How to Install macOS Sonoma on Unsupported Mac

As one of the most recent versions of Apple’s desktop OS, macOS Sonoma brings big improvements and a host of new features to Mac, including revamped widgets, a new lock screen, Game mode, and more. As such, you may be wondering how to install Sonoma on unsupported Mac models.

Depending on the Mac you have, it may be a lot simpler than you might have anticipated. In this guide, we’ll look at the reasons for upgrading to macOS Sonoma, and how to get Apple’s latest OS on Macs that aren’t officially supported.

Before we begin:

It’s a good idea to clear junk and unnecessary clutter from your Mac before you update it. It’ll not only give you more space for the latest version of macOS, but it’ll also help your MacBook run faster and more reliably. We recommend using MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup tool for the best results.

Try this:

1. Download and install MacKeeper.
2. When MacKeeper opens, select Safe Cleanup.
3. Click Start Scan to find all unnecessary junk.
4. Select the items you want to remove, then click Clean Junk Files.

Macs supported by macOS Sonoma

Before you look at unofficial ways to upgrade to macOS Sonoma, we advise that you double-check your system isn’t officially supported with this update. Here’s a list of Mac models compatible with macOS 14:

• Mac mini (2018 and later)
• Mac Studio (all models)
• MacBook Air (2018 and later)
• MacBook Pro (2018 and later)
• iMac (2019 and later)
• iMac Pro (2017)
• Mac Pro (2019 and later)

A hint from us: 

If you’ve been wondering why is your Mac not updating to Sonoma and you don’t see it on this list, it’s not officially compatible. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re out of luck. Let’s look at how to run macOS Sonoma on unsupported Mac models.

Reasons for installing macOS Sonoma on unsupported Mac

You might be wondering whether trying to update to macOS Sonoma using an unofficial method is really worth it. Well, there are many reasons why it should be considered. Firstly, it means you’re protected by the latest security enhancements, and you get to enjoy apps that don’t work on earlier macOS releases.

You also get access to all the new features and improvements that Sonoma brings, like the redesigned lock screen, big updates to Messages and Safari, support for the Game Porting Toolkit that lets you run Windows games on Mac, and more. It should be noted, however, that there are cons as well as pros.

Although you may be able to install Sonoma on your Mac using an unofficial method, it doesn’t always mean you should. Apple typically drops support for older Mac models when they can no longer handle its newest software features, so if you have a particularly old device, the update could cause you problems.

Is it safe to install macOS 14 on unsupported MacBook?

It’s not just the possibility of slower performance that you need to be aware of before you install Sonoma on an unsupported Mac. We should also warn you of the risk of running into hardware issues as a result of running an unsupported OS, some of which could break important features.

In addition, installing macOS updates using unofficial methods can pose security risks if you’re not careful. The methods we’re going to cover in this article are safe as long as you download the tools you need from the right sources, but we can’t promise that other methods won’t cause issues, so proceed with caution.

Prerequisites for downloading macOS Sonoma on unsupported Mac

If you’re confident you understand the risks of running Sonoma on an unsupported device, and you’re still excited to get Apple’s newest release, it’s time to prepare for the update. Below are the steps you should take before you download macOS Sonoma on unsupported Mac computers.

1. Check hardware compatibility

Step one is to check that your Mac’s hardware is compatible with Sonoma, even unofficially. You’ll need at least 4GB of RAM, a minimum of 15GB of storage space, and a processor powerful enough to handle Sonoma smoothly. You’ll also need a 16GB (or larger) flash drive for creating the installation media.

If you need to free up space on your Mac, or you just want to tidy things up before updating—which we highly recommend—try using MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup tool for the best results. It quickly finds all the useless junk on your system and safely removes it for you in just a few clicks.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Open MacKeeper and select Safe Cleanup in the sidebar.
2. Click Start Scan.
3. Select the junk data you want to remove, then click Clean Junk Files to delete them.

2. Backup your data

After deleting files you don’t need, it’s time to backup all the important data you do want to keep. Although your Mac’s startup disk shouldn’t be wiped during the update process, there’s always a risk that things could go wrong and that data gets lost. If you don’t have a fresh backup, it’ll be gone for good.

3. Choose required tools and software for installation

As well as a 16GB flash drive for the macOS installer, you’ll need a piece of software that lets you download Sonoma and patch it to run on your Mac’s unsupported hardware. The most trusted and reliable solution for this is a utility called OpenCore Legacy Patcher, which you can download here.

