The much anticipated new macOS update has arrived. It’s called Mojave (after the Mojave Desert) and it’s a major one, which means lots of new features to get excited about including Dark Mode, which transforms the desktop with a darkened color scheme, Stacks, for organizing even the most cluttered of desktops, and an overhauled Mac App Store. It’s an update worth having, that’s for sure.
Mac Mini Mid-2009 to Late-2009 (unsupported WiFi modules, GUI glitches) Mac Mini Mid-2010 (GUI glitches) Mac Mini Mid-2011 (all models except for HD 3000 experience GUI glitches) MacPro 3,1 Early-2008; MacBook Late-2008; MacBook Early-2009 to Mid-2010 (GUI glitches) Download macOS Mojave Patcher tool. DMG file (official link) How to install.
To get a copy of macOS Mojave to install on an unsupported Mac, you have to be in the Apple Beta program but more importantly than that, you have to download it on a supported Mac. How to install Big Sur on an unsupported Mac. How to run Mojave on an older Mac. As with Catalina, a patch tool was written DOSDude1 that enables you to install macOS Mojave on an older Mac. Essentially, the Mojave Patcher Tool creates a custom USB installer (similar to the regular Mojave boot installation drive you can create) that you can then use to install not only macOS Mojave on the otherwise unsupported Macs listed below, but also a set of patched macOS Mojave component files that it can boot with. Step 7: After application of the two command lines, proceed by running macOS Big Sur installer that you installed earlier from InstallAssistant.pkg. Click on Continue and follow instructions to complete installation of macOS 11 on older Mac. Step 8: When installation completes the macOS 11 Big Sur wallpaper will show up on the Mac screen, a.
On September 25, the long-awaited macOS update, Mojave 10.14, has finally arrived and is now available for free. In this article, we’ll tell you how to prepare your Mac for the clean install of the updated version.
MacOS Mojave Release Timeline
Tapping into the history, there have been three releases of MacOS Mojave:
- Developer Preview — Available since early June
- Public Beta — Available since late June
- Official version — Available for everyone to download since September 25.
The fall release brought the whole bunch of new opportunities for Mac users. Previously, the members of Apple Development Program with an Apple ID could get a feel of macOS Mojave by using the developer preview. This was followed by a more stable Public Beta version. Yet both versions weren’t disposed of errors.
Stabilized and polished, the latest version of Mojave should help Mac users enjoy life without showstopper bugs and instability issues.
How to upgrade your Mac to macOS Mojave 10.14
You can clean install the new, shiny version of macOS Mojave 10.14 (this way entails one important fact: all your files and data will be deleted during the process.) Or you can simply upgrade your Mac.
Upgrading to macOS Mojave is seamlessly simple, taking up little time and almost no effort. And with the upgrade guide we’ve prepared, you’re going to be running new OS in no time.
An upgrade install also offers at least two benefits over a standard install:
- it's a simple process
- it retains almost all of your settings, files, and apps from the version of macOS that you're currently using.
How to download Mojave and install it safety
Apple's new Mac software, macOS Mojave, is available now. However, as the operating system is still so new, there may be some macOS 10.14 Mojave problems that are still present. If you're worried, it may be worth waiting a few weeks so that all the issues are fixed.
If you're going to perform an install Mojave, you need to check is your Mac ready for Mojave, backup your important data, and, finally, run installer. So, let's preparing Mac for the upgrade to macOS Mojave.
MacOS Mojave compatibility
Before you download macOS Mojave you’ll need to make sure that your system can run it. Apple says that the OS will be available for Macs introduced in mid-2012 or later, plus 2010 and 2012 Mac Pro models with recommended Metal-capable graphics cards.
