Apple is characterized by excellent software support for its devices. For example, iOS 18 is compatible with the iPhone Apple bases the compatibility of its equipment on a balance. In other words, if a computer cannot function as well in a new operating system, it is better to leave it in the previous one and provide it with the minimum of security updates.
If your Mac does not support macOS Sequoia, you can install it as an alternative
There are certain Mac models that they can have very good specifications but, for now, don’t update to macOS Sequoia. This is especially noticeable on computers like the MacBook Pro. For these cases, a group of young developers created the OpenCore Legacy Patcher project a few years ago.
This request, available for free on GitHub, allows you to install macOS Sequoia and other recent versions of macOS on Macs that are no longer supported. This way, you can take advantage of some of the new features and, most importantly, the app compatibility and aesthetic appearance.
OpenCore Legacy Patcher makes macOS Sequoia compatible with the following Macs:
- MacBook from 2008 to 2019
- MacBook Air from 2008 to 2017
- MacBook Pro from 2008 to 2017
- Mac mini from 2009 to 2017
- iMac from 2007 to 2018
- Mac Pro from 2008 to 2018
- Xserve from 2008 to 2010
Things to keep in mind before installing macOS Sequoia on an unsupported Mac
Although installing OpenCore Legacy Patcher is quite simple, it is still an unofficial installation on Apple and therefore not recommended by the brand. Some features may remain unavailable after installing macOS Sequoia on your unsupported Mac. The most notable is the Photos app, which requires a “Metal” compatible Mac and therefore on very old Macs it will not work.
In addition, we recommend you to make a backup using Time Machine, because very important aspects of the operating system will be modified and it will have to rely on components that Apple does not officially support. It’s not that we want to scare you with this option of installing macOS Sequoia on an unsupported Mac, but you should be aware of it.
Steps to Install macOS Sequoia on an Unsupported Mac
Now that you have decided to install macOS Sequoia on your unsupported Mac, it is time to follow the steps. We remind you that it is highly recommended to have a backup copy in Time Machine and, in addition, you will need a USB stick of about 32GB to create the USB executable with macOS Sequoia.
- Let’s go Download OpenCore Legacy Patcher from its website on GitHub. Scroll down and download the “OpenCore-Patcher.pkg” file.
- Run “OpenCore-Patcher.pkg” on your Mac that is not compatible with macOS Sequoia. Install it and then open the app “OpenCore-Patcher” and click “Create macOS Installer”.
- From the options offered, choose “Download macOS Installer”. The application will search for available operating systems; in our case, we choose macOS Sequoia .
- Once macOS Sequoia has finished downloading, it’s time to create the USB stick with the installer. It’s as simple as selecting macOS Sequoia and the destination USB drive. Don’t forget to connect it to your Mac and back up everything you have on it, as it will be formatted.
- Once you are done creating the bootable USB drive with macOS Sequoia, it is time to shut down the Mac and leave the USB drive connected. When you are done turn on the mac once again, wait pressed the “Option” key until you get an options menu. Select the USB drive named “EFI Boot”.
Inside, you can now follow the steps to install macOS Sequoia to get it on your non-compatible Mac. The app itself contains a document support that we recommend you to consult. The instructions are more complete and include specific cases by model and compatibility. This way, macOS Sequoia will already be installed on your unsupported Mac and you will be able to enjoy Apple’s latest operating system.
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