS Catalina ISO

1. Select your VM and click Settings.
2. Go to Storage → under Controller: IDE, click the empty disk icon.
3. Choose Choose a Disk File and select your Catalina ISO.

Step 4: Adjust VM Settings for macOS

• System → Processor: Give it at least 2 CPU cores.
• Display → Video Memory: Set to 128MB.
• USB: Enable USB 3.0 if available.
• Audio: Can be disabled if you don’t need it.

Step 5: Apply VirtualBox Code Patches

VirtualBox doesn’t officially support macOS, so we need to run some commands to make it work.

1. Close VirtualBox completely.
2. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
3. Run the following commands (replace "Your VM Name" with your actual VM name).
   (You can also copy the full ready-to-use code from this VirtualBox macOS Catalina code file).

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

Step 6: Boot macOS Catalina

1. Open VirtualBox.
2. Select your Catalina VM and click Start.
3. Follow the on-screen macOS installation process:
   • Use Disk Utility to format the virtual hard disk as Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
   • Install macOS Catalina.

Step 7: First Boot and Setup

After installation, the VM will restart. Go through Apple’s setup screens:

• Select your region.
• Sign in with your Apple ID (optional).
• Configure preferences.

Once done, you’ll have macOS Catalina running inside VirtualBox.
(Want it in full screen? Follow this guide on making VirtualBox full screen).

Tips for Better Performance

• Increase allocated CPU cores and RAM if possible.
• Enable VT-x/AMD-V in your BIOS.
• Use SSD storage for faster VM performance.

Final Thoughts

Running macOS Catalina in VirtualBox on Windows is a great way to test macOS features without buying Apple hardware. Just keep in mind that performance won’t match a real Mac, but for app testing, learning macOS, or curiosity, it’s perfect.

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!