Independent guide. Not affiliated with Dortania or the OpenCore Legacy Patcher project.Official project on GitHub
OCLP Field Guideoclp.dev
OCLP 2.5.1/3.0.0 RC5

macOS 14

macOS Sonoma on unsupported Macs

Which Macs run macOS Sonoma with OpenCore Legacy Patcher, what works, and whether it is the right version for yours. Generated from the OCLP 3.0.0-rc.5 source, with notes from Dortania's documentation.

Checked against OCLP 3.0.0-rc.5 sourceUpdated 2 min read
On this page 9 sections
  1. Sonoma at a glance
  2. Macs Apple dropped with Sonoma
  3. Which Macs run macOS Sonoma with OCLP
  4. What OCLP installs on Sonoma
  5. What OCLP changed for Sonoma, release by release
  6. What to know about Sonoma on a patched Mac
  7. Every Sonoma installer OCLP can download
  8. How to install macOS Sonoma with OCLP
  9. Common questions

Short answer

OpenCore Legacy Patcher has supported macOS Sonoma since version 1.0.0. Every Mac OCLP supports can run it, from the 2007 iMac to the 2017 models, plus the 2019 iMac. The newest Sonoma installer in the app is 14.8.9 (build 23J631, released 2026-08-06). Sonoma’s last update in Apple’s catalog is 14.8.9 (August 2026); with macOS 27 out, Apple’s updates now go to Sequoia and Tahoe. Choose Sonoma only if an app or workflow needs it; Sequoia runs on the same Macs.

Sonoma at a glance

Released by Apple
September 26, 2023
OCLP support since
1.0.0 (October 2, 2023)
Newest version
14.8.9 (23J631)
OCLP version to use
2.5.1 (stable)

Macs Apple dropped with Sonoma

Apple dropped the 2017 MacBook, MacBook Pro and iMac with Sonoma. All of them run Sonoma and newer with OCLP.

Which Macs run macOS Sonoma with OCLP

84 Mac models run macOS Sonoma only with OpenCore Legacy Patcher; 18 Intel models run it natively. Generated from the OCLP 3.0.0 source.

Supported by Apple 18

No patcher needed. Install macOS Sonoma from Software Update.

With OCLP: Metal GPUs 16

Graphics acceleration is restored with the Metal 31001 patch set (Broadwell, Skylake, Kaby Lake, AMD GCN, Polaris). The smoothest unsupported experience.

With OCLP: no graphics patches needed 7

OpenCore boots it; root patches cover Wi-Fi, audio or other hardware only.

With OCLP: legacy Metal GPUs 24

Ivy Bridge, Haswell and NVIDIA Kepler use the older Metal 3802 drivers. Works, with more patching and some app issues.

With OCLP: GPUs without Metal 37

OpenGL acceleration is restored, but apps that require Metal do not run. Usable for basic work; expect missing features.

What OCLP installs on Sonoma

Patch sets OCLP applies on macOS Sonoma
Patch setMacsFiles installedFiles removedKernel Debug KitMetallibSupportPkg
AMD Legacy GCNGraphics4142YesNo
AMD PolarisGraphics562YesNo
AMD TeraScale 1Graphics82330YesNo
AMD TeraScale 2Graphics92131YesNo
Intel BroadwellGraphics670NoNo
Intel GMA X3100Graphics11725YesNo
Intel HaswellGraphics1390NoNo
Intel Iron LakeGraphics21425YesNo
Intel Ivy BridgeGraphics1190NoNo
Intel Sandy BridgeGraphics101525YesNo
Intel SkylakeGraphics570NoNo
Nvidia KeplerGraphics7110NoNo
Nvidia TeslaGraphics231625YesNo
Legacy AudioMiscellaneous226NoNo
Legacy Backlight ControlMiscellaneous521YesNo
Legacy USB 1.1Miscellaneous2650NoNo
PCIe FaceTime CameraMiscellaneous1920NoNo
T1 Security ChipMiscellaneous4140NoNo
Legacy WirelessNetworking2640NoNo
Modern WirelessNetworking5620NoNo

OCLP's source defines 21 patch sets; 20 of them are used on Sonoma. 9 need a Kernel Debug Kit (AMD Legacy GCN, AMD Polaris, AMD TeraScale 1, AMD TeraScale 2, Intel GMA X3100, Intel Iron Lake, Intel Sandy Bridge, Nvidia Tesla and Legacy Backlight Control).

Compared with Ventura: PCIe FaceTime Camera, T1 Security Chip and Modern Wireless are new on Sonoma. Files installed changed for Intel Haswell (8 → 9), Intel Ivy Bridge (8 → 9), Nvidia Kepler (10 → 11) and Legacy USB 1.1 (1 → 5).

