Big Sur on unsupported Mac

Unsupported Macs supported by ‘Patched Sur’ First of all, make sure that your Mac is not in the official macOS Big Sur list of compatible Macs.At the time of writing, the following Macs are.

Installing Big Sur on an unsupported Mac can’t be done the regular way through System Preferences > Software update. However, if the machine’s not too old, there’s still a way to install Big Sur on an unsupported Mac using a specially developed patcher tool.

Big Sur Workaround

At first glance, it may seem impossible to install macOS Bug Sur on a machine that’s not supported. If you are using a Mac that’s too old and go to its Software Update section, you will see that you are simply not allowed to install the Big Sur upgrade. If, however, you are determined to get Big Sur on your Mac, it may still be done in a roundabout way, by using a specially-developed patcher that you can download from here.

Depending on how old your Mac is, the patcher may or may not enable you to install Big Sur – some Macs are just too old, and even the patcher cannot make it possible for the latest macOS to be installed on them.

On the linked page (from where you can download the patcher), you can find notes that show for which Mac models (and hardware compositions) the patcher is most likely to work and for which it’s not recommended to try it. Carefully look through those notes and if it turns out that your Mac doesn’t have the necessary prerequisites, it’s best if you don’t try the patcher as it will probably not work and may cause unnecessary complications that could be difficult to fix. There is a reason why the latest macOS isn’t supported on older Mac models. The system requirements of Big Sur are higher than what most of the older models can effectively handle and so, unless you are certain that your Mac can run on Big Sur (check the notes in the link), it would probably be best if you kept its current macOS, that it can run stably.

Important Note

  • Big Sur Micropatcher ⭐ 1,055. A primitive USB patcher for installing macOS Big Sur on unsupported Macs. Patched Sur ⭐ 940. A simple but powerful patcher for macOS Big Sur. Automator For Barrykn Micropatcher ⭐ 24. Automator for the BarryKN Micropatcher. 1 - 3 of 3 projects. Advertising 📦 9.
  • How To Install Macos Big Sur On Unsupported Macs. To install macos big sur on an unsupported mac we must do it on a disk partition and from macos catalina. This way if something goes wrong, we can always continue using our mac as if nothing else. To make a partition follow these steps: click on the magnifying glass and look for the app disk utility. Up click on create partition.
  • Aug 25, 2021 The macOS 11, which goes by the name Big Sur, comes with a newer user interface and menu bars, redesigning icons and other features. It is better than macOS 10.15, Catalina, due to its powerful improvement and new features. However, Apple dropped various Mac versions, making installation of macOS 11 on unsupported Macs almost impossible.

Also, it is important that you back up your important data – even if your Mac model and hardware composition are compatible with the patcher according to the notes, you should still make sure that any important data you don’t want to lose is safely backed up.

Another thing to mention is that, if you are using FireVault, you need to have it turned off, or else the patcher will probably not work.

The last precaution before you start with the Big Sur installation is to download the current macOS that you have on your Mac/MacBook onto a USB stick so that, should there be a problem with the Big Sur installation, you can always install the older macOS onto the machine using the USB stick.

With all that out of the way, here’s how you can use the Big Sur patcher to upgrade your unsupported Mac to the latest macOS.

Macos Big Sur On Unsupported Mac 10.12.6

How to install Big Sur on unsupported Mac

To install Big Sur on an unsupported Mac, you must first create a bootable USB drive using a special patcher app. Then you need to use the USB drive to install Big Sur on the unsupported Mac, and, lastly, you must install the needed patches.

Creating a bootable USB stick using the Big Sur patcher.

