Run macOS 11 Big Sur (and other versions) in VirtualBox on macOS

Overview

Simple script to automatically download, install and run macOS 11 Big Sur (and other versions) in VirtualBox on macOS. Since VirtualBox does not support booting from APFS volumes, this script is copying the APFS EFI drivers automatically.

ToC

• Run macOS 11 Big Sur (and other versions) in VirtualBox on macOS
  • Overview
  • ToC
  • Required Software
  • Step by Step Video
  • Step by Step
    • Customizing your build
  • FAQ

Required Software

The following software is needed.

• macOS Installer
• VirtualBox
• VirtualBox Extension Pack (note: released under the Personal Use and Evaluation License)

Step by Step Video

Two minute summary video (Catalina):

Step by Step

Execute make all to setup and run everything. After the installer reboots, press enter in the terminal to finish the installation.

$ make all
Running checks (around 1 second)....
Creating image '/Users/awi/VirtualBox VMs/macOS-VM.dmg' (around 20 seconds, version 14.2.2, will need sudo)....
Creating iso '/Users/awi/VirtualBox VMs/macOS-VM.iso.cdr' (around 25 seconds)....
Creating VM HDD '/Users/awi/VirtualBox VMs/macOS-VM/macOS-VM.vdi' (around 5 seconds)....
Creating VM 'macOS-VM' (around 2 seconds)....
Adding APFS drivers to EFI in '/Users/awi/VirtualBox VMs/macOS-VM/macOS-VM.vdi' (around 5 seconds)....
Starting VM 'macOS-VM' (3 minutes in the VM)....
Press enter to stop VM 'macOS-VM' (e.g. after installer restarted)....

Ejecting installer DVD for VM 'macOS-VM'....
Starting VM 'macOS-VM' (3 minutes in the VM)....

Customizing your build

Additionally the following parameters can be customized with environment variables:

variable name	description	default value
DST_DIR	root directory, where the VM will be stored	$HOME/VirtualBox VMs/
VM_NAME	name of the virtual machine	macOS-VM
VM_DIR	sub directory, where the VM will be stored	$DST_DIR/$VM_NAME
VM_SIZE	the size of the hard disk	131072
VM_RES	monitor resolution	1680x1050
VM_RAM	ram size in megabytes	4096
VM_VRAM	video ram size in megabytes	128
VM_CPU	number of cpu cores to allocate	2

Execute make to get some help:

$ make
Some available commands:
 * all      : run everything needed (check, installer, vm, patch, run, stop, eject)
 * check    : check environment
 * installer: create macOS installer image
 * patch    : add APFS drivers to VM EFI to boot
 * vm       : create VM and disk
 * run      : run VM
 * stop     : stop VM
 * wait     : wait for VM to stop
 * eject    : eject installer medium
 * clean    : delete generated images and downloaded files
 * stash    : delete generated VM and disk
 * test     : test shell scripts
 * style    : style shell scripts
 * harden   : harden shell scripts
 * release  : make new release
 * feedback : create a GitHub issue

FAQ

• Download macOS
  • Q: Where can I download macOS?
  • A: Execute the script installinstallmacos.py - this produces a dmg file which you can open. Within this image you can find the app that should be copied to /Applications.
• Graphic Issues
  • Q: Applications such as Apple Maps do not work as expected.
  • A: There is currently no 3D acceleration, therefore some applications do not work.
• Recovery
  • Q: How do I start the recovery mode?
  • A: Start the VM as usual and be ready to press CMD+C when you see Trying to find a bootable device... to interrupt the regular boot process. At the following EFI shell prompt try to find the relevant volume holding boot.efi in a single randomly-named sub-directory of the root directory. So try to change the current volume by entering fs4: (or fs5:, fs6:, etc.), then enter cd TAB (where TAB is used to auto-complete the randomly-named sub-dir), then look for boot.efi in that dir. If existing, start Recovery by entering boot.efi.
• Installation Loop
  • Q: After starting the installation the VM restarts and I see the installer again.
  • A: You've to press enter in the terminal after the installer restarts.
• Installation Not Starting
  • Q: I've pressed Continue to start the installation and nothing happens for minutes.
  • A: Your macOS installer might be incomplete or corrupted, please download it again from Apple.
• Error Message
  • Q: I get the error code 2, 3, 4, or 6.
  • A: You need to have some software components installed on your machine (VirtualBox, VirtualBox Extension Pack, awk). If you've installed Homebrew, the script will partly install these automatically. Otherwise, you need to install them manually.
• Reboot
  • Q: I see the message MACH Reboot. What should I do?
  • A: The VM failed to restart. Restart manually. However, this should not happen anymore with the latest version.
• Kernel Panic
  • Q: I see the message Error loading kernel cache (0x9). What should I do?
  • A: This error is shown from time to time. Restart the VM. However, this should not happen anymore with the latest version.
• Black Screen
  • Q: When I then boot I don't see anything, just a black screen. What should I do?
  • A: Change the VM version in the settings from Mac OS X (64-bit) to macOS 10.13 High Sierra (64-bit)
• Slow
  • Q: Why is the VM so slow?
  • A: Maybe #71 provides some insights.
• Other Issue
  • Q: Something is not working. What should I do?
  • A: Create a ticket