macOS Sequoia Adds iCloud Support for macOS 15 Virtual Machines

Apple is introducing a notable enhancement to its virtualization framework in macOS Sequoia by enabling Mac users to sign into iCloud within macOS virtual machines (VMs).

Apple WWDC24 macOS Sequoia hero 240610
Previously, users could not sign into iCloud on macOS VMs, which limited the framework's utility for developers needing to test iCloud features and for users looking to sync their apps with iCloud. As spotted by ArsTechnica, macOS Sequoia removes that barrier, provided that both the host and guest operating systems are macOS 15 or newer.

The feature will be available on Apple silicon Macs, but it has some limitations. Developers aiming to run older macOS versions alongside macOS 15 in a VM or those who upgrade VMs from older macOS versions will not be able to sign into iCloud on the VM. Only brand-new VMs created from a macOS 15 install image (an .ipsw file) can utilize iCloud and services related to Apple Account (formerly Apple ID).

Apple's virtualization framework documentation explains:

"When you create a VM in macOS 15 from a macOS 15 software image… Virtualization configures an identity for the VM that it derives from security information in the host's Secure Enclave. Just as individual physical devices have distinct identities based on their Secure Enclaves, this identity is distinct from other VMs."

Apple says that if someone moves a VM to a different Mac host and restarts it, the Virtualization framework automatically creates a new identity for the VM using the information from the Secure Enclave of the new Mac host. This identity change requires the person using the VM to re-authenticate to allow iCloud to restart syncing data to the VM.

Both Parallels and VMware offer virtualization software, and Broadcom recently made VMware Fusion free for personal use. macOS Sequoia is currently in developer beta, with a public beta set to arrive in July, followed by a general release in the fall.

Related Forum: macOS Sequoia

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Black

Apple Just Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever After Beats

Thursday January 29, 2026 10:07 am PST by
Apple today confirmed to Reuters that it has acquired Q.ai, an Israeli startup that is working on artificial intelligence technology for audio. Apple paid close to $2 billion for Q.ai, according to sources cited by the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone and audio brand Beats in 2014. Q.ai has...
Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra Screen

Apple's CarPlay Ultra to Expand to These Vehicle Brands Later This Year

Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon. In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. At the time,...
14 inch MacBook Pro Keyboard

Apple Changes How You Order a Mac

Saturday January 31, 2026 10:51 am PST by
Apple recently updated its online store with a new ordering process for Macs, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro. There used to be a handful of standard configurations available for each Mac, but now you must configure a Mac entirely from scratch on a feature-by-feature basis. In other words, ordering a new Mac now works much like ordering an...
imac video apple feature

Apple Unveils First New Products of 2026

Monday January 26, 2026 1:55 pm PST by
Apple today introduced its first two physical products of 2026: a second-generation AirTag and the Black Unity Connection Braided Solo Loop for the Apple Watch. Read our coverage of each announcement to learn more:Apple Unveils New AirTag With Longer Range, Louder Speaker, and More Apple Introduces New Black Unity Apple Watch BandBoth the new AirTag and the Black Unity Connection Braided...
apple unsold web store

Retail Accessories Apple Won't Sell You Now Available via New Site

Friday January 30, 2026 8:46 am PST by
A newly surfaced resale operation is seemingly offering Apple Store–exclusive display accessories to the public for the first time, potentially giving consumers access to Apple-designed hardware that the company has historically kept confined to its retail environments. Apple designs a range of premium MagSafe charging stands, display trays, and hardware systems exclusively for displays in ...

Top Rated Comments

t0mbola Avatar
21 months ago
Ok, now allow virtualization on iPads and we are good
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chrfr Avatar
21 months ago

Thank you! I actually just purchased my MacPro 2019 machine a couple of months ago (refurb). I don't like the limitations that Apple Silicon imposes. This is yet another one.
Well, performance is the big limitation that staying with Intel imposes.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
therunningman Avatar
21 months ago

Well, performance is the big limitation that staying with Intel imposes.
My workload involves virtualization pertaining to Intel hardware specifically. I can expand the RAM in my Intel MacPro to ridiculous amounts. I can do eGPUs. Apple Silicon allows none of this. So a performance hit vs. no performance at all is a really easy choice for me.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chrfr Avatar
21 months ago
Both Parallels and VMware offer virtualization software, and Broadcom recently made VMware Fusion free for personal use (https://www.macrumors.com/2024/05/15/vmware-fusion-pro-13-free-personal-use/). macOS Sequoia is currently in developer beta, with a public beta set to arrive in July, followed by a general release in the fall.

Article Link: macOS Sequoia Adds iCloud Support for macOS 15 Virtual Machines (https://www.macrumors.com/2024/06/20/macos-sequoia-adds-icloud-support-vms/)
VMware Fusion does not allow the virtualization of macOS on Apple Silicon hosts, so that it exists at all is irrelevant to this topic.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mystery hill Avatar
21 months ago

Ok, now allow virtualization on iPads and we are good
Apple rejected an App Store submission for UTM on iPhone and iPad, and also refused to notarize the app so that it could be listed on third-party app stores in the EU.

https://9to5mac.com/2024/06/09/apple-blocks-pc-emulator-utm-app-store/
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mystery hill Avatar
21 months ago
Sequoia also supports nested virtualization on Apple Silicon, but only on M3.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)