The first phase of the process involves creating a bootable USB drive with the help of a special patcher, so here’s how to do that:

  1. Start by getting an empty USB stick with enough space on it – it is recommended the stick has at least 16 GB free storage space (the more, the better).
  2. Plug the empty USB stick into your Mac, go to Spotlight (the magnifying glass icon in the top-right), type Disk Utility, and hit Enter.
  3. Select the View icon in the top-left and select Show All Devices.
  4. Click on the USB drive from the left panel, and select Erase.
  5. In the Erase window, make sure that the format is set to Mac OS Extended and click on Erase.
  6. After the USB drive is erased, close the Disk Utility, open your browser, and go to the page where the patcher is (here is the link to it again). DO NOT remove the USB stick from your Mac – it must stay plugged into the computer during the next steps.
  7. Look at the right side of the page, where it says Releases (you may have to scroll down a bit), and select Latest.
  8. You will see the latest available patch and down below, under assets, you will see the download link/links for it. Click on the first link and download the file on your Desktop.
  9. Next, close the browser, open the patcher, and when a window pops up on your screen, double-click on the Patched Sur icon.
  10. When macOS asks you if you are sure you want to open the app, select Open and select Start from the newly-opened window.
  11. Next, the patcher will automatically detect what Mac model you are using and show you what Big Sur features will work on it and what features won’t be available – select Continue in that window.
  12. If you want, read the guide that appears on your screen and click Continue again.
  13. On the next page, make sure that the “Release” option is selected, and click on Continue.
  14. In the next screen, select Update, and then click Continue.
  15. Wait until the download finishes and then click on Download macOS 11.0.1 (or whatever macOS version is shown).
  16. Wait for the loading process to complete (it’s likely going to take quite a lot of time, so be patient), provide your Mac password, and click on Continue.
  17. Next, select the name of the empty USB stick and then select Continue, and Continue again on the next page.
  18. The following process could take quite some time, so be patient, wait for everything to be finished, and then close the window. Once the process is complete, macOS Big Sur will be downloaded onto the empty USB stick and will be ready to be installed on your Mac. To close the window, click on Patched Sur in the top-left and select Quit Patched Sur.

Installing macOS Big Sur

Once you have the bootable USB stick ready, it’s time to install Big Sur on your Mac.

  1. Shut down your Mac and when it powers down completely, start it back up, and immediately after pressing the power button, press and hold the left Option (Alt) key.
  2. Once you get a screen with three different options, select the one labeled Install macOS Big Sur. If you don’t get that screen and your Mac starts normally, repeat the previous step until you get the screen with the three options.
  3. When your Mac loads to a screen with four different options, do the following if the current macOS on the computer isn’t Catalina but one that is older. If your current macOS is Catalina, skip steps 4 to 7 and go directly to step 8.
  4. Select Disk Utility and then click on Continue.
  5. Click on the View icon from the top and select Show All Devices (like you did in one of the earlier steps).
  6. In the left panel, select the drive on which the current macOS is installed (should be the one shown at the top).
  7. Next, click on Erase, make sure that the format is set to APFS, and select Erase.
    • Important!: this action will erase everything on the selected hard drive, so it is important to have previously backed up data you wouldn’t want to lose. If you haven’t done that, restart your Mac, back up your data, and then erase the drive.
  8. Once the drive is erased, go back to the screen with four options, select Install macOS Big Sur, and click Continue, and then Continue again.
  9. Agree to the Terms and Conditions, on the next page, select the drive on which you’d like Big Sur to be installed, and select Continue. This will begin the installation of Big Sur and, again, depending on a number of factors, this process could anywhere between 45 minutes to 3 hours (or more).

Patiently wait for the installation to complete and once your Mac starts again, you will have Big Sur installed onto it. If you have performed a fresh install of Big Sur (if you’ve first erased your previous OS, you will have to go through several normal setup steps that are very easy to complete).

Installing Necessary Patches

The last phase of the Big Sur installation is to install several important patches to make your Mac function properly.

