If you're running MacOS virtual machines on your Mac using UTM — for instance, to try out beta software like the MacOS Tahoe beta — you might be looking for an efficient way to transfer files from your physical Mac to the virtual machine environment (in this case, UTM).

There are several ways to move data between a host and virtual machine, such as shared folders or clipboard syncing. However, there's a more straightforward and dependable method specifically suited for situations where MacOS is running on MacOS in a virtualized setup. This approach works seamlessly not only with UTM (which we'll focus on here), but also with other virtualization tools like Parallels and VMware. The solution? Leveraging file sharing.

How to Transfer Files from Your Host Mac to a MacOS UTM Virtual Machine Using File Sharing

Running a MacOS virtual machine on your Mac? One of the easiest and most reliable ways to share files between systems is through basic file sharing — the same functionality used to access shared files across devices on a local network. While our example focuses on UTM, the process applies universally to any Mac-on-Mac virtualization scenario.

1. Ensure that File Sharing is turned on within the settings of the physical Mac (the one hosting the UTM virtual machine)

2. In the virtual MacOS system, open Finder and navigate to "Network" in the sidebar

3. Locate the name of your physical Mac under Network Locations and connect to it from the virtual machine, just as you would when accessing a shared device on your network

4. Browse through the shared directories to locate the files you wish to copy from the host to the UTM virtual machine, then simply drag and drop them into place

5. Continue transferring additional files as needed using the same method

That’s all there is to it — simple and intuitive, especially if you've previously used file sharing on your Mac.

In the illustrated example, a complete installer package for MacOS Tahoe is being moved from the host Mac to a MacOS Sonoma virtual machine, allowing for a straightforward upgrade to the beta version of MacOS Tahoe. Running MacOS in a virtualized environment is an excellent way to explore new operating systems without risking the stability of your current MacOS installation.

Though many alternative techniques exist for transferring files between a host and virtual machine — including shared clipboards, folder synchronization, and drag-and-drop features — these options may not always offer consistent reliability. That's what makes this file-sharing method so valuable: it works consistently across different virtualization platforms, MacOS versions, and even various operating systems.

Additionally, this technique isn't limited to MacOS-to-MacOS transfers. You can use the same file sharing strategy to move files from your Mac to a Windows or Linux-based virtual machine as well. Classic network file sharing — it just works!

What approach do you prefer for transferring files from your Mac to a virtual machine? Do you switch methods depending on the operating system you're working with inside the VM? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!

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