To see how much space is available on your Mac, choose Apple () menu > About This Mac, then click Storage.:
- iMac Pro (2017)
- iMac (late 2012 or newer)
- Mac Pro (late 2013, plus mid-2010 and mid-2012 models with Metal-capable graphics cards)
- MacBook (2015 or newer)
- MacBook Air (mid-2012 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (mid-2012 or newer)
- Mac mini (late 2012 or newer)
Hardware requirements haven’t changed much since last time:
- Required memory: 4GB or more (macOS tends to run best with more memory)
- Required disk storage: 4.8GB free space
Сan your Mac run Mojave? To see you Mac's model and how much space is available on your Mac, click on the Apple () logo in the menu bar and select About This Mac
In the Overview tab, you’ll see the Mac model and year
In the Storage tab, you'll check your storage space
Backup your Mac before installing the new macOS
No matter which version of macOS Mojave you’re installing, you should backup your Mac first. You can do this via the Time Machine or with an app like Get Backup Pro (it’s more powerful than Apple’s Time Machine.)
Note: You need a backup of every important file that you'll want to reinstall on your new macOS. But there's no point in running a straight clone of your previous files: you'll just end up with the same junk floating around your new operating system.
So, before backup clean up your hard drive from junk data, old and useless data, and duplicates. An easy way to go about this is to get a Mac cleaning app like CleanMyMac. It will save to hours of manual file cleanup before the backup. Junk removal with CleanMyMac takes only a few minutes and absolutely safe for your Mac. The duplicate files finder like Gemini helps you to detect duplicate files on any folder, preview duplicate pictures, videos, music, archives, documents, and all other specific extensions, and get rid of useless versions.
You don't need to dig through Internet to search and and download each apps mentioned in this guide, all of them available on Setapp.
How to backup a Mac with Time Machine
Backing up your system with Mac’s built-in Time Machine feature couldn’t be easier.
- Go to System Preferences > Time Machine and check that it’s turned on.
- Under Select Backup Disk choose a hard drive to backup your system.
Time Machine will then perform automatic backups of your system and store them on your chosen hard drive for easy retrieval.
How to backup important data only with Get Backup Pro
Get Backup Pro offers a more comprehensive way to backup your Mac, allowing you to make copies of your system files in four different ways: simple copy, clone, incremental, and versioned. It’s a great app to use alongside Time Machine and lets you recover files to any computer — handy if anything goes seriously wrong with Mojave.
The slick user interface of Get Backup Pro makes it easy to use.
- Click the + button at the bottom of the project list, then name the project.
- Choose a backup destination and select whether you want to store original files and folders, or inside a disk image.
- Drag and drop files and/or folders to the list in the main window, then click Start.
Get Backup Pro is available now from the Setapp collection where you can download it for free with a 7-day trial.
That's all. Now let's start the installation.
How to install the new macOS
If your Mac is Mojave-compatible and you’ve backed up your system in case something goes drastically wrong, you’re ready for the installation.
There is also an option to create a partition so that it runs separately to your current OS, which was particularly relevant with the previous versions. Here’s how to create a partition:
- Launch Disk Utility, then select the disk you’d like to partition from the list and click Partition.
- Click the + button, then choose a size for the partition using the pie chart (you’ll need at least 4.8GB for Mojave).
- Name the partition, then click Apply.
When you purchase macOS Mojave from the Mac App Store, the installer will be downloaded to your Mac and placed in the Applications folder. Once completed, the Mojave installer will open, and you can follow the onscreen instructions to install macOS Mojave on your Mac.
The macOS update can be performed just in four steps:
- Go to the Apple menu in the top left corner.
- Tap the App Store.
- Click Updates.
- Choose Mojave and click Download. Once macOS Mojave has downloaded, an Apple terms and conditions window will open.
- Click the button to install, and when a window appears, click 'Continue' to begin the process and choose the option to install Mojave.
MacOS Mojave promises to be the best Mac operating system yet and we can’t blame you for wanting to get your hands on it as soon as possible. Remember, though: the early versions of the OS are works in progress — there are bugs and errors that will affect system performance. Make sure you backup your Mac before installing. That warning aside, enjoy Mojave — we think you’ll love it.
In this article, we will determine if your old Mac can still be updated to newer versions of macOS.
Most Apple devices have an average 5-year support lifespan, which means that they will receive software updates, including bug fixes, patches, and security updates over those years.
Until then, macOS and iOS devices are considered “unsupported” by Apple due to forced obsolescence of hardware.