4. Ensure power stability

As is the case with any software update, it’s vital that you ensure your Mac has plenty of power and is plugged in throughout the upgrade process. If your computer runs out of power while installation is in progress, you could end up with a corrupt startup disk and possibly even hardware failures.

How to install and run macOS 14 on unsupported MacBook

It’s now time to install and run macOS 14 on your unsupported MacBook, which means first downloading the Sonoma installer from Apple, copying it to a freshly formatted flash drive to create your installation media, and then booting it up. To download and patch the update, we’ll use OpenCore Legacy Patcher.

Once all the prerequisites are in place, we can proceed further.

1. Prepare bootable macOS Sonoma installer

Let’s start by creating the bootable macOS Sonoma installer you’ll use to update from your current version of macOS. Follow these steps:

1. Plug your USB flash drive into your Mac, then open the OpenCore Legacy Patcher that you downloaded earlier and click Create macOS Installer.
2. Select Download macOS Installer when prompted. OpenCore Legacy Patcher will then find all available versions of macOS.
3. Choose macOS 14 Sonoma, then click Download.
4. When the download is complete, click Install macOS Sonoma.
5. A success message will appear once the process is complete. Click OK.
6. Return to the OpenCore tool, then click Build and Install OpenCore.
7. Select Install OpenCore.
8. Click Install to disk, then choose your drive from the list.

2. Install macOS Sonoma using OpenCore or Patched Sur

Now that you have a flash drive with macOS Sonoma ready to install on your Mac, we can start the install process:

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Make sure your flash drive is still plugged in.
3. Turn on your Mac while holding down the Option key.
4. After a little while, you should see the Mac boot screen. Select the option with the OpenCore logo, which should be labelled EFI Boot.
5. Click Install macOS Sonoma.
6. It may take a while (don’t interrupt it) but you will eventually enter Internet Recovery on Mac. Select Install macOS Sonoma, click Continue, then follow the steps on screen. Leave your USB drive plugged in throughout the process.

Important: 

If your Mac is too old to run macOS Sonoma, you can use OpenCore to install older macOS versions. Alternatively, you may want to consider using Patched Sur if macOS 11 Big Sur is the most suitable update option for your machine.

3. Complete installation and set up your Mac

Once the update is complete and macOS Sonoma boots up, OpenCore will prompt you to complete the installation process:

1. Click OK, select Install to disk, then choose your Mac’s startup disk.
2. Reboot when prompted.
3. Launch OpenCore again, then click Post-Install Root Patch.
4. Select Start Root Patching.

A note from our team: 

Once this process is complete, you can finally start enjoying macOS Sonoma on your unsupported Mac. It’s now safe to remove your USB flash drive. We also suggest learning how to delete old software updates on Mac since you won’t need those anymore, and they can take up a lot of space.

4. Troubleshoot common installation issues

Running macOS Sonoma on an unsupported device is great when it works, but because it’s not officially supported, there are common installation issues that can occur, such as:

• OpenCore won’t launch
• “You don’t have permission to save” error
• Stuck on drive selection screen
• Boot loops
• “Unable to resolve dependencies” error
• Graphics acceleration not working

Fortunately, Dortania, the creator of OpenCore, provides an extensive troubleshooting guide online that will help you address all of the above issues and more.

5. Optimize macOS Sonoma performance on unsupported Macs

We recommend taking some steps to optimize macOS Sonoma after updating. Since it’s not officially compatible with unsupported Macs, you may find that performance is disappointing initially, and you may even encounter crashes. However, these tips from our experts can make a big difference:

• Disable any resource-intensive features you won’t use, as well as any that don’t work properly on your device.
• Stop unnecessary apps from launching automatically in System Settings > General > Login Items to reduce system load at launch.
• Update your applications to ensure Sonoma compatibility.
• Reduce the number of apps you use simultaneously, and only run one resource-intensive program at a time if necessary.
• Free up space by deleting unnecessary apps and files and clearing junk.

Conclusion

Although macOS Sonoma supports only a handful of modern Macs officially, it’s possible to install the update and enjoy all its new features on many unsupported devices. In fact, thanks to a tool called OpenCore Legacy Patcher, it’s actually pretty simple, as we’ve outlined in the guide above.

Before updating your Mac, use MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup tool to quickly free up space by removing old log and cache files, unused language packs, unwanted mail attachments, and more in just a few clicks.