Select the yellow storage icon labeled . This loads the OpenCore environment.
Several patchers can install Big Sur on unsupported Macs. However, not all are actively maintained. Below is an overview of the major players.
Immediately after, your Mac will reboot back to a similar screen. This time, select . Step 6: Install macOS Big Sur
Select the yellow icon labeled . This loads OpenCore into your system's memory. Macos Big Sur Patcher
Step-by-Step Installation Guide (Using OpenCore Legacy Patcher) Step 1: Download the Tools
While this article focuses on macOS Big Sur, one of the greatest advantages of OpenCore Legacy Patcher is its ability to support versions of macOS. OCLP currently provides official support for Big Sur (11.x) through Sonoma (14.x) and Sequoia (15.x).
Patched Sur was highly popular during the early days of Big Sur. It features a beautiful, user-friendly graphical interface designed specifically for Big Sur. Select the yellow storage icon labeled
: Though it later became the gold standard for all unsupported macOS versions, OCLP's approach of patching hardware in memory (spoofing) offered a cleaner alternative that didn't permanently alter system files. The Technical Trade-offs
Once you have Big Sur running, you cannot update via System Preferences like a normal Mac.
Now, here are a few search terms you might find useful. However, not all are actively maintained
A popular, user-friendly graphical wrapper for Big Sur that simplifies the process of creating a patched installer.
Select the EFI partition on that USB drive to write the boot files. Phase 4: The Installation Process Shut down your Mac. Turn it on while holding down the key. Select the yellow EFI Boot icon with the OpenCore logo. From the OpenCore boot menu, select Install macOS Big Sur .
This article will explain what a patcher is, which Macs you can save, how to use the patcher tools (specifically the OpenCore Legacy Patcher and DosDude1’s legacy tools ), and the performance trade-offs you can expect.
Right now, your Mac can only boot into Big Sur because the USB drive is plugged in. Let's fix that.