In other words, Apple stopped supporting all its macOS and iOS devices with continuous software and operating system updates due to hardware limitations.
This is because as hardware ages, it cannot dully support newer programs that might be too advanced for its capability.
Starting with Mojave Apple did not allow older Macs to upgrade to newer macOS versions. With every new macOS release the minimum year of Mac hardware increases. While most pre-2012 officially cannot be upgraded, there are unofficial workarounds for older Macs.
According to Apple, macOS Mojave supports:
Install Mojave On Unsupported Mac
- MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or newer)
- Mac mini (Late 2012 or newer)
- iMac (Late 2012 or newer)
- iMac Pro (2017)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013; Mid 2010 and Mid 2012 models)
According to Apple, macOS Catalina supports:
- MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or newer)
- Mac mini (Late 2012 or newer)
- iMac (Late 2012 or newer)
- iMac Pro (2017)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013 or newer)
Lastly, macOS Big Sur supports these devices:
- MacBook introduced in 2015 or later
- MacBook Air introduced in 2013 or later
- MacBook Pro introduced in late 2013 or later
- Mac mini introduced in 2014 or later
- iMac introduced in 2014 or later
- iMac Pro
- Mac Pro introduced in 2013 or later
If you see that your Mac is older than mentioned above, you definitely can’t expect to update your device to newer macOS versions.
Does Apple still support your version of macOS?
Usually, macOS automatically updates itself once the software is rolled out to its users. But first, know which version of macOS your device is running.
To know which version of macOS you are using, click the Apple icon at the top left corner of your screen and select About This Mac.
A Window will appear showing the version of macOS running on your device.
Note: If you are using an older device, it will show that your system is called “OS X” (OS X 10.11 El Capitan is the latest) instead of “macOS” (starting from macOS 10.12 Sierra onwards).
Updating your Mac to the newest macOS versions
If Apple still supports your device, you can directly update your device from the About This Mac window by clicking “Software Update.”
This will download the latest version of macOS to your device. Alternatively, you can type “macOS <version>” on the App Store if you wish to install a specific macOS version on your device.
After the download completes, the installer will open automatically. Click Continue and follow the instructions and let it complete the process.
Make sure not to use your computer, put it to sleep, or close it slid during the installation process. Doing so may corrupt the installation files and your current system files.
Why Mac Won’t Update to Newer Versions of macOS
Usual installation problems across different versions of macOS could be:
- Incompatible Mac
- The update couldn’t be downloaded
- Insufficient storage space
Problem 1: Incompatible Mac
As stated before, newer versions of macOS do not support really old Mac devices. Always check if your device is supported by Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, or other macOS versions before updating.
Problem 2: The update couldn’t be downloaded
Mac Pro 7 1 Mojave
In downloading the macOS update, you might receive an error message that says, “Installation of macOS could not continue. Installation requires downloading important content. That content can’t be downloaded at this time. Try again later.”
Other users might find that the download progress bar might be stuck.
If you encounter these problems, the culprit might be a network error. Try these fixes:
- Check your router if you have a stable internet connection and not experiencing a network hiccup.
- If you are using a wireless internet connection, try switching to an Ethernet cable connection to ensure that the download speed is consistent.
- Lastly, check Apple’s System Status and see if The Apple Serve is live.
If the problem persists, there may be several people downloading the update at the same time. This most likely happens at the early release of the update so try downloading the update at non-peak times.
Problem 3: Insufficient storage space
In most cases, download files abruptly stop downloading if there is not enough space left in the computer, causing partial installation files to be stored in your system.
To fix this problem:
- Look for a file name called “Install macOS <version number of what you are trying to install>“. For example, “Install macOS 10.14” for Mojave, “Install macOS 10.15” for Catalina, and “macOS 11.2” for Big Sur.
- Delete the file.
- Reboot and make sure to free up more than the necessary space required for the download file.
- Download the file again.
Your device should automatically start the installation once it’s done. Otherwise, open the folder where you saved the update file and double-click it to prompt the installation.
