Use
What works on a patched Mac
Most of macOS works normally once root patches are installed: your Apple ID, iCloud, Messages, FaceTime, the App Store and Software Update. A few features depend on hardware the Mac does not have, and some extras need a setting.
On this page 3 sections
Short answer
Everyday macOS works on a patched Mac. Apple Intelligence (needs Apple silicon) and iPhone Mirroring (needs the T2 chip) never work on OCLP Macs. Sidecar, Universal Control, AirPlay to Mac and Continuity Camera can be unlocked with OCLP's FeatureUnlock setting, which is off by default since 2.1.0 because it can cause instability.
| Feature | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apple ID, iCloud, Messages, FaceTime, App Store | Works | Same as on a supported Mac |
| Software Update (OTA) | Works | Full-size downloads; re-patch after each update. Updating |
| FileVault | Works | Supported again on Tahoe with OCLP 3.0.0; root patching checks for it on older setups |
| Recovery, Safe Mode | Works | Boot them through the OpenCore picker |
| Wi-Fi with WPA, Personal Hotspot | Works | On BCM943224 and newer chipsets, with root patches (OCLP README) |
| Touch ID, Apple Pay (2016–2017 MacBook Pro) | With patch | T1 Security Chip root patch |
| Sidecar, Universal Control, AirPlay to Mac, Continuity Camera | With setting | Turn on FeatureUnlock in Settings and rebuild OpenCore. Off by default since 2.1.0. Universal Control needs Wi-Fi and Bluetooth hardware that supports it; 2008–2011 MacBook Pros need a card upgrade (Dortania) |
| Photos face detection, Live Text | With setting | Uses mediaanalysisd, which OCLP disables by default on Ivy Bridge and Kepler (3802) Macs since 2.1.0 |
| Night Shift on non-Metal Macs | With setting | Part of FeatureUnlock |
| Apps that require Metal | Not on non-Metal | 2008–2011 Macs without a Metal GPU |
| iPhone Mirroring | No | Needs the T2 chip for attestation (Dortania, macOS Sequoia) |
| Apple Intelligence | No | Needs Apple silicon's Neural Engine; not available on any Intel Mac |
Features that come back with a root patch
Some everyday hardware stops working when Apple drops a Mac, and OCLP restores it with a patch set. This table is generated from OCLP's source: which feature, how many Macs it affects, from which macOS it is needed, and which families those Macs belong to.
| Patch set | Macs | First needed on | Needs a Kernel Debug Kit | Which Macs (count) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern AudioMiscellaneous | 86 | Tahoe | Yes | MacBook 2008–2017 (8); MacBook Air 2008–2015 (11); MacBook Pro 2008–2017 (28); Mac Pro 2008–2013 (4); Mac mini 2009–2014 (8); Xserve 2008–2009 (2); iMac 2007–2019 (25) |
| Modern WirelessNetworking | 56 | Sonoma | No | MacBook 2009–2017 (5); MacBook Air 2011–2015 (8); MacBook Pro 2010–2017 (21); Mac Pro 2013 (1); Mac mini 2010–2014 (7); iMac 2012–2017 (14) |
| Legacy WirelessNetworking | 26 | Monterey | No | MacBook 2008–2009 (3); MacBook Air 2008–2010 (3); MacBook Pro 2008–2010 (7); Mac Pro 2008–2010 (3); Mac mini 2009 (1); iMac 2007–2011 (9) |
| Legacy USB 1.1Miscellaneous | 26 | Ventura | No | MacBook 2008–2010 (5); MacBook Air 2008–2010 (3); MacBook Pro 2008–2010 (7); Mac Pro 2008–2010 (3); Mac mini 2009–2010 (2); Xserve 2008–2009 (2); iMac 2007–2009 (4) |
| PCIe FaceTime CameraMiscellaneous | 19 | Sonoma | No | MacBook 2015–2017 (3); MacBook Air 2013–2015 (4); MacBook Pro 2013–2017 (12) |
| Legacy Backlight ControlMiscellaneous | 5 | Big Sur | Yes | MacBook 2008–2009 (2); iMac 2007–2009 (3) |
| T1 Security ChipMiscellaneous | 4 | Sonoma | No | MacBook Pro 2016–2017 (4) |
| Legacy AudioMiscellaneous | 2 | Big Sur | No | iMac 2007–2008 (2) |
Counts are model identifiers in OCLP 3.0.0-rc.5's patch set definitions.
About FeatureUnlock
FeatureUnlock is an Acidanthera kext that enables features Apple limits to newer Macs. Dortania turned it off by default in 2.1.0 because it “ha[s] the potential to cause instability”, and notes it can fail because of a race condition at boot. Enable it in OCLP's Settings, rebuild and install OpenCore, and turn it off again if the Mac becomes unstable.
Common questions
Does iCloud work with OpenCore Legacy Patcher?
Does Apple Intelligence work with OCLP?
Does OCLP disable SIP?
Keep going
Something wrong or out of date on this page? Email hello@oclp.dev and we will fix it (see our corrections policy).