  1. Once the computer starts after the Big Sur installation, and you complete any required setup steps (in case you’ve performed a fresh install of the OS), open the icon of the bootable USB drive.
  2. Open the Patched Sur app and select the Patch Kexts.
  3. Click Continue, enter your password and click on Continue again.
  4. Once the patches are installed, the app will ask you to restart your Mac, so click on the Restart to Finish option and wait for the computer to restart.
  5. If your Mac is a very old one, one thing that could help it run smoother is to go back to the Patcher, select Settings, and click on the Disable Animations option. We also recommend selecting the Clean Leftovers button to get rid of any unnecessary files and free up some space on the computer.

Once this is finished, your Mac will be ready for use with the macOS Big Sur installed on it. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask them in the comments section below.

Want to install macOS Big Sur, but your Mac is not on the supported list? In this detailed guide, we will learn how to install macOS Big Sur on unsupported Mac models. Installing macOS Big Sur on unsupported Mac can be achieved with macOS Patcher file. We have a detailed guide ahead that will help you install macOS Big Sur on unsupported MAC.

You can also read our guide- How to Install macOS Catalina on Unsupported Mac: 9 Easy Steps and How To Install macOS Catalina On Virtualbox On AMD Systems: 2 Step Ultimate Guide.

Last year’s most significant WWDC event was a new version of macOS, Big Sur, and the announcement of the move to its own ARM processors. In macOS 11 (instead of the expected 10.16), Apple has massively redesigned the interface, added many new features and tools to move to new application architecture. We tell you which Mac models will be able to install macOS Big Sur.

The “Today” widgets in MacOS Big Sur are similar to the updated widgets in iOS 14. Other changes include an updated widget-enabled notification center, significantly improved messages, a powerful Safari upgrade, and more. Apple will release macOS Big Sur for all compatible Macs this fall.

Which Mac models will be supported by macOS Big Sur?

Supported devices that will receive MacOS Big Sur support:

  • MacBook 2015 and newer
  • MacBook Air 2013 and newer
  • MacBook Pro 2013 and newer
  • Mac mini 2014 and newer
  • iMac 2014 and newer
  • iMac Pro 2017 and newer
  • Mac Pro 2013 and newer

Because macOS Big Sur is a major update, Apple has given up support for several outdated Macs. The transition to new Apple Silicon processors will take several years, so the current Macs running at Intel will be updated for a long time.

Apple also unveiled updated iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. The new WatchOS 7 won’t support the Apple Watch Series 1 and 2, but iPhone and iPad users who support iOS and iPadOS 13 will be able to upgrade their devices to the next generation of OS seamlessly.

How to install macOS Big Sur on unsupported Mac models?

If you are an experienced user who is ready to install unsupported software on unsupported technology, then you are at the right place as we have prepared the easiest solution to install macOS Big Sur on unsupported Mac models. This is the only working method so far on the internet.

The process of Installing macOS Big Sur on an unsupported Mac is to use the macOS Big Sur patch file, which will be applied to the primary USB boot. NOTE: The method is not suitable for ordinary users. You should also avoid using Mac models without Metal GPU. On older models, performance will be deficient.

Step 1: Create a Backup

First, save a copy of your Mac with Time Machine, and then move on to the instructions.

Step 2: Download Big Sur Patcher File

To install macOS Big Sur on unsupported Mac models, you need to download Big Sur Patcher file. This will trick the installation files of the macOS version you want to install and convince it that the Mac is compatible. You can download Big Sur Patcher file below.

You can download the latest version of the macOS Big Sur Patcher as seen in the snapshot above.

Step 3: Open the macOS Big Sur Patcher file

Once you’ve retrieved the archive from the downloaded file, you’ll find the Patcher-Sur.dmg file.

Now simply right-click the Patcher-Sur.dmg file to open it and follow the steps.

Click Start.

Click Continue.

Select Release. You can also use the Public Beta version if you want to test it.

Click Continue.

You can simple Update or proceed with a Clean installation. If you are coming from a different OS version say Catalina, you need to select Clean installation,

Download Big Sur files.

