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What is OCLP (OpenCore Legacy Patcher)
What is OCLP (OpenCore Legacy Patcher)
Basically a tool to install latest macOS to obsoleted (Legacy) Macs.
macOS is actually open sourced so a community of quite capable hackers (mostly in EU) rescuing drivers and software components from obsolete Macs into later macOS. They do an amazing job following the macOS design easy of use philosophy. You’d be amazed how polished the patching process is after becoming familiar.
Despite their heroic efforts. There are some gaps that is too big to cross. The main one is Apple’s shift towards Metal Graphics starting in 2012. Eventually, more software become reliant on Metal such as transparency desktop user interfaces and Maps (Map components shows up in Photos geotagging and Calendar’s locations)
In general
<= 2011 Macs should aim <= Big Sur with some tweaks to eliminate transparency visual problems
>= 2012 Macs are metal compatible and can go to the latest macOS (Sonoma as of 2/2024)
Basic Process
Basic Process
REALLY IMPORTANT FIRST STEP : Any Mac that can be updated to High Sierra must have first been updated to HS previously. HS installs system logic board firmware that can understand APFS file system commonly used in newer macOS. Do this through Apple's standard macOS upgrade process first. If Mac is too old to run HS, then no need to worry. If Mac has been updated to HS in the past (or is already running later than macOS HS) then HS firmware has already been installed.
Basically need to build a macOS Installer on a USB stick and boot that on the legacy Mac being upgraded.
HINT : Using a USB NVMe adapter with a NVMe SSD will be quite a bit faster than a USB stick
Guides
Guides
There are many guides online including excellent youtube videos. Here is a fairly good source
https://www.youtube.com/@Mr.Macintosh
OCLP is evolving rather quickly so definitely follow more recent guides as it will reflect the current condition. Older guides will often refer to obsolete steps etc.
OCLP Pros
OCLP Pros
Gets <=2011 Macs beyond High Sierra into modern browsers
Run software that depends on newer macOSes
OCLP Cons
OCLP Cons
Latest macOS (Sonoma, Ventura) made after Apple Silicon uses a lot of CPU power. Older Intel Macbooks running these new macOS using OCLP will likely suffer 50% battery life loss
Some instability and bugs. But generally OCLP tool is maturing really fast and a capable daily driver for many casual users.
Updating macOS isn't as easy as Apple (yet, but OCLP team seems to be aiming to achieve the same easy of use). Need to build a USB macOS installer stick to upgrade even minor macOS upgrades (but apps and security updates can just use apple's upgrade process). But note the Mac has already jumped a few macOSes ahead :)
Carbon Copy Cloner and SuperSuper! full bootable backups features are no longer possible due to OCLP's patches.
Migration doesn't work ( but see next )
Migration and backup is more complex.
None Metal GPUs
None Metal GPUs
All <= 2011 Macs without metal GPU can use a simple transparency trick to get rid of all transparency UI flashing. See here
Also without metal GPU, its not clear can OCLP upgrade much beyond Big Sur as there are more application anomolies.
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