Installing Newer Versions of macOS in Safe Mode
Some applications, startup items, or extensions might interfere with the installation process, causing it to terminate or not run the update at all.
To ensure that no other programs are causing this problem, you can install Mojave, Catalina, or Big Sur in Safe Mode.
To restart your device in Safe Mode:
- Shut down your Mac.
- Wait for 15 seconds until the device fully shuts down.
- Press the power button and press Shift as soon as your Mac starts up.
- Release the Shift key when the Apple logo appears.
From there, proceed to install the new version of the macOS you wish to upgrade to.
Do You Need to Update/Upgrade Your Mac?
Short answer: yes.
You need to update your macOS to the newest version mainly because of the security updates and performance fixes that come along with it. This ensures that your device is less vulnerable to hacks and more stable as new features are being released by Apple.
However, if you’re using a Mac that’s older than the Mac devices listed above, you might want to consider not upgrading to newer macOS versions like Mojave or Catalina.
Older devices might suffer compatibility issues with older applications once you decide to upgrade your Mac to newer macOS versions.
Especially in macOS Catalina, where Apple fully transitioned to 64-bit Mac applications, dropping full support for older 32-bit applications.
On the other hand, macOS Mojave (10.14) is the last macOS version that supports 32-bit applications.
For old Mac owners, this could be the closest to the newest macOS version that they can upgrade to while keeping most of their programs working on their device.
Installing New macOS Versions on Unsupported Macs
Even if your Mac is too old to update, it does not mean that it is impossible to install newer macOS versions to your old Mac.
You can actually install Mojave, Catalina, or even Big Sur to older unsupported Mac devices through a workaround patch.
However, keep in mind that you will experience performance issues in doing so. In most cases, you might lose data, so it is strongly recommended to create a full backup before you try these methods.
How to install macOS Mojave on Unsupported Macs
Step 1: Download macOS Mojave Patch Tool by DosDude1 from this link.
Note: NOT ALL old Mac devices are supported by this patch Tool so make sure that your device is listed under the “Requirements” section first before proceeding with the download
Step 2: For this step, you will need a 16 GB or higher USB drive and format it using Disk Utility. Go to: Spotlight (press Command + spacebar) > type “Disk Utility” and select it once it shows up.
From here, put any name you want for your USB drive, Format the USB Drive as OS X Extended (Journaled), and click Erase
Step 3: Once you finish downloading macOS Mojave Patch Tool, open it (Double-click or Right-click > Open). Click Tools >Mojave installer application to download the macOS Mojave installation file.
Note: If you get an error that the Mojave Tool does not support your Mac, you are out of luck because you will not be able to upgrade your Mac from this point.
Step 4: Once the Mojave installer has finished downloading, click the Mojave icon in the Patch Tool window. Select your USB drive on the drop-down menu and click Start Operation.
Step 5: Once completed, eject your USB drive and shut down your Mac. Do not remove your USB drive and wait for 15 seconds or until your device completely powers off.
Then, press the power button and hold down the Option key on the keyboard when you see the startup screen. You will see a series of drives on the screen and select your USB drive.
Note: If you wish to do a clean install, follow Steps 6 to 7. Otherwise, skip to step 8.
Step 6: Open Disk Utility (Menu Bar > Disk Utility).
Step 7: Click on your system drive and click Erase to format your drive. Select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or APFS and name your drive. After you successfully formatted your drive, close the Disk Utility window.
Step 8: You can proceed to install macOS on your system hard drive. Select where you want to install macOS and click Continue.
Step 9: Let the installation finish, and once it is completed, reboot back into the installer drive (same as Step 5). Click “macOS Post Install” in the side menu or the drop-down menu in Utilities.
Step 10: In the window, select the model of your Mac. The program will automatically select which patches are needed for your device, but you can also select which patches you want to include.
Step 11: Select the volume where you installed macOS Mojave and click Patch. Once it is finished, click Reboot.
Note: If the macOS failed to work properly after reboot, reboot once again into the installer drive and re-run the post installer patch. Select “Force Cache Rebuild” before rebooting.
Now, you should have a working macOS Mojave installed on your unsupported Mac.
