What You Need to Know About VMware Unlocker 2 and How to Install It on Your PC
What is VMware Unlocker 2 and why do you need it?
If you are a fan of macOS but you don't have a Mac computer, you might have wondered if you can run macOS on your Windows or Linux PC. One way to do that is to use a virtualization software such as VMware Workstation or Player, which allows you to create and run virtual machines with different operating systems on your host system.
Vmware Unlocker 2
However, there is a problem. VMware products do not officially support macOS as a guest operating system, unless you are running them on an Apple hardware. This means that you cannot create or run a macOS virtual machine on your Windows or Linux PC with VMware products out of the box.
This is where VMware Unlocker 2 comes in handy. VMware Unlocker 2 is a free software that enables you to create and run macOS virtual machines on VMware products that do not run on Apple hardware. It does so by patching some VMware files and modifying some data tables that are required to see the macOS type when setting the guest OS type, and changing the implementation of the virtual SMC What is VMware Unlocker 2 and why do you need it?
If you are a fan of macOS but you don't have a Mac computer, you might have wondered if you can run macOS on your Windows or Linux PC. One way to do that is to use a virtualization software such as VMware Workstation or Player, which allows you to create and run virtual machines with different operating systems on your host system.
However, there is a problem. VMware products do not officially support macOS as a guest operating system, unless you are running them on an Apple hardware. This means that you cannot create or run a macOS virtual machine on your Windows or Linux PC with VMware products out of the box.
This is where VMware Unlocker 2 comes in handy. VMware Unlocker 2 is a free software that enables you to create and run macOS virtual machines on VMware products that do not run on Apple hardware. It does so by patching some VMware files and modifying some data tables that are required to see the macOS type when setting the guest OS type, and changing the implementation of the virtual SMC device that is needed for macOS to boot and run properly.
By using VMware Unlocker 2, you can enjoy the benefits of running macOS on your PC, such as testing apps, developing software, learning new skills, or simply having fun with a different OS. You can also run multiple macOS versions or instances on the same PC, or even run macOS alongside other operating systems such as Windows or Linux.
How does VMware Unlocker 2 work?
VMware Unlocker 2 works by modifying some files and data tables in the VMware installation directory that are responsible for detecting and supporting different guest operating systems. It also replaces the original virtual SMC device driver with a custom one that can emulate the behavior of a real SMC device that is present in Mac computers.
The SMC device, which stands for System Management Controller, is a chip that controls various aspects of the Mac hardware, such as power management, thermal management, fan speed, battery status, keyboard backlight, etc. It also communicates with the EFI firmware and the OS X kernel during the boot process and provides information such as the model identifier, serial number, board ID, etc.
Without a proper SMC device emulation, macOS will not be able to boot or run correctly on a VMware virtual machine. Therefore, VMware Unlocker 2 provides a custom virtual SMC device driver that can mimic the functionality of a real SMC device and pass the necessary information to macOS. This way, macOS can recognize the virtual machine as a valid Mac computer and proceed with the installation and operation.
How to download and install VMware Unlocker 2?
Downloading VMware Unlocker 2 from GitHub
The latest version of VMware Unlocker 2 can be downloaded from GitHub, which is a platform for hosting and sharing software projects. To download VMware Unlocker 2 from GitHub, follow these steps:
Open your web browser and go to https://github.com/paolo-projects/unlocker, which is the official repository of VMware Unlocker 2.
Click on the green button that says "Code" and then click on "Download ZIP" to download the ZIP file that contains all the files of VMware Unlocker 2.
Save the ZIP file to your preferred location on your PC and then extract it using a tool such as WinRAR or 7-Zip.
You should see a folder named "unlocker-master" that contains several files and subfolders. These are the files that you will need to install VMware Unlocker 2 on your PC.
Installing VMware Unlocker 2 on Windows
To install VMware Unlocker 2 on Windows, you will need to run two executable files: unlock.exe and relock.exe. The unlock.exe file will patch the VMware files and data tables to enable macOS support, while the relock.exe file will undo the changes and restore the original state of the VMware files and data tables. To install VMware Unlocker 2 on Windows, follow these steps:
Make sure that you have installed one of the supported VMware products on your PC. The supported products are: VMware Workstation Pro/Player 15.x or later, VMware Fusion Pro/Player 11.x or later, or ESXi 6.x or later.
Make sure that you have closed all running instances of your VMware product before proceeding with the installation.
Navigate to the folder where you extracted the ZIP file of VMware Unlocker 2 and locate the unlock.exe file. Right-click on it and select "Run as administrator" to run it with elevated privileges.
A command prompt window will open and show the progress of the patching process. Wait until it finishes and then close the window.
Congratulations, you have successfully installed VMware Unlocker 2 on your Windows PC. You can now create and run macOS virtual machines with your VMware product.
