How to Install macOS Tahoe on VMware Using OpenCore: (Intel + AMD) | 2026 Easy Guide

Virtualizing macOS on non-Apple hardware has become increasingly accessible thanks to tools like OpenCore and VMware. This guide will walk you through the installation of macOS Tahoe on VMware Using OpenCore, which is compatible with both Intel and AMD processors. Whether you’re a developer testing apps, a hobbyist exploring macOS, or someone needing a macOS environment temporarily, this method provides a stable setup.

Prerequisites: macOS Tahoe on VMware Using OpenCore

Before starting, ensure your system meets the following requirements:

• Virtualization Enabled: Intel VT-x or AMD-V must be enabled in your BIOS/UEFI. Please refer to online guides.
• RAM: Minimum 8GB (16GB or more recommended for smooth performance).
• Storage: At least 80GB of free space for the virtual machine.
• VMware Workstation Pro: Version 25H2 is used in this guide.
• Required Files: All downloads are available from the provided links. Ensure you have them ready.

Downloads Checklist: macOS Tahoe on VMware Using OpenCore

1. VMware Workstation Pro – Download Link
2. macOS Unlocker for VMware – Download Link
3. macOS Tahoe ISO – Download Link (Make sure you download the latest ISO file: 26.2+)
4. VMware Tools ISO (darwin.iso) – Download Link
5. macOS Tahoe OpenCore Boot Image (VMDK) – Download Link

• For Intel: Use the standard OpenCore Boot Disk.
• For AMD: Choose the version matching your core allocation:
  • 4 Cores
  • 8 Cores
  • 16 Cores

Important Note: Each OpenCore VMDK includes OpenCore 1.0.5 on an EFI partition and must be set as SATA 0:0 in VMware settings.

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macOS Tahoe on VMware Using OpenCore (Intel + AMD)

Step 1: Install VMware and Unlock macOS Support

1. Install VMware Workstation Pro using the downloaded installer. Reboot if prompted.
2. Run the macOS Unlocker tool as Administrator. This modifies VMware to allow macOS as a guest OS.
3. Restart your computer to ensure all changes take effect.

Step 2: Create Your Virtual Machine

1. Open VMware Workstation and select “Create a New Virtual Machine”.
2. Choose “Typical (recommended)” and click Next.

3. Select “I will install the operating system later” and click Next.

4. Under Guest Operating System, choose:

• Apple Mac OS
• Version: “macOS 26” (or the latest available matching Tahoe)

5. Name your VM (e.g., “macOS Tahoe”) and choose a storage location with sufficient space.

6. Set the Maximum Disk Size to at least 80GB (more if possible). Select “Store virtual disk as a single file”.

7. Click Finish to complete the initial setup.

Step 3: Customize Virtual Machine Settings

Once the VM is created, click “Edit virtual machine settings“.

Before starting the VM, adjust these critical settings:

1. Memory: Set to at least 8192 MB (8GB).

2. Processors:

• Intel CPUs: Allocate half of your system’s physical cores (e.g., 4 cores if you have 8).
• AMD CPUs: Allocate the exact core count matching the OpenCore VMDK you downloaded (4, 8, or 16 cores).

3. Hard Disk (SCSI): The virtual disk created earlier will be listed. Change its Virtual Device Node from SATA 0:0 to SATA 0:3. This will be your macOS installation disk.

4. Add the OpenCore Bootloader Disk:

• Click “Add” > “Hard Disk” > “Next”.

• Choose “Use an existing virtual disk” > “Next”.
• Select “SATA“.
• Browse and select the downloaded OpenCore VMDK file.

• If prompted, select “Keep Existing Format.”

• After adding, set its Virtual Device Node to SATA 0:0.

5. CD/DVD (SATA): Connect the macOS Tahoe ISO file.

6. USB Controller: Set to USB 3.2.

7. Network Adapter: Choose NAT (most reliable for internet connections) or Bridged if necessary.

8. Optional: Remove unnecessary devices, such as printers or serial ports, to streamline the VM.

Note: This OpenCore method eliminates the need for manual editing of the .vmx file, simplifying the process.

Step 4: Begin macOS Tahoe Installation

1. Start the virtual machine. It will boot to the OpenCore boot menu.
2. Select “Install macOS Tahoe” and press Enter.

You will see a set of codes running; leave them as they are and wait.

After a while, you will see the Apple Logo.

3. Choose your Language and continue.

4. Open Disk Utility from the macOS Utilities window.

5. In Disk Utility, select only the second disk (usually labeled “VMware Virtual SATA Hard Drive Media” – NOT the OpenCore EFI disk).
6. Click “Erase”, name it (e.g., “techrechard.com”), set Format: APFS, Scheme: GUID Partition Map. Confirm Erase.

7. Close Disk Utility and return to the main menu.
8. Select “Install macOS Tahoe” and continue.

9. Agree to the terms and conditions.

10. When prompted, select the “techrechard.com” drive you just erased.

11. The installation will begin. The VM will restart multiple times.
12. After each restart, let OpenCore boot automatically, then select “Boot macOS Install from macOS26” (or a similar option) to continue the installation process.
13. After the final restart, you’ll reach the macOS Setup Assistant. Complete the initial configuration (country, keyboard, user account, etc.).

This process will take around 30-40 minutes. So, please be patient!

Step 5: Install VMware Tools Manually

Newer VMware versions require manual installation of VMware Tools for macOS. Here is a guide you can use.

1. In VMware, go to VM > Settings > CD/DVD (SATA).
2. Browse and attach the downloaded darwin.iso (VMware Tools) file.
3. Start the macOS VM if it’s not running.
4. Open Finder, and you should see the VMware Tools disk mounted.
5. Double-click the “Install VMware Tools” package.
6. macOS will block the installation. Go to System Settings > Security & Privacy and click “Allow” next to the “Blocked System Software” message.
7. Complete the installation wizard and restart the VM when prompted.

