Big Sur on older Macs [2008-2013] ULTIMATE GUIDE! OpenCore Legacy Patcher for Unsupported Macs

You can Install macOS Big Sur on your 2008-2013 Unsupported Mac with this ULTIMATE GUIDE!!! I will show you how to use OpenCore Legacy Patcher to install on 3 different Macs - 2013 Macbook Pro 15", 2011 MacBook Pro 15" and a 2010 Mac Pro. I will show you how to do a erase install, upgrade and a dual boot system! You can then update to the latest version of macOS Big Sur 11.6 using system preferences with native Software Updates!

UPDATES! 6/22/22
#3 - Starting with OpenCore Legacy patcher version 0.2.5 and newer AMFI is handled by the patcher. On some models it can be enable but on others it needs to be disabled.

I wanted to thank both Mykola Grymalyuk (khronokernel) & Dhinak G (dhinakg) for your work on OpenCore (plus everyone else who contributed). You both did an amazing job on this patcher. OpenCore will save thousands of Macs from the recycler!

Download links below

Chapters
0:00 Intro & Welcome
1:54 What is OpenCore Legacy Patcher
2:47 Requirements for OpenCore LP
5:17 List of OCLP Supported Macs
6:12 OCLP is Open Source
7:06 The difference between GUI & TUI
8:42 Creating the Big Sur USB Installer
15:57 Downloading OCLP TUI or GUI App
16:35 Installing OCLP to USB Drive (2013)
20:58 Reboot to Installer hold option key
22:33 Starting Big Sur Upgrade (2013)
24:04 Install OCLP to HD - GUI (2013)
25:06 Install OCLP to HD - TUI (2013)
26:43 Set default startup disk to EFI Boot
27:40 How to Install Software Updates
28:07 2nd example Big Sur Dual Boot (2011)
28:57 Install OCLP to USB Drive - GUI (2011)
30:08 Install OCLP to USB Drive - TUI (2011)
33:15 Why we enable Verbose Mode
33:51 Big Sur Disk Util 2nd partition setup
36:15 Installing Big Sur to 2nd partition
36:55 Install done - Mac will be slow for a bit
37:54 Downloading OCLP and installing
38:53 Install GPU Patches - GUI (2011)
39:36 Install GPU Patches - TUI (2011)
41:59 Install OCLP to HD - GUI (2011)
43:06 Install OCLP to HD - TUI (2011)
45:08 Set default startup disk to EFI Boot (2011)
46:42 Boot into 10.13 on Dual Boot (2011)
47:37 3rd example Big Sur erase install (2010)
49:13 Install OCLP to USB Drive - TUI (2010)
52:14 Trouble booting to OS or Installer (2010)
52:44 Erase & install of macOS Big Sur (2010)
54:14 Install GPU Patches - TUI (2010)
56:04 Erratic Colors with ATI GPU Fix (2010)
57:37 Install OCLP to HD - TUI (2010)
58:25 Mac Pro LateBloom Settings (2010)
59:35 Set default startup disk to EFI Boot (2010)
1:00:29 Troubleshooting Help
1:00:42 If you get a Prohibited Sign on boot
1:01:15 How to boot to macOS Recovery
1:01:49 Keep your OCLP USB Drive
1:02:05 How to uninstall OCLP
1:02:36 How to get OCLP help & support
1:03:34 How to Support OCLP Devs!
1:04:06 OCLP Dev Credit!
1:06:22 Thank You!

Download OCLP TUI 0.4.6

Download OCLP Latest version

Having a issue? - OpenCore Legacy Support + Discord Server
To get aid with the patcher, we recommend joining the OpenCore Patcher Paradise Discord Server.

OpenCore How to articles

OpenCore Legacy Patcher github download page

Working Around Legacy Acceleration Issues

DISCLAIMER: Please understand that installing macOS Big Sur on your unsupported Mac is a best effort by the community. A ton of work went into getting the patcher to work! Some things might not work exactly right but it's really close. ALWAYS BACKUP YOUR FILES FIRST BEFORE YOU UPGRADE! The good news is that you are getting the latest security fixes from Apple. Some might argue that upgrading to Patched Big Sur makes your Mac safer since Apple is no longer fixing security issues on macOS High Sierra and below. Thanks

Support Mr. Macintosh!

Links

Twitter

[lenny]

Asked this man for help on twitter yesterday & today he uploaded a 1 hour in depth tutorial. Thank you so much!

[nicoocafaro]

It worked perfectly on my Mac Pro 09’, It have an intel processor, 8Gb of ram and 250gb SSD, just follow the step by step and you have no chance of some error, thanks and greetings from ARG🇦🇷

[eoliverosh]

I have a Mac mini server mid 2011 (5, 3). Two years ago I upgraded it with 16 GB of ram and two 480 GB SSD. I managed to run unsupported High Sierra with some annoying but manageable glitches. One month ago most of the installed software began telling me that it could no longer be updated, I was planning to dump my beloved machine. Then I saw your video, many times until I became familiar with the procedure. I finally installed Big Sur in it. Everything runs fine, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, video, AirDrop (never worked in High Sierra), everything! You and the OpenCore team are the best!!

