macOS Monterey is Currently in Beta, and obviously, it’s buggy. When a new release/version comes out then depending on how many vital fixes it has. We may update the ISO file linked below. Although you can make your own ISO. We have created a step by step guide on how to create your own macOS Monterey ISO. So, without wasting any more time, let’s jump into it. Required: If you haven’t already then you should enable Virtualization Technology (aka Intel VT or AMD-V).
Step to Install macOS Monterey on VMware on Windows
Download the prerequisites Install the Prerequisites Unlock VMware to Install macOS Monterey Create a New Virtual Machine Edit macOS Monterey VMX File Start macOS Monterey Virtual Machine Complete Basic macOS Account Settings Capture Snapshot of the VM Install VMware Tools (Optional)
Step 1: Download the Prerequisites
To begin with, you should download some files, and you may also download & install some applications. These are required later on in this guide. But if you have done any of the followings already, then you may skip it. Here is the list:
Download VMware Workstation Pro 16.1.x or VMware Player 16.1.x VMware Workstation 16 Pro VMware Player 16 Download the macOS Unlocker V3 for VMware Download – GitHub (latest Version) Direct Download – MediaFire (3.0.3) Create or Download macOS Monterey ISO macOS Monterey Beta 12.0 (21A5248p) Dev Beta 1 Create macOS Monterey ISO Image Download VMware Tools (Optional) VMware Tool – Mediafire
Step 2: Install the Prerequisites
Now, install the VMware Workstation Pro applications, and if you already have it by any chance then you’re welcome to skip. But make sure it works properly, and it’s compatible.
Install VMware Workstation Pro 16.1.x or VMware Player 16.1.x
After downloading the VMware Workstation pro/player, run the setup and follow the prompt leaving all the options as default.
Step 3: Unlock VMware to Install macOS Monterey on Windows
Firstly, make sure the VMware Workstation application is closed completely otherwise the VMware unlocker won’t work. You can do this by Clicking on File Tab > Exit. The reason we install win-install.cmd is because the macOS is not listed on the guest operating system list by default. So, we execute this script to enable macOS in the guest operating system list.
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. #2. Now, select I will install the operating system later and click Next. Choose Apple Mac OS X from the operating system list then select macOS 11.1 from the version drop-down list and click Next. #3. Name the virtual machine as you prefer like macOS Monterey. Click Browse then choose a location to save virtual machine files and click Next, or you may let it as default. #4. Specify the disk size of 124 GB or more than 50 GB. Then select Store virtual disk as a single file and click Next. #5. On Ready to Create Virtual Machine, Click Customize Hardware. #6. Increase the Memory from 4 GB to 8 GB or higher for better performance. #7. Select Processors menu then increase the CPU processors 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 4 GB Memory and 2 Cores of Processors. #8. Select New CD/DVD (SATA) from the menu then click Use ISO image file: and click Browse. #9. Locate the macOS 12- 21A5248p.iso file then click Open. If you don’t have this file then you should download this from Step 1: Download the Prerequisites section. #10. After selecting the macOS Monterey ISO click Close to save all changes. #11. Finally, on the New Virtual Machine Wizard Window, Click Finish.
Step 5: Edit macOS Monterey VMX File
#1. Navigate to the virtual machine folder which you selected 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 macOS12.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.
Step 6: Start macOS Monterey Virtual Machine
#1. Open VMware and on the macOS Monterey VM window Click Power on this Virtual Machine. #2. Wait for it to boot up. #3. Select English on the language page then click on the Next Arrow icon. #4. Select the Disk Utility and click Continue. #5. Select VMware Virtual SATA Hard Drive Media then click Erase. #6. For the Name, type disk macOS12HD then select APFS from Format drop-down list and click Erase. #7. Click Done to close the dialogue box. #8. From Disk Utility Tab, click Quit Disk Utility. #9. Select Install macOS 12 Beta and click Continue.
#10. Click Continue.
#11. You have to agree to the terms of the software license agreement. #12. Select the available disk then click Install. NOTE: If you get the Operation Couldn’t be Completed BiErrorDomain Error 3 then follow this step by step guide to Fix the Operation Couldn’t be Completed BiErrorDomain Error 3.
Step 7: Complete Basic macOS Account Settings
Select your Country and click Continue. Choose a Keyboard layout and click Continue. If you don’t agree with preset options then you can customize them. Just click Customize Settings.
You can turn on the Accessibility features now with macOS Monterey. You’ve several options with accessibility like vision, motor, hearing, and cognitive. If you don’t want to set it up right now, just click the Not Now button to skip them.
Select how your computer connects to the internet. I recommend choosing My computer does not connect to the internet.
Read Data & Privacy and click Continue. On the Migration Assistant page, click the Not Now button to continue.
Click on Set Up Later then Don’t Sign In. You can add your Apple ID later. IMPORTANT: Don’t sign in with your Apple ID since some people have mentioned in the comments section that they have issues with it. Click Agree to the Terms and Conditions.
Fill out the Full name, Account name, Password, and Hint then click Continue.
Click Continue on Make This Your New Mac Window.
On-Screen Time, click Set up Later. Uncheck Siri and click Continue.
Select an appearance theme and click Continue. Here you choose your dark mode if you want.
Finally, wait a little while for macOS to finish setting up then it should boot into the macOS Monterey 12.0 Desktop.
Step 8: Capture a Snapshot of the VM
Pro Tips: If you’re running the Beta 1 version then follow the below steps otherwise, when you power off the VM it won’t load up the second time. This should be fixed in the next update.
Open System Preferences> Users & Groups. Click the lock icon and type your password. Click Login Options> Automatic Login should be your username.
Take a snapshot of the VM. To capture a snapshot of macOS Monterey, simply click on VM from the Menu bar> Snapshots and Take snapshots. Give it a description so that you understand later on what’s been done so far on this VM. When something goes wrong then you always can run the snapshot and everything should from that point.
Step 9: Install VMware Tools (Optional)
So now you should have noticed that the resolution of macOS Monterey can’t be changed and it’s not working as smoothly as you expected. To fix macOS Monterey 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 Monterey
Conclusion
That’s all on the step by step pictorial guide on how to install macOS Monterey 12.0 on VMware on Windows PC. We covered the following:
Download the prerequisites Install the Prerequisites Unlock VMware to Install macOS Monterey Create a New Virtual Machine Edit macOS Monterey VMX File Start macOS Monterey Virtual Machine Complete Basic macOS Account Settings Capture Snapshot of the VM Install VMware Tools (Optional)
If I left out something and didn’t mention please let me know by commenting down below this post. Please share your feedback with us if the above guide worked for you. It would help if you also share some of your system information through the comments section below. We have lots of new posts related to macOS Monterey so stay up to date with us.