Installing VMware Unlocker 2 on Linux
To install VMware Unlocker 2 on Linux, you will need to run two scripts: unlock and relock. The unlock script will patch the VMware files and data tables to enable macOS support, while the relock script will undo the changes and restore the original state of the VMware files and data tables. To install VMware Unlocker 2 on Linux, follow these steps:
Make sure that you have installed one of the supported VMware products on your Linux PC. The supported products are: VMware Workstation Pro/Player 15.x or later, VMware Fusion Pro/Player 11.x or later, or ESXi 6.x or later.
Make sure that you have closed all running instances of your VMware product before proceeding with the installation.
Navigate to the folder where you extracted the ZIP file of VMware Unlocker 2 and locate the unlock script. Open a terminal window and change the directory to the folder where the unlock script is located.
Make the unlock script executable by running the following command: chmod +x unlock
Run the unlock script with root privileges by running the following command: sudo ./unlock
A terminal window will show the progress of the patching process. Wait until it finishes and then close the window.
Congratulations, you have successfully installed VMware Unlocker 2 on your Linux PC. You can now create and run macOS virtual machines with your VMware product.
How to create and run a macOS virtual machine with VMware Unlocker 2?
Choosing the macOS version and downloading the ISO file
Before you can create a macOS virtual machine with VMware Unlocker 2, you need to choose which macOS version you want to run and download the corresponding ISO file. An ISO file is a disk image file that contains all the data and files of an operating system or a software program.
There are many macOS versions available, such as Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, etc. Each version has its own features, requirements, and compatibility issues. You should choose the macOS version that suits your needs and preferences, as well as your hardware specifications.
You can download the ISO file of your chosen macOS version from various sources, such as Apple's official website, third-party websites, torrent sites, etc. However, you should be careful about the source and quality of the ISO file, as some files may be corrupted, infected, or modified in a malicious way. You should always verify the integrity and authenticity of the ISO file before using it.
One way to verify the ISO file is to check its SHA-1 hash value, which is a unique identifier that can be used to compare two files and see if they are identical or not. You can use a tool such as HashCalc or HashMyFiles to calculate the SHA-1 hash value of your downloaded ISO file and compare it with the official or trusted value provided by Apple or other sources.
Creating a new virtual machine with VMware Workstation or Player
After you have downloaded and verified the ISO file of your chosen macOS version, you can proceed to create a new virtual machine with VMware Workstation or Player. A virtual machine is a software simulation of a physical computer that can run different operating systems and applications.
To create a new virtual machine with VMware Workstation or Player, follow these steps:
Open your VMware Workstation or Player application and click on "Create a New Virtual Machine" or "File > New Virtual Machine".
Select "Custom (advanced)" as the configuration type and click "Next".
Select "Workstation 16.x" as the hardware compatibility level and click "Next".
Select "I will install the operating system later" as the guest operating system installation option and click "Next".
Select "Apple Mac OS X" as the guest operating system type and select your chosen macOS version from the version drop-down menu. For example, if you want to run macOS Big Sur, select "macOS 11.0" as the version. Click "Next".
Enter a name and a location for your new virtual machine and click "Next".
Select the amount of memory (RAM) that you want to allocate to your virtual machine. The recommended amount is at least 4 GB, but you can increase it if you have enough RAM on your host system. Click "Next".
Select the number of processors and cores that you want to assign to your virtual machine. The recommended number is at least 2 processors and 2 cores, but you can increase it if you have enough CPU power on your host system. Click "Next".
Select "Use a physical disk (for advanced users)" as the disk type and click "Next".
Select "Use entire disk" as the disk mode and click "Next".
Select the disk that you want to use for your virtual machine. You can use an existing disk or create a new one. If you create a new one, make sure that it has enough space for the macOS installation and your data. The recommended size is at least 40 GB, but you can increase it if you have enough disk space on your host system. Click "Next".
Review the settings of your new virtual machine and click "Finish".
You have successfully created a new virtual machine with VMware Workstation or Player. You can now proceed to configure the virtual machine settings and add the ISO file.
Configuring the virtual machine settings and adding the ISO file
Before you can boot and install macOS on your new virtual machine, you need to configure some settings and add the ISO file that you downloaded earlier. To configure the virtual machine settings and add the ISO file, follow these steps:
Select your new virtual machine from the library and click on "Edit virtual machine settings".
Click on the "Options" tab and select "General" from the left panel. Make sure that the guest operating system type and version are correct. If not, change them accordingly.
Click on the "Hardware" tab and select "CD/DVD (SATA)" from the left panel. Check the box that says "Connect at power on" and select "Use ISO image file" as the device type. Click on "Browse" and locate the ISO file that you downloaded earlier. Click on "OK".
Select "Network Adapter" from the left panel and select "Bridged" as the network connection type. This will allow your virtual machine to access the internet through your host system's network adapter.
Select "USB Controller" from the left panel and select "USB 3.1" as the USB compatibility type. This will enable faster data transfer between your virtual machine and your USB devices.
Select "Sound Card" from the left panel and select "Auto detect" as the sound card type. This will enable sound output from your virtual machine.
You can also adjust other settings such as display, keyboard, mouse, etc. according to your preferences.
Click on "OK" to save the changes and close the settings window.
You have successfully configured the virtual machine settings and added the ISO file. You can now proceed to boot and install macOS on your virtual machine.
