User Guide

What SAB VM Lab Does

SAB VM Lab is focused on running macOS in a VM on your Mac and making common guest workflows easier.

• Creating and reopening macOS virtual machines
• Moving files between host and guest through shared folders
• Installing VirtualMac Tools through a package-first flow
• Helping the guest claim newly added VM disk space after host-side expansion

Before You Start

• A Mac that supports the virtualization features required by the app
• Enough free disk space for a macOS VM
• A macOS installer or restore image suitable for the VM flow you are using
• Administrator access on the guest if you plan to install VirtualMac Tools

Create Your First VM

• Open SAB VM Lab
• Create a new virtual machine
• Choose the macOS source the app expects for that workflow
• Pick a VM name that is easy to recognize later
• Choose a starting disk size with room for macOS, apps, and test files

Install macOS in the Guest

Start the VM, complete the normal macOS install flow, finish the guest setup assistant, and confirm the guest reaches the desktop cleanly before adding extra tools.

Shared Folders

Shared folders are the easiest way to move files between the host and the guest.

• Move installers into the guest
• Move exported files back to the host
• Access the VirtualMacAutomation folder when guest tools are available

Install VirtualMac Tools

• Start the VM and sign in
• Open the shared folder named VirtualMacAutomation
• Open VirtualMacTools.pkg
• Complete the installer inside the guest
• Approve the guest administrator prompt if macOS asks for it
• Keep the VM running briefly so the tools can publish status

What VirtualMac Tools Enables

• Plain-text clipboard sharing between host and guest
• Supported guest-side automation requests
• Supported guest-side follow-up after host-side disk expansion

Older exposed shell scripts and loose plist installer files are no longer the supported guest install flow.

Expand Disk Size Later

If your VM needs more space later, increase the VM's virtual disk capacity from SAB VM Lab first.

Inside the guest, use Disk Utility to grow the APFS container that holds Macintosh HD if macOS does not claim the space automatically.

Terminal fallback inside the guest:

diskutil apfs list

diskutil apfs resizeContainer <containerIdentifier> 0

Clipboard Sync

Clipboard sync is handled by VirtualMac Tools while the VM is running.

• Plain-text clipboard content is the main supported path
• It may take a moment to reflect changes between host and guest
• If sync appears stale, keep the VM running briefly and try copying again

Troubleshooting

• If you only see the installer package in VirtualMacAutomation, that is expected in the package-first flow
• If the tools do not seem active after installation, keep the guest running briefly and restart or sign in again
• If the VM disk was enlarged but the guest still shows the old capacity, the APFS container inside the guest probably still needs to expand
• If shared files are not where you expected, re-check the host access permissions and the guest shared-folder location

Practical Advice

For the smoothest first experience, create a VM with more room than you think you need, finish macOS installation completely, verify the VM reboots cleanly, then install VirtualMac Tools and test shared folders before heavier guest changes.

If you are testing more invasive guest behavior, use a disposable VM or a snapshot first.

Start Faster

If you want the shorter path instead of the full guide, use the Quick Start.

Open Quick Start