If you want to try the newly released beta of macOS 14 Sonoma, the best solution would be to create a virtual machine first. Seamlessly switch between your current macOS and macOS 14 with just a few clicks, enjoying each operating system's unique features and functionalities side by side. This article describes creating a macOS 14 Sonoma virtual machine (VM) from an IPSW image of a beta version of macOS 14 Sonoma with Parallels Desktop on Mac computers with Apple silicon.

Prerequisites

1. Ensure the host operating system version is macOS 13.3.1 or higher. If not, please update it as described here.

2. Enroll in the Apple Developer program.

3. Download macOS Sonoma 14 image from developer.apple.com.

4. Download Device Support for macOS 14 beta package from developer.apple.com.

5. Install Device Support for macOS 14 beta package:

Create macOS 14 VM

Instructions for Parallels Desktop 19 and newer

Parallels Desktop Pro and Business Edition

1. Start Terminal application (Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal) and execute the command below:

prlctl create "macOS_name" -o macos --restore-image <path to the .ipsw file>

e.g.

prlctl create "macOS14" -o macos --restore-image /Users/mushakov/Downloads/UniversalMac_14.0_23A5257q_Restore.ipsw

2. Start the installation by opening Control Center (right-click Parallels Desktop icon in Dock > Control Center) and click the virtual machine icon.

Alternatively, you can use prlctl start <VM UUID> command to start the installation process:

prlctl start {e6aaeb89-98e1-44ab-8747-dc00d044551b}

Note: UUID of the virtual machine can be obtained by executing the prlctl list -a command in Terminal.

3. Wait for the installation to complete and follow on-screen instructions to choose language, create a user account, etc.

Parallels Desktop Standard Edition

Right-click the downloaded .ipsw file > Open with > Parallels Desktop. The configuration window will pop up: just set the name of the virtual machine, and click Create.

Instructions for Parallels Desktop 18

1. Start Terminal application (Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal) and execute the command below:

/Applications/Parallels\ Desktop.app/Contents/MacOS/prl_macvm_create <path_to_ipsw> <destination_folder_to_save_macVM>

e.g.

/Applications/Parallels\ Desktop.app/Contents/MacOS/prl_macvm_create /Users/aasochakov/Downloads/UniversalMac_14.0_23A5257q_Restore.ipsw ~/Parallels/macOS14.macvm

2. You will see that the process has started. Wait for the end of it.

Note: if you get the dialogue below, attach the device to your Mac.

3. Once complete, you will see the message that the installation process succeeded:

4. Launch the virtual machine by double-clicking from the folder where your virtual machine is stored. 

You will see that the macOS 14 virtual machine appeared in the Control Center of Parallels Desktop:

Note: if you have already tried to create a macOS 14 Sonoma virtual machine but had some issues with it, remove or rename the previous file of the macOS Sonoma 14 virtual machine with the .macvm extension in the folder where your virtual machines are stored.