To run a macOS virtual machine in VMware Workstation or Player on Ubuntu, you need a tool called an "Unlocker." By default, VMware only allows macOS guests on physical Apple hardware; the Unlocker patches the VMware binaries to bypass this restriction. Popular VMware Unlockers for Linux
Most modern Ubuntu users prefer one of these GitHub-hosted projects:
DrDonk/unlocker: One of the most established tools for patching VMware on Linux.
paolo-projects/auto-unlocker: A modern version that often includes a GUI and updated support for newer VMware versions. How to Install and Use (General Steps)
Before starting, ensure VMware Workstation/Player is completely closed. You will also need git and python3 installed on your Ubuntu system. Install dependencies: vmware unlocker ubuntu
sudo apt update sudo apt install git python3 libcurl4-openssl-dev libzip-dev Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/paolo-projects/auto-unlocker cd auto-unlocker Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard
Run the unlocker:Most tools require sudo privileges to modify VMware's system files. chmod +x ./auto-unlocker sudo ./auto-unlocker Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard
Alternatively, for the DrDonk version, you typically navigate to the linux folder and run sudo ./lnx-install.sh. To run a macOS virtual machine in VMware
Verification:Open VMware and create a new Virtual Machine. If successful, you will now see "Apple Mac OS X" listed as an option under the "Guest Operating System" selection menu. Important Notes
Antivirus/Security: Some security software may flag these tools as "malicious" because they modify protected system binaries. You may need to add an exception.
VMware Updates: If you update VMware Workstation, you must re-run the unlocker, as the update will overwrite the patched files.
VMware Tools: After installing macOS, you will still need the specific macOS VMware Tools (Darwin ISO) for features like shared folders and display scaling. Most unlockers include a script (like gettools.py) to download these for you. Issue 4: macOS Has No Network (VMXNET3) Solution
If you're having trouble, let me know your VMware version and which Ubuntu release you're using so I can give you more specific commands. Would you also like a guide on where to find the macOS ISO or how to optimize the VM performance once it's running? paolo-projects/auto-unlocker: Unlocker for VMWare macOS
On Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install libcurl4-openssl-dev libzip-dev git clone https://github.com/paolo-projects/auto-unlocker cd auto- DrDonk/unlocker: VMware macOS utilities - GitHub
Solution: Shut down the VM. Go to VM Settings → Network Adapter → Change from NAT to Bridged or vice versa. Also install VMware Tools (Darwin.iso) inside macOS.
Restart VMware services and launch VMware Workstation:
sudo systemctl start vmware
vmware
sudo chown -R $USER:$USER /tmp/unlocker
sudo chmod +x unlocker.py