Access the macOS Big Sur page in the App Store to download the "Install macOS Big Sur" app. Locate: The app will be in your Applications folder.
As confirmed by official Apple support discussions, Instead, Apple provides a full installer application ( Install macOS Big Sur.app ), which you would normally download from the Mac App Store. This official installer is designed for upgrading or installing directly on Apple hardware, not for virtual machines.
There are two primary ways to get your hands on an ISO for macOS Big Sur: downloading a ready-made file or creating one yourself.
Many download blogs lock files behind multiple URL shorteners that redirect to adware. Ensure you have a robust antivirus and ad-blocker running on your host machine before downloading. How to Use the ISO in a Virtual Machine
Paste the following command to request the Big Sur installer directly from Apple:
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VirtualBox (with Extension Pack) or VMware Workstation Player. How to Create a macOS Big Sur ISO (The Safest Method)
softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 11.7.10 Direct Link: If the App Store fails, verified databases like Mr. Macintosh provide direct links to Apple’s servers for the InstallAssistant.pkg Apple Support 3. Create the ISO Image (Step-by-Step) Once "Install macOS Big Sur.app" is in your Applications folder, run these commands in Terminal one by one: Create a blank disk image:
: Officially, Big Sur reached its end-of-life in September 2023. While it remains functional, it no longer receives regular security updates.