The VMware Unlocker is a patch utility designed specifically to circumvent this restriction. On Ubuntu, the installation process is slightly more complex than on Windows, often requiring the execution of Python scripts or shell commands via the terminal. The Unlocker works by modifying the VMware binary files. It essentially "patches" the executable, replacing the checks for Apple hardware with instructions that allow the host machine—in this case, a standard PC running Ubuntu—to mimic an Apple environment. Once the Unlocker is applied, the "Mac OS X" option magically appears in the VMware operating system selection wizard, allowing the user to mount an ISO image of macOS and proceed with the installation.
However, if you have ever tried to install (Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma, or Sequoia) as a guest operating system on VMware running on Ubuntu, you hit a brick wall. By default, VMware does not support installing macOS on non-Apple hardware. The "Apple OS X" option is missing from the guest operating system selection menu.
and Player from running macOS as a guest operating system on non-Apple hardware. When running VMware on an
The script will backup your existing VMware binaries, patch the hypervisor program code, and download the macOS core tools package ( darwin.iso ). Wait until the terminal output displays a success message, such as Finished! . vmware unlocker ubuntu
This section will walk you through the process, from downloading the tool to verifying the patch.
Look at the selection screen. You should now see an explicit option for Apple Mac OS X (or macOS).
: Updating VMware Workstation replaces the modified binaries with fresh, unpatched copies. The VMware Unlocker is a patch utility designed
It patches the host's VMware service binaries in memory or on disk to permit macOS kernels to boot. Prerequisites
# Download the bundle from VMware's website chmod +x VMware-Workstation-Full-*.bundle sudo ./VMware-Workstation-Full-*.bundle
We will use the most modern and actively maintained unlocker: (a Python rewrite of the original). It works with VMware Workstation 15/16/17 on Linux. By default, VMware does not support installing macOS
If you can tell me and Ubuntu you are using, I can tell you if the Paolo Projects Unlocker is the best option or if you need a specific fork. Install macOS on VMware Workstation 17
The script terminal output will display messages indicating successful binary modification. Restart the core VMware services. sudo systemctl start vmware Use code with caution. Creating the macOS Virtual Machine
If you are running Ubuntu and need to virtualize macOS for development, testing, or creative purposes, you must use a specialized tool to lift this restriction. This process is commonly known as using a "VMware Unlocker."
to add "Apple Mac OS X" to the list of available operating systems when creating a new virtual machine. Modifies the Virtual SMC: Updates the virtual Machine Monitor ( vmware-vmx
If you prefer a more integrated, C++ version that feels like native software, Auto-Unlocker is an excellent choice. It offers an experimental .deb package for Debian-based systems like Ubuntu.