VMware Tools will enhance graphics performance, enable clipboard sharing, and facilitate improved screen resizing. You can also watch this tutorial:

Step 6: Log in to your Apple Account on macOS Tahoe VM

• Click on “App Store“ and then click “Sign-in“.

• Enter your Apple account credentials, and you will be logged in to your account.

• You can now download tools like Xcode.

• You can also go to System Settings and confirm your account login.

• With this, you have successfully installed macOS Tahoe on VMware on an AMD PC with Apple Account login.

Step 7: Network Configuration (If Internet Doesn’t Work)

If your macOS VM has no internet after installation:

1. Check the .vmx file: Navigate to your VM’s folder and open the .vmx file with a text editor.
2. Ensure this line is present (add if missing):

   ethernet0.virtualDev = "vmxnet3"

3. Network Adapter Selection (Bridged Mode):

• Some users report issues with Bridged mode’s automatic detection.
• In VMware, go to Edit > Virtual Network Editor.

• Click “Change Settings” (admin rights required).
• Select VMnet0.
• Under “Bridged to:”, manually select your host computer’s physical network adapter.

• Click Apply and OK.

3. Alternative: If issues persist, switch the VM’s network adapter to NAT mode, which often works more reliably.

Troubleshooting & FAQs: macOS Tahoe on VMware Using OpenCore

1. Boot Stuck or Loop Issues (Common on Windows Hosts)

Disable the Windows Hypervisor to prevent conflicts:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Run these commands:

bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off
reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard\Scenarios\HypervisorEnforcedCodeIntegrity" /v "Enabled" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

3. Restart your host computer.

2. macOS Doesn’t See Installation Disk

• Ensure you’re erasing only the second disk in Disk Utility (the one at SATA 0:3).
• Do not modify the OpenCore VMDK disk (SATA 0:0).

3. White Background/Wallpaper Issue

A known graphics glitch may cause a white desktop background:

1. Go to System Settings > Wallpaper.
2. Disable “Show as screen saver”.
3. If the issue persists, try downloading a wallpaper image online and setting it manually.

4. VM Runs Slowly

To address performance issues and reduce perceived “slowness” in your virtual machine, you can disable the Windows Hypervisor. Please note that this action may affect other virtualization software on your system (such as Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, or WSL2) and could slightly reduce security. Proceed only if you are certain your primary virtualization tool (e.g., VMware, VirtualBox) does not require the Windows Hypervisor.

Prerequisites

• Administrator Access: You must have administrator privileges on your computer.
• Backup: It is recommended to create a system restore point before making these changes.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Open an Administrator Command Prompt.
   • Click the Start menu or press the Windows key.
   • Type cmd or “Command Prompt.”
   • In the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
   • If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to continue.
2. Disable the Hypervisor.
   • In the Administrator Command Prompt window, carefully type the following command and press Enter:
     bash bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off
   • You should see the message: “The operation completed successfully.”
3. Disable Hypervisor-Enforced Code Integrity (Optional but Recommended).
   • Next, type or paste the following command and press Enter:
     bash reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard\Scenarios\HypervisorEnforcedCodeIntegrity" /v "Enabled" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
   • You should see the message: “The operation completed successfully.”
4. Restart Your Computer.
   • Close the Command Prompt and restart your PC for the changes to take effect.

Additional Performance Recommendation

• Disable Memory Integrity: This Windows security feature, part of Core Isolation, can also impact performance. Disabling it aligns with the changes above.
  • Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Device Security.
  • Click “Core isolation details.”
  • Toggle “Memory integrity” to Off.
  • Restart your computer if prompted.

Verification

After restarting, your primary virtualization software (e.g., VMware, VirtualBox) should run using its native hypervisor, which may result in improved performance.

To Re-enable the Hypervisor

If you need to use Hyper-V or WSL2 in the future, reverse the changes:

1. Run Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Type: bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype auto and press Enter.
3. Restart your computer.
4. You may also need to re-enable Memory Integrity in Windows Security settings.

You can also try the following for improved speed:

• Allocate more RAM and CPU cores if possible.
• Ensure VMware Tools are installed correctly.
• In VMware Settings > Display, enable “Accelerate 3D graphics”.

5. Audio Not Working

• In VM Settings, select the “Intel HD Audio” sound card.
• In macOS, check System Settings > Sound for output device selection.

6. “This Copy of macOS Could Not Be Verified” Error

• Ensure your macOS Tahoe ISO is not corrupted. Re-download if necessary.
• Verify that your system’s date and time are accurate in the BIOS and VM.

7. Set Custom Screen Resolution (Optional)

To set a custom resolution inside macOS, open Terminal and type:

sudo /Library/Application\ Support/VMware\ Tools/vmware-resolutionSet 1600 1100

Ensure the selected resolution is supported by VMware display settings.

Important Legal Note

macOS is proprietary software licensed by Apple. According to Apple’s End User License Agreement (EULA), macOS should only be installed on Apple-branded hardware. This guide is intended for educational purposes and development testing. Ensure you comply with all applicable laws and licensing agreements.

Complete Video Tutorial:

Conclusion: macOS Tahoe on VMware Using OpenCore

Successfully installing macOS Tahoe on VMware using OpenCore opens up a world of possibilities for developers and enthusiasts without Apple hardware. By following this detailed guide—paying special attention to CPU core allocation for AMD systems and the correct disk ordering—you can create a stable, functional macOS virtual machine. Remember to keep your OpenCore and VMware Tools up to date for the best experience.

Happy virtualizing!