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dosdude1

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Feb 16, 2012
2,727
7,218

macOS 10.14 Mojave on Unsupported Macs​

com.apple.macbookpro-15.png

Machine Support

MacPro3,1​
MacPro4,1​
iMac8,1​
iMac9,1​
iMac10,x​
iMac11,x (systems with AMD Radeon HD 5xxx and 6xxx series GPUs will be almost unusable when running Mojave. More details are located in the Current Issues section below.)​
iMac12,x (systems with AMD Radeon HD 5xxx and 6xxx series GPUs will be almost unusable when running Mojave. More details are located in the Current Issues section below.)​
MacBookPro4,1​
MacBookPro5,x​
MacBookPro6,x​
MacBookPro7,1​
MacBookPro8,x​
MacBookAir2,1​
MacBookAir3,x​
MacBookAir4,x​
MacBook5,1​
Macmini3,1​
Macmini4,1​
Macmini5,x​
MacBook5,2​
MacBook6,1​
MacBook7,1​
Xserve2,1​
Xserve3,1​

Video Card Support

Pre-Metal AMD video cards (Radeon HD 6xxx series and older without acceleration, Radeon HD 4xxx series and older with acceleration.)
Pre-Metal Nvidia video cards (GeForce 5xx series and older, i.e. 8600M(GT)/8800M(GT), 9400M/9600M(GT), 320M/330M)
Pre-Metal Intel video cards (Intel HD Graphics 3000 and Intel HD Graphics Arrandale)

Installation

To install on your machine, you can download and run @dosdude1's macOS Mojave Patcher application, which will let you download a copy of the latest installer app from Apple and create a bootable installer drive for use on unsupported Macs. It contains all the patches necessary to achieve the hardware support listed above. The installation guide can be found here and an installation guide video here.

macOS Patcher (discontinued)​

More advanced users may consider using macOS Patcher, which is a command line-based tool that provides the same hardware support, while also adding support for MacBook4,1 systems. Please note that this project is no longer supported by the developer.

APFS ROM Patcher

Warning: This tool could irreversibly brick your EFI chip. Please exercise caution with machines that have multiple EEPROM definitions. Relevant information can be found here and here. The APFS ROM patcher can be found here. Use the password apfs to decrypt the ZIP.

Known Issues

Currently, it is not possible to get full graphics acceleration when running Mojave on a system with a Radeon HD 5xxx or 6xxx series video card. Mojave will be almost unusable without graphics acceleration. This includes the 15" and 17" MacBook Pro systems (MacBookPro8,2 and 8,3). If you want to enable GPU acceleration on these machines, you'll need to disable the AMD video card (This will work on MacBook Pro 8,2 and 8,3 systems ONLY. You CANNOT disable the AMD GPU in an iMac.) Weird colors will also be produced when running Mojave with one of these video cards installed/enabled. To disable the AMD GPU on a 2011 MacBook Pro 8,2 or 8,3, follow the guide found here.​
Some users have reported crashing upon opening the App Store. This is caused by App Store videos and can be worked around by disabling video autoplay and not viewing App Store videos. This is not a fix, this is a workaround. Safari may also experience crashes with certain kinds of embedded videos.​
Currently, built-in iSight cameras do not work correctly on some machines. It seems to be hit or miss, but when installing, expect your iSight camera to be non-functional.​
Trackpad multi-finger gestures on both machines not supported in Mojave. While the trackpad works and is fully usable, Mojave detects it as just a standard mouse, preventing you from changing some trackpad-oriented settings.​
The Intel GMA X3100 in the MB4,1 is not fully supported (framebuffer only, no acceleration). Mojave will be almost unusable without graphics acceleration.

