Installing Windows on a Mac is easy, merely did you know you tin install macOS on a PC? Information technology'south not a project for those who don't similar to get hands-on with hardware, but with the correct combination of components and effort, it is possible.

In social club to install the operating organization, yous're going to need to utilize another Mac to create a bootable installer. You'll also demand access to the Mac App Store to download macOS in the start place.

And so let's accept a expect at how information technology's done.

Before You lot Brainstorm

Back in the solar day (June 2022, to be precise), this tutorial explained how to install (what was and then) Mac Bone X on a Windows PCwithout the demand for a Mac. This is no longer possible with mod versions of macOS.

Apple tree strictly forbids the use of macOS on any machines other than its ain, whether it'south a modified version or not. Yous should exist enlightened that by doing this, you're violating the terms of the macOS license understanding, and that you exercise so at your ain risk.

If y'all have an older PC, you'll be pleased to know you can install every version of macOS (or OS X) from 10.7.five Lion right upwardly to 10.12 Sierra. Whether or not your older machine will be compatible is some other story entirely.

Information technology's worth reiterating thatinstalling macOS on a non-Apple calculator is hard work. Yous may run across hardware problems, bill of fare readers and Wi-Fi might not work, and you lot'll demand to go the extra mile if you want to use features like iMessage or audio-over-HDMI.

Things You'll Need

To install the latest version of macOS on your PC, you volition need:

  • a PC with uniform hardware
  • aMac running the latest version of macOS
  • the macOS Sierra installer
  • free appsUniBeast and MultiBeast
  • an 8GB or larger USB bulldoze
  • patience

Don't worry if you're unsure about anything on the list, nosotros'll explain these requirements in the steps beneath. If yous haven't got a Mac, ask to infringe a friend's for a few minutes (you won't demand it for long, though brand sure yous get the root admin countersign).

1. Ensure Your PC is Compatible

The all-time way to ensure compatibility is to build your machine to specification. By doing this you'll be using hardware that's the same or very similar to what Apple puts in its own machines. You'll be able to build a high powered machine for a fraction of the cost of a new Mac.

Alternatively, you may want to install macOS on a laptop or PC that you already take lying around. This road is harder, y'all might have to piece of work around problems that arise, or you may have incompatible hardware.

Assuming you're currently running Windows, you can download free app CPU-Z to get a comprehensive breakup of your hardware. You lot can so use the following resources to ascertain compatibility:

  • OSx86 Project — a well-maintained resource forhardware components and pre-builtlaptops anddesktops that play nicely with macOS.
  • tonymacx86 Heir-apparent's Guide — a constantly-updated "shopping list" for building macOS uniform computers in a variety of grade factors.
  • Online forums — check out r/Hackintosh, InsanelyMac, and Hackintosh Zone [No Longer Bachelor] if you want to ask questions or search for builds similar to your own.

two. Download Your Software

Once y'all're confident your machine is compatible, take hold of your Mac and launch theMac App Store. Search for the latest version of macOS and strikingDownload. The file is around 4.7GB in size, and one time downloaded appears as Install macOS Sierra in yourApplications folder. Leave it there for now.

Adjacent caput to tonymacx86.com and register an account, which will grant you access to the downloads page. From hither you should download the latest version ofUniBeast. At the time of writing version 7.0 is designed purely for Sierra, while previous versions work with earlier editions of the OS.

You should as well download the version ofMultiBeast that corresponds with your macOS version. For macOS Sierra, this is version 9.0. Y'all tin can unzip it and exit information technology in your Downloads folder for now, nosotros'll need it afterwards.

UniBeast is a tool for installing any legally downloaded version of macOS from the Mac App Shop on compatible hardware. Information technology can also be used as a Mac (or hackintosh) system recovery tool in a pinch. Extract UniBeast and install it equally you would whatever other software past dragging it to yourApplications folder.

three. Create Your USB Installer

Insert theUSB drive yous'll be using into your Mac and launch your Mac'due south in-builtDeejay Utility application. Everything on the drive — including the segmentation itself — volition be removed so make certain your data is safe before proceeding. When you're ready, select your USB device in the list on the left and clickErase.

Requite it a name and choose Mac Os Extended (Journaled) under "Format" andGUID Parition Map under "Scheme" then clickErase. Your USB device is now ready to become a bootable macOS installation bulldoze.

