How to Install macOS Sierra on VMware using VMDK on Windows 10 – PC

In this article, I’m going to show you how to install macOS Sierra on VMware on using VMDK on Windows 10. Apple announced macOS Sierra 10.12 in WWDC 2016. This article will guide to download a pre-made VMDK which bootable with macOS Sierra 10.12.6 (latest at the time of writing). Then patch VMware with macOS unlocker, create & modify a VM (Virtual Machine) for macOS Sierra, attach the VMDK and boot into macOS and perform a basic macOS account settings. Follow the step by step to install macOS Sierra on VMware using VMDK.

Before we get started, let me mention that several versions of macOS have come out since macOS Sierra and we have already created step by step guides to install them on VMware or VirtualBox. So if you want to install the newer versions of macOS then please check out the link below:

• Guide to Install macOS Big Sur on VMware (macOS 11)
• Guide to Install macOS Big Sur on VirtualBox (macOS 11)
• Guide to Install macOS Catalina on VMware (macOS 10.15)
• Guide to Install macOS Catalina on VirtualBox (macOS 10.15)
• Guide to Install macOS Mojave on VMware (macOS 10.14)
• Guide to Install macOS Mojave on VirtualBox (macOS 10.14)
• Guide to Install macOS High Sierra on VMware (macOS 10.13)
• Guide to Install macOS High Sierra on VirtualBox (macOS 10.13)

Related: How to install macOS Sierra on PC

Install macOS Sierra on VMware using VMDK

1. Download the prerequisites
2. Install the Prerequisites
3. Install VMware Unlocker for macOS Sierra
4. Create macOS Sierra VM
5. Edit the macOS Sierra VM
6. Edit macOS VM’s VMX file (Optional)
7. Wait for macOS Sierra Installation to Complete
8. Complete Basic macOS Account Settings
9. Install VMware Tools (Optional)

Step 1: Download the prerequisites

To install macOS Sierra on VMware using VMDK, you need to download the virtualization software like VMware Workstation or VMware Player, macOS Sierra 10.12 VMDK file and macOS Unlocker for VMware. All the essential files are listed down below for download.

• Download VMware Workstation Pro 15.5.x or VMware Player 15.5.x.
  • VMware Workstation 15 Pro or
  • VMware Player 15
• Download VMware Unlocker for macOS Sierra
  • macOS Unlocker – GitHub (Latest Version)
  • macOS Unlocker – MediaFire (3.0.2)
  • macOS Unlocker – MediaFire (2.0.8)
  • macOS Unlocker – MediaFire (2.0.4)
• Download macOS Sierra VMDK
  • macOS Sierra 10.12.6 (16G29) Latest
  • macOS Sierra 10.12  (16A323) Stable

Step 2: Install the Prerequisites

Now install the following virtualization application, and if you already have it by any chance then you’re welcome to skip but make sure it works properly and updated to the latest version.

• Install VMware Workstation Pro 15.5.x or VMware Player 15.5.x

Run the VMware Workstation Pro/Player setup and follow the prompt leaving all the options as default.

Note: From here the steps below will only mention VMware Workstation but you can do the same thing in VMware player as well since it is similar to Workstation.

Step 3: Install VMware Unlocker for macOS Sierra

Firstly make sure VMware Workstation application is closed completely otherwise the VMware unlocker won’t work. You can do this by Clicking on File Tab > Exit.

You should have downloaded VMware Unlocker for macOS Sierra from GitHub or the direct link. So now extract the VMware Unlocker for macOS Sierra. Right-click on win-install.cmd and select Run as Administrator. This step is very important because you won’t see Apple Mac OS X on the Operating System list while creating a new VM unless you patch VMware with the Unlocker tool.

Note: You may always uninstall the previous version of the Unlocker before using a new release. Failure to do this could render VMware unusable. – David Parsons

Step 4: Create a New Virtual Machine

1. Open VMware and click on Create a New Virtual Machine (Ctrl+N) then select Typical (Recommended) and click Next.

   

   Create a VM

   

   Select Typical (recommended)

   
   
2. Now select I will install the operating system later and click Next. Choose Apple Mac OS X from operating system list then select macOS 10.12 from version and click Next.

   

   Select Install the Operating System Later

   

   macOS Sierra 10.12 Version

   
   
3. Name the virtual machine macOS Sierra. Click Browse to choose a location to save virtual machine files and click Next, or you may let it as default (recommended).
   

   Name and Save macOS Sierra VM

4. Don’t Specify the disk space just select Store virtual disk as a single file and click Next. On Ready to Create Virtual Machine, Click Finish.

