Rebooting new macOS 26.3 guest freezes guest every time

[csohns-p4]

I am new to VirtualBuddy, please forgive me if I am missing something obvious. My internet sluthing did not turn up anything helpful.

VirtualBuddy 2.1 (325)
Host: MacBook Pro 15,6 running Tahoe 26.3
Guest: Tahoe 26.3
Source IPSW: UniversalMac_26.3_25D125_Restore.ipsw
Guest additions are enabled. One shared folder

I created the guest yesterday. The install process froze at the end, requiring me to close the window. Sadly I did not save the install log. Since then, rebooting via the GUI and terminal reboot command both hard lock the system instantly, requiring me to close the window. Shutdowns worked a couple times but now also hard lock the OS.

In case it helps, below are lightly redacted copies of the plist files.

If there is anything I can check to diagnose the cause, I'd love to hear it.

Thank you

---

Install.plist

{
  "data" => {
    "backgroundHash" => {
      "size" => 4
      "value" => "UfG0bS?9S1Rn~Pr@R.ofs+S6jFt3EBIZt5oJ"
    }
    "installMethodSelection" => {
      "localFile" => {
        "_0" => {
          "relative" => "file:///Users/XXXXXXXX/Downloads/UniversalMac_26.3_25D125_Restore.ipsw"
        }
      }
    }
    "localRestoreImageURL" => {
      "relative" => "file:///Users/XXXXXXXX/Downloads/UniversalMac_26.3_25D125_Restore.ipsw"
    }
    "name" => "Tahoe 26.3"
    "systemType" => "mac"
  }
  "step" => 7
}

Metadata.plist

{
  "backgroundHash" => {
    "size" => 4
    "value" => "UfG0bS?9S1Rn~Pr@R.ofs+S6jFt3EBIZt5oJ"
  }
  "firstBootDate" => 2026-03-04 04:49:17 +0000
  "installFinished" => true
  "installImageURL" => {
    "relative" => "file:///Users/XXXXXXXX/Downloads/UniversalMac_26.3_25D125_Restore.ipsw"
  }
  "lastBootDate" => 2026-03-04 04:49:17 +0000
  "uuid" => "CA5D481E-9BE2-4C5A-999D-18789B1B6495"
  "version" => 1
}

Config.plist

{
  "captureSystemKeys" => true
  "guestAdditionsEnabled" => true
  "hardware" => {
    "_storageDevices" => [
      0 => {
        "backing" => {
          "managedImage" => {
            "_0" => {
              "filename" => "Disk"
              "format" => 0
              "id" => "__BOOT__"
              "size" => 85899345920
            }
          }
        }
        "id" => "DB740E9B-97FF-4E72-933A-F97BBCBAF81C"
        "isBootVolume" => true
        "isEnabled" => true
        "isReadOnly" => false
        "isSavedStateClone" => false
        "isUSBMassStorageDevice" => false
      }
    ]
    "cpuCount" => 6
    "displayDevices" => [
      0 => {
        "automaticallyReconfiguresDisplay" => false
        "height" => 1964
        "id" => "B9593503-0C89-44B8-A83D-234C8B9BB38B"
        "name" => "4480x2520@218"
        "pixelsPerInch" => 218
        "width" => 3024
      }
    ]
    "keyboardDevice" => {
      "kind" => 0
    }
    "memorySize" => 19327352832
    "networkDevices" => [
      0 => {
        "id" => "Default"
        "kind" => 0
        "macAddress" => "4E:C3:3D:1F:1D:29"
        "name" => "Default"
      }
    ]
    "NVRAM" => [
    ]
    "pointingDevice" => {
      "kind" => 0
    }
    "soundDevices" => [
      0 => {
        "enableInput" => false
        "enableOutput" => true
        "id" => "29C6A328-A48C-4017-B940-9320456677ED"
        "name" => "Default"
      }
    ]
  }
  "rosettaSharingEnabled" => false
  "sharedFolders" => [
    0 => {
      "id" => "51642F89-54DA-4AAB-AAA3-BBB9E46B9F54"
      "isEnabled" => true
      "isReadOnly" => false
      "url" => {
        "relative" => "file:///Users/XXXXXXXX/Downloads/VirtualBuddy-SHARE/"
      }
    }
  ]
  "systemType" => "mac"
  "version" => 0
}

[insidegui]

This is likely not an issue with VirtualBuddy itself, but a bug in macOS. I suggest filing a feedback report with Apple.

[csohns-p4]

I have figured it out.

Experimenting with a fresh install of Sequoia 15.6.1, reboots and shutdowns worked perfectly until I installed VirtualBuddy Guest App. After that, reboots and shutdowns hard locked the OS. Enabling/disabling Guest App in the VM config did not change behavior, however preventing Guest App from running at boot in the guest allowed normal reboots and shutdowns.

I don't know how to know if this is a Virtualization.framework bug or VirtualBuddy Guest App bug, but at least I have a path forward.

[insidegui]

Oooo, yeah in that case this is likely a bug in the guest app, or at least a macOS bug triggered by the guest app. I'll have a look. Thank you for taking the time to report this.

[csohns-p4]

No problem. As a final note, I neglected to explicitly say I replicated the behavior in Tahoe 26.3 guest as well. Thank you