How to install Catalina on an Unsupported Mac
Step 1: Download “macOS Catalina Patcher” from this link
Note: NOT ALL old Mac devices are supported by this patch tool so make sure that your device is listed under the “System Compatibility” section on the site above before proceeding with the download.
Step 2: You will need a USB drive with at least 8 GB of storage space to store the Catalina installation file. Plug it into your computer.
Step 3: Go to Spotlight (press Command + spacebar) > type “Disk Utility” and select it once it shows up.
From here, put any name you want for your USB drive, Format the USB Drive as OS X Extended (Journaled), and click Erase.
Step 4: Once the download finishes, open the Catalina Patcher application.
Step 5: Click Continue. Select “Download a Copy” if you do not have a copy of the latest Catalina installer. Otherwise, you can select your Catalina installer file by clicking “Browse for a copy.” Generally, the file is almost 8 GB.
Step 6: After the installation file has finished downloading or selected, click, Continue.
Step 7: Select “Create a bootable installer” from the three options.
Step 8: Select the USB drive you just formatted create a bootable drive. Once finished, shut down your Mac.
Step 9: Do not remove your USB drive and wait for 15 seconds or until your device completely powers off. Then, press the power button and hold down the Option key on the keyboard when you see the startup screen. You will see a series of drives on the screen and select your USB drive.
Note: If you wish to do a clean install, follow Steps 10 to 11. Otherwise, skip to step 14.
Step 10: This will take you to the macOS Utilities window. Open Disk Utility.
Step 11: Click on your system drive and click Erase to format your drive. Select APFS and name your drive. After you successfully formatted your drive, close the Disk Utility window and go back to the macOS Utilities window.
Step 12: Select “Reinstall macOS” under the macOS Utilities window. Wait for the program to finish the installation.
Step 13: Once the installation has finished, repeat step 9.
Step 14: Select “macOS Post Install” and continue. The program will automatically select all necessary patches to install on your device.
Step 15: Once the patches are applied, select “Force Cache Rebuild” and restart.
Once it reboots, you should have a working macOS Catalina on your unsupported Mac.
How to install Big Sur on an unsupported Mac
Step 1: Download the macOS Big Sur installation file from the App Store or click this link.
Step 2: Plugin a USB drive with at least 15 GB of space. This is where you will store the Big Sur installation file.
Step 3: Go to SpotlightSearch (press Command + spacebar) > type “Disk Utility” and select it once it shows up.
Step 4: Once Disk Utility opens, click Erase.
Step 5: Name the USB drive “MyVolume” and select OS X Extended (Journaled) under Format.
Step 6: Select “GUID Partition Map” as the Scheme and click Erase. Wait until Disk Utility fully sets up the drive. Once it is finished, click Done.
Step 7: Open Terminal (Command + spacebar > type “Terminal”).
Step 8: Copy the following to the Terminal:
Step 9: Press Enter/Return. The terminal will ask for a password. Type your user login password and press Enter.
Step 10: The terminal will prompt you with a warning that says that it is about to erase the drive. Make sure to backup all important files in this drive before continuing. Once you saved all the files you need, the Terminal will show a text that says, “If you wish to continue, type (Y) then press return:” Do as it says and wait for the process to complete.
Step 11: Restart your Mac into the Startup Manager by holding Options on the keyboard while it is booting up.
Step 12: Once you are in the Startup Manager, select your USB drive “MyVolume” as the startup disk. Your Mac will enter in Recovery Mode and show you the macOS Utilities window.
Note: If you wish to do a clean install, follow Steps 13 to 14. Otherwise, skip to step 14.
Step 12: Open Disk Utility.
Step 13: Click on your system drive and click Erase to format your drive. Select APFS and name your drive. After you successfully formatted your drive, close the Disk Utility window and go back to the macOS Utilities window.
Step 14: Click Install/Reinstall macOS and click Continue. This will install macOS Big Sur on your device. Please wait for it to complete and reboot.
Once it reboots, you can now use macOS Big Sur on your unsupported Mac.
Photo credit: ©canva.com
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