How to Install macOS on a Windows PC

Apple’s macOS operating system offers several additional features compared to Windows PCs. These include proprietary programs designed to provide professional tools for video and audio editing, and much more.

There’s actually a procedure to install the Californian company’s software on a standard computer. At first glance, it may seem quite complicated and intended only for IT experts. But by following the steps we’ll outline in the following chapters, you too can succeed.

If you don’t want to waste any more time, let’s get started with the complete guide, which will explain step-by-step what you need to do to start running macOS on a Windows PC.

What you need to know

Before we look at the specific steps required to install macOS on a Windows PC, there’s some preliminary information you should know.

The procedure can only be successfully completed if certain requirements are met. Furthermore, you should be aware that there are some legal restrictions that may prevent you from continuing.

Minimum requirements
Not all PCs running Windows 10 or Windows 11 can install macOS, neither the 15 Sequoia version nor those released in previous years.

As mentioned, there are some minimum specifications that must be met. Starting with the Windows 11 64-bit operating system, plus a PC with at least 8 GB of RAM and approximately 20 GB of free hard drive storage space. Finally, a processor is required, which must be 64-bit and with multiple cores, preferably with a frequency higher than 2.7 GHz.

So, to recap, here are all the necessary requirements:

• Windows 11 64-bit;
• 8 GB of RAM;
• Approximately 20 GB of storage space;
• 64-bit processor with multiple cores.

If there’s nothing you can do for some of these requirements, you can fix others manually. For example, if you don’t have enough internal memory to download the virtualization software or the file containing macOS, you can delete files and documents you no longer need.

The Prohibitions
While downloading Windows onto a Mac device is a completely legal process and made available directly by Apple with the Boot Camp feature, installing macOS on a Microsoft PC is a practice that the US company has prohibited.

There is a clause in the Terms of Use of the operating system that specifies this. It emphasizes that the established agreements do not allow you to install, use, or run the software on any other non-Apple-branded computer.

The steps we’ll list in the following chapters are therefore not intended as an encouragement to use macOS on a Windows PC, but as a simple guide for descriptive purposes to understand how to proceed.

How to Install macOS on a Windows PC

With the necessary background information out of the way, let’s now look at how to install macOS on a Windows PC. The key is VirtualBox, a software program that creates a virtual environment where you can run an operating system other than the one provided by the device manufacturer.

Accessing the program’s official pages, it’s noted that VirtualBox also supports Windows and Linux operating systems. It’s also possible to run two different OSes simultaneously using Windows. Once you’ve started a Windows PC, macOS will run on another card, allowing you to switch to the operating system you need at the time.

The Download
The first essential step is to download the VirtualBox software. You can find it on the program’s official website, accessible at this link. Once inside, click on Windows Hosts in the VirtualBox Platform Packages section and then wait for the .exe file to download.

Once this step is complete, the installation window will open automatically. You’ll initially see the "Welcome to the Oracle VM VirtualBox Installation Wizard" screen, where you’ll need to click "Next" three times.

Then the "Network Interface" page will appear, warning you that your internet connection will be restored. After clicking "Yes," you can finish by clicking "Install."

You’ll need to grant allowance for the app to make changes to your device by entering a password or PIN and then confirming with the "Yes" button.

The macOS image
Since VirtualBox is virtualization software, you need to load a macOS image, a sort of virtual copy of the operating system. You can download the version you need via the Mac App Store if you already have an iMac or MacBook.

If you don’t have an Apple computer, you can download a macOS image by simply searching for it online. There are several portals that allow you to download the version you need.

Once you’ve downloaded the .rar archive, you need to open it with a program like WinRar and then transfer the .vmdf file to a separate folder.

Installation
At this point, you need to open VirtualBox again and then select the "New" button to create a virtual machine. In the new window, assign a name and leave the folder automatically selected by the software. You must now select macOS X and macOS [version name] in the "Type" and "Versions" options, then click "Next".

Based on your PC’s specifications, VirtualBox automatically detects the RAM to assign to the virtual machine. On the first page, called "Memory Size," you can choose the amount of RAM to assign to the virtual machine, while on the second page, you can decide to add a virtual hard disk to the machine.

All you need to do is check the box next to "Use an existing virtual hard disk file," select the folder icon, click "Add," and then double-click the .vmdk file extracted from the .rar folder. Finally, click "Create" and you’re done.

Optimization
Now you’re ready to use the virtual machine and run macOS on your Windows PC. Go back to the main page, right-click the created machine icon, select Settings, go to "System," and check the box next to EFI option in the "Motherboard" field. Under "Processor," choose "CPU 2," then go to "Display" and increase the video memory to 128 MB. Press "Ok" to save the changes.

The next step is one of the most important: optimization. To proceed, open the Command Prompt program and enter these lines of code:

cd "C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\"

VBoxManage.exe modifyvm "macOS Virtual Machine Name" —cpuidset 00000001 000106e5 00100800 0098e3fd bfebfbff

VBoxManage setextradata "macOS Virtual Machine Name" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemProduct" "iMac11.3"

VBoxManage setextradata "macOS Virtual Machine Name" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemVersion" "1.0"

VBoxManage setextradata "macOS Virtual Machine Name" «VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiBoardProduct» «Iloveapple»

VBoxManage setextradata «macOS Virtual Machine Name» «VBoxInternal/Devices/smc/0/Config/DeviceKey» «(c)AppleComputerInc»

VBoxManage setextradata «macOS Virtual Machine Name» «VBoxInternal/Devices/smc/0/Config/GetKeyFromRealSMC» 1

Nothing could be simpler! your virtual machine is ready and you can start using macOS on a Windows PC via a separate tab. To proceed, click the "Start" button from the VirtualBox main screen and the software will start automatically.

Possible Problems

After a few hours of use, you may start to notice sudden slowdowns in open programs or a general difficulty performing even seemingly simple tasks.

Don’t worry; this is a common problem and will occur often. Since it’s a virtual machine, performance will never be identical to that of a MacBook or iMac user.

There are also limited features, such as file sharing or changing the default resolution. You may also experience difficulty launching apps that primarily focus on graphics.

Original article published on Money.it Italy. Original title: Come installare macOS su PC Windows