Apple updates its macOS desktop and laptop operating system in one case a year, like clockwork, bringing new features and improvements. That's all very well, but Apple's most recent version of macOS - Monterey - won't run on MacBook Air, MacBook Pro or iMac models that launched before late 2015. The 2016 MacBook is supported, and if you lot have a 2014 Mac mini or a 2013 Mac Pro y'all are in luck, but those are basically the oldest Macs that can support macOS Monterey.

What if your Mac or MacBook is older than 2014 or 2015? Officially this ways that your Mac tin can't officially be updated to Monterey - unless you follow this tutorial.

This isn't a new thing. When Big Sur launched in 2020 it was limited to a similar set of Macs, although there were a few more Mac in the list back then, including: the 2014 iMac, 2013 and 2014 MacBook Air, 2013 and 2014 MacBook Pro, and 2015 MacBook.

Before you go alee and follow the advice below a word of warning: there is a reason why Apple tree chooses non to support the new Mac operating system on older Macs. Older Macs but don't accept the necessary components or power required to cope with the demands of the more modern systems. So if you do install Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina, or any recent version of macOS on an unsupported Mac don't expect it to run smoothly.

Is my Mac besides one-time to update?

We take a macOS compatibility checker here, so you lot tin see which versions of macOS your Mac should be able to run.

Here's an overview of the Macs that will run Monterey, according to Apple:

  • MacBook models from early 2016 or later
  • MacBook Air models from early on 2015 or after
  • MacBook Pro models from early on 2015 or subsequently
  • Mac mini models from 2014 or later
  • iMac from 2015 or subsequently
  • iMac Pro (all models)
  • Mac Pro models from late 2013 and later

Here's an overview of the Macs that will run Big Sur, according to Apple:

  • MacBook models from early 2015 or later
  • MacBook Air models from 2013 or afterward
  • MacBook Pro models from 2013 or later
  • Mac mini models from 2014 or later
  • iMac models from 2014 or later
  • iMac Pro (all models)
  • Mac Pro models from 2013 or later

Apple advises that macOS Catalina volition run on the following Macs:

  • MacBook models from early 2015 or later
  • MacBook Air models from mid-2012 or later
  • MacBook Pro models from mid-2012 or later
  • Mac mini models from late 2012 or later
  • iMac models from late 2012 or later
  • iMac Pro (all models)
  • Mac Pro models from late 2013

Apple advises that macOS Mojave will run on the following Macs:

  • Mac models from 2012 or subsequently
  • iMac Pro (from 2017)
  • MacBook models from 2015 or afterwards
  • MacBook Pro models from 2012 or later
  • MacBook Air models from 2012 or afterward
  • Mac mini models from 2012 or after
  • Mac Pro models from late 2013 (plus mid-2010 and mid-2012 models with recommended Metal-capable GPU)

The older macOS High Sierra had a little more scope. Apple tree said that would run happily on a late 2009 or later MacBook or iMac, or a 2010 or later MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini or Mac Pro.

If your Mac is supported read: How to update to Monterey.

If Apple deems your Mac to quondam to run Monterey (or any of the other versions of macOS we mention above) updating is not unproblematic, just it is possible.

You lot can run newer macOS versions on older Macs by using a patcher.

Don't wait things to be plain sailing though - in fact yous should await to encounter bug. Exist prepared for the fact that your Mac will not function optimally and you could lose data. (For that reason nosotros recommend doing a full backup of your Mac first).

For instance, many older Macs had problems with the Wi-Fi connexion after installing macOS Big Sur. If you need Wi-Fi, installing the preview version of either Large Sur or Monterey is not advisable.

Running Monterey or another macOS on an unsupported Mac may also be considered against Apple tree's terms and conditions. For information most Apple tree'southward terms and conditions read: Should you agree to Apple tree's terms and atmospheric condition.

Wondering if it's worth updating your Mac? Read: macOS Large Sur vs Monterey.

How to install Monterey on an unsupported Mac

If your Mac is more than a few years old and you try to install Monterey on information technology you will hit a few hurdles - the commencement being the fact that Software Update won't let yous install the new version of macOS.

Withal, this doesn't hateful that installing Monterey on an older Mac isn't possible. It is - you simply need a patch. Luckily at that place's a patcher for installing macOS Monterey on older Macs available - the OpenCore Legacy Patcher. The download and instructions can be institute here.

Just beware that Kicking Camp Assistant might exist broken by the update and other elements you are used to may not work.

Notation that macOS patchers cannot perform magic and not all Macs will be uniform. Earlier installing Monterey on an older Mac, make sure that your Mac is compatible with the patcher. You tin can find a listing of all the Macs supported here.

The procedure for updating to a new version of macOS on incompatible Macs is as follows:

  1. Earlier you do annihilation support your Mac, just in example.
  2. First you will need to obtain the installation files for the version of macOS you are after - in this example Monterey. Y'all'll have to obtain these using a compatible Mac. If they don't bear witness upwardly in Software Update you tin get the installation files from the Mac App Shop. They are 12GB and then look this to accept a while.
  3. Now you need to load these installation files onto a USB stick and fix the USB stick for installing macOS Monterey. We explicate how to create a bootable installer of macOS in a separate article. You'll be able to find the installation files in Applications.
  4. Next you need to obtain the patcher software that will essentially trick the installation files of the version of macOS you want to install into assertive that the Mac is compatible. You can download the latest version of the patcher we mentioned in a higher place here. Click on the Code and Download Zip buttons.
  5. After extracting the archive from your download y'all will find the file "OpenCore-Patcher.app".
  6. Run the OpenCore-Patcher app.
  7. Choose Build OpenCore (unless you wish to run the patcher on a unlike Mac, in which case it's Change Model).
  8. Once in Build OpenCore the process should quickly build and then you lot will render to the primary carte.
  9. The side by side step is to choose Install OpenCore to USB/internal drive from the options. (The recommendation is to install on a FAT32 bulldoze.
  10. Once that has been created you lot need to reboot your Mac while holding downwards the Option (Alt) central.
  11. When the Mac starts up in that location will be a blackness screen with a few drive options. Select EFI Kicking.
  12. This will load up OpenCore. Next you demand to select Install macOS, you should see the option Install macOS Large Sur in the OpenCore Picker.
  13. Now install macOS Monterey.