Wait for the download to finish. It might take up to 20 minutes, depending upon the speed of your wifi.

If you are facing any issues with patching, you can see this detailed guide.

Step 4: Insert USB Drive.

Mac Os Big Sur On Unsupported Macs

After inserting the USB Drive, you will be asked to enter your password. (remember this password and avoid using any special characters) and click Continue.

Now it will start installing packages onto your USB drive.

Now, select your USB disk (in my case its Install macOS Big Sur). This will completely erase your USB disk. Click Continue.

Click Continue.

Now it will start creating your macOS Big Sur installation media. It will take around 35-50 minutes to create an installation media on your USB drive.

Step 5: Install macOS Bir Sur on Unsupported Mac

Restart your MAC and continue to press option key to continue with the installation.

Now, boot from “Install macOS Big Sur.” If there is no USB device found, try to unplug and replug your USB device.

You can also use the Disk Utility if you are planning to format your drive and create a new partition and continue with the installation.

The installation may take several hours. In our case, it sometimes looked as if the installer had flown out during the upgrade. In this case, you should wait, as the installation is usually still ongoing. Over time, better ways to upgrade the machine can be found. Currently, the safest approach is to upgrade with a USB boot.

After the installation is complete, you will see that your Wi-fi is not working. So go to applications and search for Patcher file.

Mac Os Big Sur Problems

Right click and click to force open the file. And click on Patch Kexts. Click Continue.

Make sure the USB is still plugged-in. Click Force Skip check and enter the same password that you entered in step 4.

Now it will continue to patch the files and you can simply reboot your MAC.

Click Restart to Finish.

After you have successfully restarted your mac, you can find that everything is working perfectly.

Mac Os Big Sur Requirements

Install macOS Big Sur on unsupported Mac: Some common errors and their fix.

1. Wi-fi still not working

After patching, if your Wi-Fi it still not working. Follow the steps-

  • Download and extract this file.
  • Go to Payloads folder and select patch-kexts.sh file and drag it on your terminal. It will help you fix the wi-fi issue.

2. Big Sur is very slow. How to speed up macOS Big Sur.

We have been testing macOS Big Sur for a while now. Over time, you tend to see a decreased speed of your macOS Big Sur. So, we personally tested these 7 methods to Speed Up macOS Big Sur. Read this guide- How to Speed Up macOS Big Sur? 7 Easy Methods.

If you are using macOS Catalina you can read this guide: How to Speed Up macOS Catalina? 7 Easy Methods

Mac Os Big Sur Release Date

3. I’m not happy with Big Sur and want to roll-back.

Mac Os Big Sur Unsupported Mac Wifi

There are several issues with Big Sur, so you might want to roll back to the older version. Here is a complete guide that can help- How to rollback from the macOS Big Sur on Mojave? 5 Steps Steps

Some other guides that might help-

How to manage widgets on macOS Big Sur?
Best Widgets for macOS Big Sur: Top 20 for Everyday Use
How to Convert macOS Big Sur Installer to ISO: 4 Step Easy Guide
How To Create macOS Big Sur Bootable USB on Windows: 4 Easy Steps (+Video Tutorial)
How to Fix macOS Big Sur Screen Resolution on VirtualBox: 5 Step Guide
How to Install macOS Big Sur on VMware on Windows? 8 Step Guide
How to Install macOS Big Sur on VirtualBox on Windows? 8 Step Guide
How to Create macOS Big Sur Bootable Installer for Clean Installation: 2 Easy Steps (MAC only)

Mac Os Big Sur On Unsupported Macs Windows 10

Conclusion: Install macOS Big Sur on unsupported Mac

Mac Os Big Sur On Unsupported Macs 2016

I hope this guide on how to Install macOS Big Sur on unsupported Mac was useful for you. You can simply Install macOS Big Sur on unsupported Mac by using the macOS Big Sur Patch file. I have shared all the download links above. If you are still facing any issues, you can comment down your query.

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