This guide explains how to install and use the VMware Unlocker on an Ubuntu host system. The unlocker patches the VMware hypervisor (Workstation or Player) to allow the creation and running of macOS virtual machines.
VMware Unlocker is a patch that allows users to run VMware on non-supported operating systems, including Ubuntu. The patch works by modifying the VMware kernel modules to bypass the operating system checks, effectively "unlocking" VMware to run on unsupported platforms. vmware unlocker ubuntu
The unlocker cannot patch files that are actively in use. Stop all VMware processes: VMware Unlocker on Ubuntu: Complete Guide This guide
sudo systemctl stop vmware
sudo vmware-modconfig --console --install-all
# Verify no VMware processes are running
ps aux | grep vmware
Before patching, close VMware completely and stop all background processes: Step 1: Stop VMware Services Before patching, close
sudo vmware-modconfig --console --install-all
sudo systemctl stop vmware
sudo killall -9 vmware-vmx
Cause: The patcher cannot write to /usr/lib/vmware/.
Solution: Ensure you used sudo python3 unlocker.py. Also check if SELinux or AppArmor is blocking it (temporarily disable them for the install).
The Unlocker does not provide a macOS copy. You need a legitimate macOS installer file (.iso or .dmg). Options include:
To transform your macOS VM from a laggy experiment into a usable development environment, apply these tweaks.