[maukaman]

I finally got Big Sur running on my 2010 iMac that I pulled from a dumpster almost 2 years ago!!! It took many attempts and failures and I had just got it finally installed when I saw this video pop up 😂. I’m glad you made this new video, the instructions are very clear it should help some other users get it figured out. Wish this patch would have come sooner but I’m so thankful to those that made it happen!!!
Go out and get to know your local e-waste dump everybody!! Save these wonderful machines and breathe new life into them!

[MattGUploads]

You are an absolutely legendary person my friend! I hate that app devs don't do older versions of their apps for older OS'. But i followed this guide and my 2011 Macbook pro 13 inch is now running BigSur and all the apps I need FLAWLESSLY. Thank you so much! You got my sub!

[echerkaoui]

dude !!!! thank you so so much ! my 2011 MacBook Pro has never been this quiet ! the fan barely spins ! great explaining the steps ! keep the hard work

[emmalawson]

Wow! It worked on my late 2009 iMac! Thankyou! I bought this a week ago for £150, the gentleman I bought it from had just upgraded it to an SSD 128, and to 8gb ram, and new graphics card. So I was very lucky! Now this! I cannot thank you enough!

I was a little too scared to try the Monterey though! As I haven’t even updated my 2017 MacBook Air to Monterey either as yet 😂. So so happy! ☺️☺️☺️

[pielichiewicz]

Best tutorial ever. Since Bensova's bigsur patcher doesn't work for me, I stopped at 11.5 on my MBP 2012. Thanks to your help I went flawlessly through updating to 11.6.

[koenkummel]

Perfect, works like a charm. Used open core 0.2.5 which is a newer release. They also changed the menu structure, putting the SIP and SBM settings in a sub menu hence had to carefully read and compare to your tutorial. Other than that it went as a warm knife through the butter. Firsts regular apple updates were fetched and installed allready. so all seems to work. First feeling is that it runs much smoother and snappier then OS Catalina. My specs for reference: 10.1 early 2013 15" mbp 2.7ghz i7 16GB 750SSD Intel HD 1600mb. Saves me to buy a new one for at least a year.. Keep the good tutorials coming 😃Thanks

[eduardowatkinz]

Just finished installing on a Mac Mini 2012 i5 (upgraded). Worked like a charm. No issues at all; downloaded the latest software updates. I used the newest GUI OpenCore Patcher.... Thanks

[patrickigiraneza]

best tutorial ever
Just installed Big Sur 11.7 on my old mid 2012 Macbook Pro

[almatto]

Mr. Macintosh you are my hero. I updated my system and it would not allow me to run programs that need graphic acceleration. SO>>> I re-watched the video and like magic the "after install patcher" got the job Done. My "old" 2012 Mac Pro TOWER IS RUN NING LIKE A $7000 + NEW MAC. ThNK YOU VERY MUCH. I AM MAKING ANOTHER DONATION TO YOUR FANTASTIC TEAM. Your explanations are easy to follow even for 75 year old guy like me who watched your videos 3 times to get it right. You and your friends are incredible. 😃 NOTE TO ALL An SSD makes it flawless. Mr. Macintosh You covered all of the bases on this one.

[XxXSuperDadXxX]

I was having trouble for 2 days upgrading a friend's Mac past Catalina. I found you last night and followed this tutorial with super pausing power activated. Thank you so freaking much! This helped more that FEMA ever could!

[davidemuccioli]

This video is simply amazing and the effort in making it shows some real passion! Mr. Macintosh, you did an incredible job. I’ve tried to upgrade a mid 2011 Mac mini with SSD and 16gb ram: i was expecting “the strobo” effect that you mention on the last part of the video, but I’ve got some different graphical issues. I will retry to do it and in the worst case I will remain on Catalina. But, even if I’ll fail again, I really think that it’s worth to give it another try because your guide is so clear and useful that I owe it to you :)

[thelocalappinc]

Listen I can't thank you for this... I legit bought my first mac... used... only to find out it was like 2010 mid version running Sierra and important programs like XCode just couldn't work... I felt sooo defeated almost cheated for my ignorance and then I came across this walk through which was heaven sent...

I'm now running Big Sur on a 10 year old mac pro and lovingggg it... why does Apple practice these tactic with its customers this is soo not cool... someone would have otherwise legit dumped this device thinking it was worthless not realizing it just needed some Mr. Macintosh... THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!

[walidboujdour]

Because of you, i installed Big Sur on my early 2011 MacBook Pro, thank you very much for this in-depth video

[ShireIO]

Couldn't be happier. Your videos and the great work by the OpenCore team have revitalized my Mac Pro 5, 1

Using OpenCore I am now able to boot Big Sur directly from an NVME drive in slot 4 (not an SSD - a real NVME drive) and I even tossed in an NVidia GTX 770 which still has native Metal support. Absolutely gave my cheesegrater new life as an dev system! Thank you so much!

[janekscirulis]

Amazing video - fallowed your instructions and brought back 2 x Mac Pro (Early 2008) to use again with more decent Apps, fair play to you man - instructions are so clear and easy to fallow, absolute gent ;)

[adonysmercadal]

iMac 2013 27 inch 32gb of ram, i7, gtx 780m 4gb, 2tb ssd, and it works like a charm!!! Thanks a lot!!

[JosephHerzog]

Came back to say I GOT IT TO FREAKING WORK. I'm amazed that this worked. Stick with it, don't get frustrated, and this man will save you hundreds of dollars. Thank goodness for Mr MAC!