We recommend that yous follow the steps outlined here if you accept any problems. Expect the update to accept several hours.

How to install macOS updates on an unsupported Mac

Once you have installed macOS Monterey (or whatever version you choose), updates will appear in Software Updates as soon every bit they are available. Nevertheless, you lot should not install these, but ideally again create a USB stick with the current installation files and install the update in this way.

How to install Big Sur on an unsupported Mac

Install Big Sur on an unsupported Mac is similarly catchy, but, again, this doesn't hateful that installing Big Sur on an older Mac isn't possible. At that place'south a patcher for installing macOS Big Sur on older Macs bachelor - the big-sur-micropatcher tin be downloaded from GitHub.

Check that the patcher is uniform with your Mac - you should detect this information on the patch page (linked above).

The procedure for updating to an incompatible Mac to Big Sur is equally follows:

  1. First you will need to obtain the installation files for the operating arrangement. Y'all'll accept to obtain these using a compatible Mac. If they don't show up in Software Update you can get the installation files from the Mac App Store.
  2. Now you lot need to load these installation files onto a USB stick and prepare the USB stick for installing macOS Big Sur. We explicate how to create a bootable installer of macOS in a split up article.
  3. Next you lot need to obtain software that is able to trick the installation files of the version of macOS you want to install into believing that the Mac is compatible. Yous can download that patcher we mentioned above from GitHub. Click on the Code and Download Zip buttons.
  4. After extracting the archive from your download you will find the file "micropatcher.sh".
  5. Open a final window and elevate and driblet the file into the concluding. Then run the command.
  6. Now install macOS from your bootable installer.
  7. In some cases, at that place are all the same tasks to be performed after the installation. These can be found in the instructions for big-sur-micropatcher. After preparing the Mac with the USB stick, beginning a terminal and enter "/ Volumes / Image \ Volume / set-vars.sh". The script is part of the patch for macOS Large Sur and changes important settings for booting and system files.

Install Big Sure old Mac

The update can accept several hours. In our case it sometimes looked like the installer had crashed during the update. In this instance you should expect, every bit the installation is usually notwithstanding in progress. Over fourth dimension, ameliorate means to update a auto may exist institute. Currently, the safest approach is to update using a bootable USB stick.

How to run Catalina on an older Mac

You lot tin download a macOS Catalina Patcher from a developer known as DOSDude1. The patch will enable y'all to install Catalina on an older Mac.

The Catalina hack doesn't piece of work with every Mac, but many are covered. You tin can see if your Mac is supported hither.

DODDude1 offers a video tutorial on his website, hither. We've simplified the steps beneath, but nosotros recommend that you follow his tutorial.

  1. Download the latest version of the Catalina patch hither. (You can make a donation).
  2. Open the Catalina Patcher app.
  3. Click Continue.
  4. Cull Download a Copy.
  5. The download (of Catalina) will start - since it'southward near 8GB it is likely to accept a while.
  6. Plug in a flash drive.
  7. Choose 'Create a bootable installer' from the options.
  8. Plug the bootable installer into the Mac yous wish to update.
  9. Restart the Mac while holding the Option/Alt key. This will crusade the Mac open in Startup Manager.
  10. Choose the bootable installer drive and Enter.
  11. Now your Mac should open in Recovery.
  12. Choose Reinstall macOS and wait for the new version of macOS to install.
  13. After the installation has completed, yous should restart the Mac in Recovery style again, choosing the drive that contains the bootable installer.
  14. Now choose macOS Post Install and the required patches will exist installed on your Mac then that Catalina tin can work.
  15. When the patches have been applied choose Force Cache Rebuild.
  16. Restart.
  17. When it reboots, your Mac should now boot into a fully working copy of macOS Catalina.

If you are running a version of macOS that predates High Sierra or Mojave, yous will need to format your difficult drive to APFS.

We have more communication nearly installing macOS via a Bootable Installer here.

How to run Mojave on an older Mac

Equally with Catalina, a patch tool was written DOSDude1 that enables you to install macOS Mojave on an older Mac.

Yous can download the Mojave Patch Tool here.

How to run Loftier Sierra and older on an older Mac

DOSDude1 wrote a similar patch for High Sierra and prior to that Sierra. With the patch installed you can go back every bit far equally early 2008 models. It'southward unlikely to run like a dream, which is why Apple advises against this form of action. Merely y'all should be able to achieve tolerable functioning.

Why you shouldn't install new macOS on an one-time Mac

Nosotros'd advise tech beginners against attempting this workaround: it calls for a moderate caste of tech expertise.

Retrieve that nosotros're going against Apple'south official advice on this one, which ways that if something goes wrong - and that'south e'er a possibility with an Os install, even if y'all're using official software - your warranty is unlikely to save you. Of course, information technology'southward unlikely that your 2008 Mac would be under whatever warranty so that may non worry you too much.

Support your Mac earlier going any farther. And deport in mind ii more caveats.

At some signal Apple tree may patch this hack and forestall it working in time to come. So if you're bang-up, and happy that the risks and difficulties are worth it for you, then bound in while you still can.

Otherwise, you lot might want to read How to sell an old Mac.

We've had a look at what's coming in Big Sur - hither's our verdict: macOS Large Sur: should you update your Mac?