   

   Specify Disk Capacity

   

   Create the macOS Sierra VM

   
   

Step 5: Edit the new Virtual Machine

1. Click on Edit Virtual Machine Settings.
   

   Edit macOS Sierra VM Settings

2. Increase the Memory from 2 GB to 4 GB or higher for better performance.
   

   Increase RAM

3. Select Processor menu then increase the CPU processor core from 2 cores to 4 or Higher cores for better performance.
   • Note: If you don’t have enough resources then you may not increase the Memory and Processor since the minimum requirement is 2 GB Memory and 2 Cores of Processor.
     

     Increase Processors

4. Select Hard Disk from device section and Remove it.
   

   Remove the Hard Disk (SATA)

5. Click Add button at the bottom of Virtual Machine window. Select Hard Disk from the Hardware section and click Next.
   

   Add new Hard Disk

6. Select SATA as disk type and click Next.
   

   Select SATA Virtual Disk Type

7. Select the Use an existing virtual disk and click Next.
   

   Select Use an Existing Virtual Disk

8. Now, Click Browse then select macOS Sierra 10.12.6.vmdk File and click Open.
   

   Browse macOS Sierra VMDK File

9. After selecting the macOS Sierra VMDK then click Finish.
   

   Add the macOS Sierra VMDK File

10. Finally, click OK to save all the changes that you made to the virtual machine settings.
    

    Save Changes to macOS Sierra VM

Step 6: Edit macOS Sierra VMX File (Optional)

1. Do these 2 steps only if you can’t boot into macOS or have other issues. Navigate to the virtual machine folder which you select in step #4.3 of this guide. If you didn’t specify a new location, then the default location is in Document > Virtual Machine. Right-click on macOS Sierra.vmx then open it via Notepad or any third-party text editor of your choice.
2. Scroll down to the bottom of texts and add the following code; then click on File > Save. After that, you may close it as you don’t need it anymore.

smbios.reflectHost = "TRUE"
hw.model = "MacBookPro14,3"
board-id = "Mac-551B86E5744E2388"
smc.version = "0"

Step 7: Wait for macOS Sierra Installation

1. Open VMware and on the macOS Sierra VM window Click Power on this Virtual Machine.
   

   Power on macOS Sierra VM

2. Now, wait for macOS Sierra to boot up and complete the installation itself without you touching anything. It will take a couple of minutes depending on your system, be patient. Just ahead up that If you encounter an error then let the VM to restart automatically but eventually, it should boot into macOS. I received that error here.
   

   Booting macOS Sierra

Step 8: Complete Basic macOS Account Settings

Once the installation part complete, the VM will reboot, and after the reboot, you should see macOS Sierra Welcome page.

1. Choose your Country and click on Continue.
2. Choose a Keyboard Layout and click Continue.
3. Select Don’t transfer any information now and click Continue.
4. Click Continue then click Don’t Use on Enable Location Services page.
5. On Sign in with your Apple ID page, select Don’t Sign in then click on Continue and click Skip.
6. Agree to the macOS Software License Agreement.
7. Fill out the Full name,  Account name, Password, Hint and click on Continue to create your user account for macOS Sierra 10.12.
   

   Create macOS Sierra User Account

8. Select your Time Zone and click Continue.
   

   Select Your Time Zone

9. Click Continue on the Analytics Page.
10. Wait a little while to Setting Up Your Mac.
    

    Setting Up Your Mac…

11. Then it will run to the desktop of macOS Sierra.
    

    Successfully Installed macOS Sierra on VMware using VMDK

Step 9: Install VMware Tools (Optional)

So now you should have noticed that the resolution of macOS Sierra can’t be changed and it’s not working as smoothly as you expected. To fix macOS Sierra Resolution on VMware or Make it more responsive, you need to install something called VMware Tools. It’s quite easy and straightforward to work with any system. So to do that we have created a comprehensive guide. Please click the link below and follow the guide Step by step.

See this guide: How to install VMware Tools on macOS Sierra.

Summary

Basically, in this article, I’ve shown you the step by step pictorial guide on how to install macOS Sierra on VMware using VMDK on Windows. After reading and following this guide, you should have done the following:

• Download the prerequisites
• Install the Prerequisites
• Install VMware Unlocker for macOS Sierra
• Create macOS Sierra VM
• Edit the macOS Sierra VM
• Edit macOS VM’s VMX file (Optional)
• Wait for macOS Sierra Installation to Complete
• Complete Basic macOS Account Settings
• Install VMware Tools (Optional)

Follow this guide to install macOS Sierra on VirtualBox.

This was all about, how to install macOS Sierra on VMware using VMDK. If you faced any problem, tell us below by comment, feel free to tell us. We’re waiting for your suggestion.