Builds and Installer Versions

2018/09/24 10.14.0 Final, build 18A391, installer 14.0.22
2018/10/30 10.14.1 Final, build 18B75, installer 14.1.0
2018/12/05 10.14.2 Final, build 18C54, installer 14.2.2
2019/01/21 10.14.3 Final, build 18D42, installer 14.3.2
2019/02/07 10.14.3 Supplemental, build 18D109, installer 14.3.3
2019/03/25 10.14.4 Final, build 18E226, installer 14.4.08
2019/03/25 10.14.4 Supplemental, build 18E2034, installer 14.4.10
2019/05/13 10.14.5 Final, build 18F132, installer 14.5.02
2019/07/22 10.14.6 Final, build 18G84, installer 14.6.02
2019/08/02 10.14.6 1st supplemental, build 18G87, installer 14.6.03
2019/08/27 10.14.6 2nd supplemental, build 18G95, installer 14.6.04
2019/09/26 10.14.6 3rd supplemental, build 18G103, installer 14.6.06
2019/10/30 10.14.6 Security Update 2019-001, build 18G1012
2019/12/10 10.14.6 Security Update 2019-002, build 18G2022
2020/01/28 10.14.6 Security Update 2020-001, build 18G3020
2020/03/24 10.14.6 Security Update 2020-002, build 18G4032
2020/05/26 10.14.6 Security Update 2020-003, build 18G5033
2020/07/15 10.14.6 Security Update 2020-004, build 18G6020
2020/09/24 10.14.6 Security Update 2020-005, build 18G6032
2020/11/12 10.14.6 Security Update 2020-006, build 18G6042
2020/12/16 10.14.6 Security Update 2020-007, build 18G7016
2021/02/01 10.14.6 Security Update 2021-001, build 18G8012
2021/02/09 10.14.6 Security Update 2021-002, build 18G8022

2018/06/04 DP1, build 18A293u, installer 14.0.08
2018/06/19 DP2, build 18A314h, installer 14.0.11
2018/06/26 PB1, build 18A314k, installer 14.0.11
2018/07/03 DP3, build 18A326g, installer 14.0.12
2018/07/06 PB2, build 18A326h, installer 14.0.12
2018/07/16 DP4, 2018/07/17 PB3, build 18A336e, installer 14.0.14
2018/07/30 DP5, 2018/07/31 PB4, build 18A347e, installer 14.0.15
2018/08/06 DP6, 2018/08/06 PB5, build 18A353d, installer 14.0.16
2018/08/13 DP7, 2018/08/13 PB6, build 18A365a, installer 14.0.17
2018/08/20 DP8, 2018/08/20 PB7, build 18A371a, installer 14.0.18
2018/08/27 DP9, 2018/08/27 PB8, build 18A377a, installer 14.0.20
2018/09/04 DP10, 2018/09/04 PB9, build 18A384a, installer 14.0.21
2018/09/12 DP11, 2018/09/12 PB10, build 18A389, installer 14.0.21
2018/09/25 10.14.1 DP1, 2018/09/27 PB1, build 18B45d
2018/10/02 10.14.1 DP2, 2018/10/02 PB2, build 18B50c
2018/10/08 10.14.1 DP3, 2018/10/08 PB3, build 18B57c
2018/10/17 10.14.1 DP4, 2018/10/17 PB4, build 18B67a
2018/10/23 10.14.1 DP5, 2018/10/23 PB5, build 18B73a
2018/10/31 10.14.2 DP1, 2018/11/02 PB1, build 18C31g
2018/11/07 10.14.2 DP2, 2018/11/07 PB2, build 18C38b
2018/11/16 10.14.2 DP3, 2018/11/16 PB3, build 18C48a
2018/11/28 10.14.2 DP4, 2018/11/28 PB4, build 18C52a
2018/12/10 10.14.3 DP1, 2018/12/11 PB1, build 18D21c
2018/12/19 10.14.3 DP2, 2018/12/19 PB2, build 18D32a
2019/01/07 10.14.3 DP3, 2019/01/07 PB3, build 18D38a
2019/01/11 10.14.3 DP4, 2019/01/11 PB4, build 18D39a
2019/01/24 10.14.4 DP1, 2019/01/28 PB1, build 18E174f
2019/02/04 10.14.4 DP2, 2019/02/05 PB2, build 18E184e
2019/02/18 10.14.4 DP3, 2019/02/19 PB3, build 18E194d
2019/03/04 10.14.4 DP4, 2019/03/04 PB4, build 18E205e
2019/03/11 10.14.4 DP5, 2019/03/11 PB5, build 18E215a
2019/03/18 10.14.4 DP6, 2019/03/18 PB6, build 18E220a
2019/03/28 10.14.5 DP1, build 18F96h
2019/04/08 10.14.5 DP2, build 18F108f
2019/04/22 10.14.5 DP3, build 18F118d
2019/04/29 10.14.5 DP4, build 18F127a
2019/05/07 10.14.5 DP5, build 18F131a
2019/05/15 10.14.6 DP1, build 18G29g
2019/06/11 10.14.6 DP2, build 18G48f
2019/06/24 10.14.6 DP3, build 18G59b
2019/07/09 10.14.6 DP4, build 18G71a
2019/07/16 10.14.6 DP5, build 18G78a
2019/10/14 10.14.6 Security Update 2019-001 beta 1, build 18G1005
2019/10/17 10.14.6 Security Update 2019-001 beta 2, build 18G1007
2019/10/24 10.14.6 Security Update 2019-001 beta 3, build 18G1011
2019/11/07 10.14.6 Security Update 2019-002 beta 1, build 18G2007