LaunchUniBeastand follow the prompts — you'll have to clickContinue about 4 times, and so Agree with the software license agreement (to a higher place). When you lot're prompted for an install destination, select the USB drive you erased with Disk Utility (below).

The installer will at present prompt to choose the version of macOS you lot downloaded from the Mac App Store earlier (beneath). For this to piece of work the Mac App Store download needs to have finished and theInstall macOS Sierra file should stay in yourApplicationsfolder.

Next you'll demand to cull Bootloader Options(below). According to the UniBeast documentation, chooseUEFI Boot Mode for UEFI-capable systems (almost modern hardware) orLegacy Kick Mode for older machines that still use BIOS (unsure which you demand?).

The penultimate step is to cull a graphics card manufacturer if you're using an older card (this stride is optional). You lot can then clickContinue, brand sure your settings are correct, enter your admin password, and UniBeast volition write the macOS installer to the bulldoze.

Expect for the image to be written to the USB drive. The last thing you demand to practiseis to re-create MultiBeast to the root directory of your USB drive.

4. Install macOS on Your PC

Now you're ready to begin installing macOS on your PC. Turn on your PC and press and hold theDelete (or equivalent) key to bring up your UEFI or BIOS settings. This is where things get a lilliputian tricky — the official UniBeast documentation recommends the following:

  • Set BIOS/UEFI toOptimized Defaults
  • Disable your CPU'southwardVT-d, if supported
  • Disable CFG-Lock , if supported
  • DisableSecure Boot Mode, if supported
  • Disable IO SerialPort, if present
  • EnableXHCI Handoff
  • DisableUSB 3.0

UEFI/BIOS settings are a common cause for bug when trying to install macOS. You'll probably need to hit the forums if you lot experience issues hither, equally each manufacturer does things a little differently. Salvage and get out one time you've configured your BIOS/UEFI, then power the machine off.

Insert the USB installer we created earlier into your PC, preferably into a USB 2.0 port. Ability on your PC and while it boots press the kicking device keyboard shortcut — probably F12 or F8. When prompted, cull your USB bulldoze, and so on the Clover boot screen selectKicking Mac Bone X from USB.

The installer will now launch, and you lot'll first demand to select aLanguage. As you lot'll be installing macOS from scratch, you demand to set the installation volume. Click onUtilities at the summit of the screen and openDisk Utility.

Cull your target destination for macOS, and then click on theErase button. Give information technology a name (e.g Hackintosh), chooseOS 10 Extended (Journaled)under "Format" andGUID Parition Map nether "Scheme" and then clickErase. Y'all tin can now continue with the installer, making sure yous cull this disk when prompted for an installation location.

Assuming it all goes to program, you lot should be able to run across the installer through to the end at which point your Mac volition restart.

5. Finishing Touches

Now you'll need to make your Mac install partition bootable, so you're not depending on the USB bootloader. Restart your automobile and hold downward the kicking device select key (probably F12 or F8), then boot from your USB device as you did terminal time.

At the Clover boot screen, select your installation volume (due east.yard. Hackintosh) and follow the instructions to finalize the macOS installation. When you eventually boot into macOS, navigate to your USB installer and run theMultiBeast app.

For fresh installs, click onQuick Start and cull between UEFI Kicking Mode or Legacy Boot Mode (for older hardware), then select relevant audio and network options on theDrivers tab. Yous tin can see even more options netherCustomize earlier saving or press your chosen configuration.

Now hitBuild thenInstall. If you're using unsupported NVIDIA hardware, now is the fourth dimension to take hold of the relevant drivers and install them.

The final pace is to restart your Hackintosh and remove your USB drive, equally your macOS installation partition should boot automatically from at present on.

At present the Fun Begins

There are and then many things that could get incorrect with this process. It's unlikely you lot'll make it all the fashion without a small snag or larger setback, and at the cease of it all y'all'll still demand to fiddle with things to become some features working the way you'd like.

If things aren't quite working for you, hit upwards the relevant forums for advice tailored to your predicament. You can also effort the comments below. For more than help, come across how to fix the "macOS could non exist installed" error.

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Tim Brookes (823 Articles Published)

Tim is a freelance author who lives in Melbourne, Australia. You can follow him on Twitter.

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