Install Mac OS X High Sierra in Virtual Box

To install Mac OS X High Sierra in Virtual Box you need to things: An installation media of High Sierra and Virtual Box. We assume, you are running any Version of Mac OS X.

First, start with Mac OS X High Sierra:

To get Mac OS X High Sierra download it in the Mac App Store. After the download has completed, either the installer launches or High Sierra can not be installed, because it is too old. In the first case, quitt the in installer and do not proceed. In the second case do nothing. In both cases, you will find the installer in the application folder named macOS High Sierra installieren as shown in fig 1.

Fig. 1: Mac OS X Applikation Folder

We need this file later.

Next, we need Virtual Box from Oracle at https://www.virtualbox.org. You need the VirtualBox 6.1.4 platform package and VirtualBox 6.1.4 Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack. Download and install both.

In the previous step, we downloaded file macOS High Sierra installieren. We use this file to create a DVD image file of the operation system, that will be used to install a new virtual machine in Virtual Box.

Let us start. First, launch Terminal App as shown in Fig 2

Fig. 2: Terminal App

Now we create a hard disk image with the name HighSierra.sparseimage by entering

hdiutil create -o HighSierra -size 8G -layout SPUD -fs HFS+J -type SPARSE

in Terminal App.

In the next step, we mount this image:

hdiutil attach HighSierra.sparseimage -noverify -mountpoint /Volumes/install_build

An icon of the hard disk install_build image will appear on the desktop folder.

Now, we copy the installer files of Mac OS X High Sierra in the new create image file install_build and we make the image file bootable:

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/install_build

Notice, that the program “createinstallmedia” is part pf the package Install macOS High Sierra.app, that we downloaded as file macOS High Sierra installieren from the Apple server.

Next, we unmount the disk image:

hdiutil detach /Volumes/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra/

Finally, we convert the disk image to a DVD image:

hdiutil convert HighSierra.sparseimage -format UDTO -o HighSierra.iso

and move the DVD image to the desktop folder.

mv HighSierra.iso.cdr ~/Desktop/HighSierra.iso

And do not forget to erase the no more needed disk image:

rm HighSierra.sparseimage

This new created DVD image will be used to install Mac OS X High Sierra in Virtual Box.

Now, we can start building a virtual machine of Mac OS X High Sierra using Virtual Box. This procedure has only been tested using Mac OS X. What you need, is the Virtual Box App and a DVD image of Mac OS X High Sierra. How to create this DVD image was explained in the previous chapter.

Now, launch the Virtual Box App and create a virtual machine by pressing the New-button. A new window opens that guides you through the creation process (see Fig 3).

Fig. 3: Virtual Machine Creation

Give the virtual machine a meaningful name, select Mac OS X as the desired operating system and macOS 10.13 High Sierra (64 bit) as the operating system version. If you have finished, press continue.

In the next window (see Fig. 4), enter the amount of RAM. Choose 4096 MByte and go to the next window.

Fig. 4: Virtual Machine Creation

You will now be asked, which hard disk you like to use. Choose creation of a new hard disk for the virtual machine (see Fig. 5) and proceed.

Fig. 5: Virtual Machine Hard Disk

The type of the hard disk should be a VDI (Virtual Box Image). The size of the disk should be dynamically adjustable and at least 25 GByte.

After creating the hard disk the creation of the virtual machine is finished. An overview window is shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 6: Virtual Machine Hard Disk