OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher

OpenCore Legacy Patcher is a Python tool that lets you install and run modern versions of macOS on older Apple computers that Apple itself has stopped supporting. The project's stated goal is to breathe new life into Macs no longer supported by Apple, allowing the installation of macOS Big Sur and newer on machines as old as 2007. In practice this means a Mac that Apple has cut off from updates can still run Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma, or Sequoia.

The way it works is by building on top of two existing projects from Acidanthera: OpenCorePkg, a bootloader that pretends to be the firmware a newer Mac would have, and Lilu, which patches the operating system at runtime. On top of that foundation, this patcher adds the macOS-specific tweaks needed for old hardware — graphics acceleration for both Metal and non-Metal GPUs, Wi-Fi and Personal Hotspot support on older wireless chipsets, enhanced power management for non-Apple SSDs, and unlocking features like Sidecar and AirPlay to Mac. It supports Macs back to the Penryn generation, keeps over-the-air system updates working, and preserves security features like System Integrity Protection, FileVault 2, and Secure Boot. It does this without permanently modifying the Mac's firmware.

Someone would use this if they own an older iMac, MacBook, or Mac mini that Apple has dropped from the supported-hardware list and they want current macOS releases instead of buying new hardware. Only clean installs and upgrades are supported. The project is written in Python and ships an installer GUI; community support lives on a Discord server. The full README is longer than what was provided.