Booting and installing macOS on the virtual machine
After you have configured the virtual machine settings and added the ISO file, you can boot and install macOS on your virtual machine. To boot and install macOS on your virtual machine, follow these steps:
Power on your virtual machine by clicking on the green "Power on this virtual machine" button or selecting "Power > Power On" from the menu.
You should see a black screen with some white text and a VMware logo. This is the EFI firmware that is loading the boot options for your virtual machine.
Press F8 to enter the boot menu and select "EFI VMware Virtual SATA CDROM Drive (1.0)" as the boot device. This will load the ISO file that you added earlier.
You should see a gray screen with an Apple logo and a loading bar. This is the macOS installer that is loading the files from the ISO file.
After a few minutes, you should see a welcome screen with a language selection option. Select your preferred language and click on the arrow button to continue.
You should see a macOS Utilities window with four options: Restore from Time Machine Backup, Reinstall macOS, Get Help Online, and Disk Utility. Select "Disk Utility" and click on "Continue".
You should see a Disk Utility window with a list of disks and volumes on your virtual machine. Select the disk that you created for your virtual machine (e.g. VMware Virtual SATA Hard Drive Media) and click on "Erase".
You should see an Erase window with some options for formatting your disk. Enter a name for your disk (e.g. Macintosh HD) and select "APFS" as the format and "GUID Partition Map" as the scheme. Click on "Erase".
Wait until the disk is erased and formatted. You should see a confirmation message that says "Operation successful". Click on "Done".
Close the Disk Utility window and return to the macOS Utilities window. Select "Reinstall macOS" and click on "Continue".
You should see a macOS installer window with an introduction to macOS. Click on "Continue".
You should see a Software License Agreement window with the terms and conditions of using macOS. Read them carefully and click on "Agree".
You should see a Select the Disk where you want to install macOS window with a list of available disks. Select the disk that you formatted earlier (e.g. Macintosh HD) and click on "Continue".
The installation process will begin and you should see a progress bar and an estimated time remaining. Wait until the installation is completed. Your virtual machine will restart automatically during the process.
After the installation is completed, you should see a Setup Assistant window that will guide you through the initial setup of your macOS virtual machine. Follow the instructions and enter your personal information, preferences, settings, etc.
Congratulations, you have successfully installed macOS on your virtual machine with VMware Unlocker 2. You can now enjoy using macOS on your PC.
Installing VMware Tools on the macOS virtual machine
After you have installed macOS on your virtual machine, you should also install VMware Tools on it. VMware Tools is a software package that enhances the performance and functionality of your virtual machine. It provides features such as better graphics, sound, network, mouse, keyboard, drag-and-drop, copy-and-paste, shared folders, etc.
To install VMware Tools on your macOS virtual machine, follow these steps:
Power on your macOS virtual machine and log in with your user account.
Select "VM" from the menu bar of your VMware Workstation or Player application and select "Install VMware Tools".
You should see a dialog box that says "To install VMware Tools, you must mount the CD-ROM drive inside the guest operating system. Do you want to mount the CD-ROM drive now?" Click on "Yes".
You should see a CD icon on your macOS desktop that says "VMware Tools". Double-click on it to open it.
You should see a file named "Install VMware Tools" inside the CD. Double-click on it to launch the installer.
You should see a VMware Tools Installer window that says "Welcome to the VMware Tools installation wizard". Click on "Continue".
You should see a Standard Install window that says "The installation will take 19.1 MB of disk space". Click on "Install".
You may be prompted to enter your user password to allow the installation. Enter your password and click on "Install Software".
The installation process will begin and you should see a progress bar and an estimated time remaining. Wait until the installation is completed.
You should see a message that says "The installation was successful". Click on "Restart" to restart your virtual machine and complete the installation.
After your virtual machine restarts, you should see a message that says "VMware Tools has been installed successfully". Click on "OK".
Congratulations, you have successfully installed VMware Tools on your macOS virtual machine. You can now enjoy the enhanced features and performance of your virtual machine.
How to update and uninstall VMware Unlocker 2?
Updating VMware Unlocker 2 to the latest version
If you want to keep your VMware Unlocker 2 up to date with the latest features and bug fixes, you can update it to the latest version by downloading and running the new files from GitHub. To update VMware Unlocker 2 to the latest version, follow these steps:
Make sure that you have closed all running instances of your VMware product before proceeding with the update.
Go to https://github.com/paolo-projects/unlocker and download the ZIP file of the latest version of VMware Unlocker 2 as described in the previous section.
Extract the ZIP file to a folder of your choice and locate the unlock.exe file (for Windows) or the unlock script (for Linux).
Run the unlock.exe file or the unlock script with administrator or root privileges as described in the previous section.
A command prompt or terminal window will open and show the progress of the patching process. Wait until it finishes and then close the window.
Congratulations, you have successfully updated VMware Unlocker 2 to the latest version. You can now create and run new macOS virtual machines with your VMware product.
Uninstalling VMware Unlocker 2 from your system
If you
