VMs running 26.1 can’t access iCloud and related services, with no workaround. Finder Services below an item’s thumbnail don’t work.
iCloud
At 18:00 on 16 September, XProtect 5315 was released for all Macs. Sequoia systems were unable to update for 24 hours, and Tahoe silently updated when it felt like it. How come?
Although introduced in the same year, versioning and iCloud Drive aren’t integrated. This explains how they work, and how you can transfer versions through iCloud Drive.
From their origin with an email engine in 1993, to the addition of the more secure Data Protection keychain supporting passkeys and much more.
iCloud is now used for key services including notarization checks. For XProtect updates, it should be quicker and simpler, so long as you mind the pinniped.
Backups are for recovery, while archives are for posterity. Plan for the future now by storing important files on durable media in your personal archives.
If you have Optimise Mac Storage enabled, pinning files you want kept locally is a valuable new feature, but has its quirks, and could get your Mac into trouble.
Step by step guide to building and installing a VM running macOS 15.0 Sequoia with Apple Account access to iCloud, and updating XProtect.
It has taken 2 years for virtualisation on Apple silicon to support Apple ID with iCloud and its features. But it still doesn’t let you run almost all App Store apps.
How to create and configure a Sequoia beta to run in a virtual machine on an Apple silicon Mac, either in Sequoia or Sonoma, and a surprise in its features.
The Eclectic Light Company 