Credits

@dosdude1 - Developed macOS Mojave Patcher, fixed 10.14.4 graphics acceleration, found CCFL backlight fix
@parrotgeek1 - Developed LegacyUSBInjector, developed SIPManager, developed NDRVShim, source, fixed legacy WiFi cards
@Czo - Developed SUVMMFaker, source
@ASentientBot - Fixed Nvidia kernel panic, Core 2 Duo kernel panic, and iSight
@jackluke - Narrowed down cause of Core 2 Duo kernel panic
@Larsvonhier - Fixed USB/input, graphics, WiFi, audio and backlight-off for MacBook4,1, and Siri crashes on 10.14.4/.5/.6
Julian Fairfax - Developed macOS Downloader, and macOS Patcher (Discontinued Projects)
@Minh_Ton - Fixed News+ crashes

Moderator Note
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Last edited:

FlorisVN

macrumors 6502a
Nov 8, 2013
973
379
As of yet, the systems officially supported in 10.14 are unknown, and the download is not yet available in my Dev portal. I will update the thread as updates are received.

“macOS Mojave will be available this fall as a free software update for Macs introduced in mid-2012 or later, plus 2010 and 2012 Mac Pro models with recommended Metal-capable graphics cards.”
[doublepost=1528140511][/doublepost]unfortunately my core i7 late 2011 Macbook Pro is not supported anymore...
 

saudor

macrumors 68000
Jul 18, 2011
1,506
2,079
Now to find out what Metal cards are supported on the Mac Pros. 4,1 to 5,1 conversions should have no problem installing with a proper card. I'm assuming most AMD RX cards are fine, but what about nVidia?
the 2012 are based on kelper so i imagine 600+
 
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EugW

macrumors G5
Jun 18, 2017
13,738
11,431
I guess I'll be needing your help for my 2010 iMac.

Not that I really care that much though, since I'm only using it as an external monitor these days, for my 2017 iMac. :D
 

Czo

macrumors 6502
Dec 30, 2008
433
267
Debrecen, Hungary
It's seems to me, that most unsupported macs need an updated GPU. So, iMacs with upgraded GPU and Mac Pro's can be supported unofficially. But all of the available cards with MXM format are can't control the brightness of the iMac screen and can't show the boot screen.
 
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saudor

macrumors 68000
Jul 18, 2011
1,506
2,079
This will be harder since it seems like the entire OS is metal based.. and emulating that kind of stuff in software makes for a crappy experience
 
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FlorisVN

macrumors 6502a
Nov 8, 2013
973
379
This will be harder since it seems like the entire OS is metal based.. and emulating that kind of stuff in software makes for a crappy experience

indeed, i think tools that dosdude1 created like macOS High Sierra Patcher Tool for Unsupported Macs wil maybay get a hard time on this one..
Metal hardware is possibly required, but we will see...
 
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EugW

macrumors G5
Jun 18, 2017
13,738
11,431
This will be harder since it seems like the entire OS is metal based.. and emulating that kind of stuff in software makes for a crappy experience
Yeah, I think I'm happy enough keeping my iMac11,3 & MacBook5,1 & MacBookPro5,5 on 10.13 High Sierra, since the OS supports the new image formats and APFS. And I expect we'll have modern browser support until 2022.
 

redheeler

macrumors G3
Oct 17, 2014
8,419
8,841
Colorado, USA
I really hope iTunes will get updates for a long time on High Sierra, and of course internet browsers...
The update period is usually three years for Safari + general security updates and four years for iTunes (minus one year as High Sierra was released last fall). Third-party browsers such as Chrome are generally supported for twice as long as Safari.

So there's still some time to go before High Sierra is no longer viable, but missing out on features like dark mode on older Macs is seriously disappointing nonetheless. Dark mode should have been added years ago in my opinion.
 
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