What OCLP changed for Sonoma, release by release

Every line of OCLP's own changelog that mentions Sonoma, newest release first, word for word. It shows what was broken and when it was fixed.

2.5.0 2026-09-08

  • Additionally fixes machines without WiFi cards on Sonoma+ as the patch was not applied before

2.4.0 2025-05-12

  • coreautha crashes on macOS 14.4 or later

2.2.0 2024-12-11

  • Resolved non-metal accessibility zoom on macOS Sonoma/Sequoia
  • Resolved non-metal full screen transition on macOS Sonoma/Sequoia

2.0.0 2024-09-14

  • Note `gktool` is only available on macOS Sonoma and newer

1.4.3 2024-03-31

  • Update non-Metal Binaries for macOS Sonoma:

1.4.2 2024-03-11

  • Resolve Auto-Join support for Modern Wireless on macOS 14.4

1.4.1 2024-03-08

  • Resolve Keyboard/Trackpad support for MacBookAir6,x running macOS 14.4 and newer

1.4.0 2024-03-07

  • Restore SPI Keyboard and Trackpad support for macOS 14.4 and newer
  • Restore support for T1 on macOS 14.4 and newer
  • Restore support for legacy Metal GPUs on macOS 14.4 and newer
  • Restore support for USB 1.1 on macOS 14.4 and newer
  • Resolve support for legacy and modern WiFi on macOS 14.4 and newer

1.3.0 2023-12-11

  • Resolve 3802-GPU support for macOS 14.2 Beta 2 and newer.

1.2.0 2023-11-10

  • Resolve macOS 14.2 coreauthd crashes on T1 Macs
  • Update non-Metal Binaries for macOS Sonoma:
  • Resolve i210 NIC support for macOS Sonoma

1.1.0 2023-10-23

  • Update non-Metal Binaries for macOS Sonoma:
  • Resolve USB 1.1 kernel panics on macOS 14.1
  • Resolve PCIe FaceTime camera support on macOS 14.1
  • Resolve T1 Security Chip support on macOS 14
  • Re-allow NVMeFix for macOS 14

1.0.1 2023-10-03

  • Update non-Metal Binaries for macOS Sonoma:
  • Avoid listing PCIe FaceTime camera patch on pre-Sonoma OSes

1.0.0 2023-10-02

  • Add macOS Sonoma support to PatcherSupportPkg validation in CI
  • Implement basic support for macOS Sonoma:
  • [T1 chip currently unsupported in Sonoma](https://github.com/dortania/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher/issues/1103)

0.6.7

  • ex. macOS 14 InstallAssistant.pkg
  • ex. macOS 14

What to know about Sonoma on a patched Mac

  • Macs with 2 GB of memory cannot install Sonoma or newer (Dortania, Supported Models).
  • The 2016–2017 MacBook Pros with Touch Bar need the T1 Security Chip patch for Touch ID and Apple Pay, and lose it if the whole disk is erased during the install. Erase only the macOS volume.
  • The FaceTime camera on 2013–2017 notebooks needs OCLP’s PCIe FaceTime Camera patch from Sonoma on.

Every Sonoma installer OCLP can download

macOS Sonoma installers in the catalog OCLP reads
VersionBuildReleasedDownload size
14.8.923J6312026-08-0613.7 GB
14.8.823J6202026-07-2713.7 GB

2 releases listed, 13.7 GB to 13.7 GB. Source: AppleDB, the same catalog OCLP 3.0.0 queries, fetched 2026-11-05. Release builds only; betas are left out.

How to install macOS Sonoma with OCLP

The process is the same for every macOS version: create the installer for macOS Sonoma in OCLP's Create macOS Installer, build and install OpenCore to the USB drive, boot it through EFI Boot, install, install OpenCore to the internal disk, and run Post-Install Root Patch. Every step with screenshots: How to install OpenCore Legacy Patcher.

Common questions

Can my Mac run macOS Sonoma?

If it is on OCLP's supported list, yes, with OpenCore Legacy Patcher. Check it in the Mac Checker.

Which OCLP version do I need for macOS Sonoma?

2.5.1, the current stable release. Newer OCLP versions keep supporting every macOS from Big Sur on.

Can I install macOS Sonoma without a USB drive?

If your Mac already runs Big Sur or newer through OCLP, you can upgrade from Software Update or an installer app. A first install from an older macOS needs a USB drive. See Install without USB.

Keep going

How to installThe complete step-by-step guide for OCLP 3.0macOS TahoemacOS 26 on unsupported Macs with OCLP 3.0Mac compatibilityEvery Intel Mac and the macOS it can run, with and without OCLP

Something wrong or out of date on this page? Email hello@oclp.dev and we will fix it (see our corrections policy).