Written by
Jenny Zeng
OpenCore Legacy Patcher (OCLP) is a bootloader primarily used for Hackintosh systems. It enables you to install new macOS versions on unsupported Macs, providing a way to run newer versions of macOS on older Macs that Apple no longer officially supports.
This article covers direct links to download OpenCore Legacy Patcher from GitHub.
How to download OpenCore Legacy Patcher?
Since its initial release in 2020, OpenCore Legacy Patcher has been updated numerous times to support new macOS versions and address existing issues. Whether you want to install the newest macOS Sequoia or an older version, you should download the latest version of OCLP 2.4.0.
OpenCore Legacy Patcher download 2.4.0 (Latest) for Sequoia/Sonoma/Ventura/Monterey/Big Sur
To learn more about OCLP releases, check out its official guide.
Is OpenCore Legacy Patcher free on Mac? Yes, OpenCore Legacy Patcher is an open-source project that's completely free.
Here is a list of macOS releases that the latest version of OCLP supports:
| macOS Big Sur 11.7.10 | 20G1427 | 12.4GB |
| macOS Monterey 12.7.4 | 21H1123 | 12.4GB |
| macOS Ventura 13.7.4 | 22H420 | 12.2GB |
| macOS Ventura 13.7.5 | 22H527 | 12.2GB |
| macOS Ventura 13.7.6 | 22H625 | 12.2GB |
| macOS Sonoma 14.7.4 | 23H420 | 13.7GB |
| macOS Sonoma 14.7.5 | 23h527 | 13.7GB |
| macOS Sonoma 14.7.6 | 23H626 | 13.7GB |
| macOS Sequoia 15.3.1 | 24D70 | 15.2GB |
| macOS Sequoia 15.3.2 | 24D81 | 15.2GB |
| macOS Sequoia 15.4 | 24E248 | 15.6GB |
| macOS Sequoia 15.4.1 | 24E263 | 15.6GB |
| macOS Sequoia 15.5 Beta | 24F5068b | 15.6GB |
| macOS Sequoia 15.5 | 24F74 | 15.7GB |
After downloading the OpenCore-Patcher.pkg file, follow the instructions to install it on your Mac. Then, continue reading this guide from Dortania to install macOS on an unsupported Mac.
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OpenCore Legacy Patcher download failed
Sometimes, the OpenCore Legacy Patcher download may fail with messages like "Download failed: HTTPSConnectionPool(host='swcdn.apple.com', port=433): Read timed out." If it occurs to you, you can download the installer from iBoysoft DiskGeeker. It provides macOS installers for macOS High Sierra and later versions.
Here's how to download the macOS installer when OpenCore Legacy Patcher won't allow you:
Step 1: Download, install, and open OpenCore Legacy Patcher.
Step 2: Select an internal partition and click Download Image.
Step 3: Choose the macOS version you want to download and click Get.
If you need macOS Sierra or earlier, get it from this guide: Free Download Latest macOS, OS X, & Mac OS X Installers
Once you have the installer, you need to double-click the DMG file and add the .app installer to your Applications folder. Then you can proceed to write the installer onto a USB drive in OCLP.
Can you use OpenCore Legacy Patcher without USB?
No, you can't use OpenCore Legacy Patcher without USB during installation. To install macOS on your old Mac, it's necessary to create a bootable USB installer on which the hardware-specific OpenCore configuration will be installed.
However, you're allowed to boot your Mac without the USB drive after the initial installation, as long as OpenCore is installed on your internal hard drive. To boot without USB, follow the steps below:
- Download and open OpenCore Legacy Patcher on your Mac.
- Click "Build and Install OpenCore."
- Click on "Install to Disk."
- Choose your internal hard drive.
- After it's installed, restart your Mac while holding the Option key and select the internal EFI partition from the boot menu.
What are the risks of OpenCore Legacy Patcher?
Using OpenCore Legacy Patcher (OCLP) to install macOS on unsupported hardware can come with several risks. It can lead to crashes, freezes, or unexpected behavior. Besides, some features may not work properly. Updating macOS will be a bit more complex as well, since each new release may require a new patch to OCLP, and there's a risk of breaking the installation.
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