OpenCore lets you install macOS Ventura on unsupported Macs - but please don’t

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should

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Plenty of users out there have old Macs that can’t run the latest macOS version, but thanks to OpenCore, this is now possible - albeit with some caveats.

Version 0.6.1allows anyone with a Mac as old as 16 years to upgrade tomacOS Ventura, so you can use apps such as Photos and services likeApple Arcadewith no issue. However, newer features likeStage Managercan’t be used, as OpenCore doesn’t currently support it.

OpenCore is a community project where many macOS drivers have been reverse-engineered or recreated from scratch, so you can use WiFi and Bluetooth to enable other features such as AirPlay andContinuity.

However, we don’t recommend you do this, as the risks far outweigh the benefits - especially when you could simply order anM2 Mac miniand enjoy Ventura (and future macOS updates) in a faster, safer way.

It’s easier to simply upgrade to a new Mac

When you look into the weeds of what the release notes state atGitHubit looks encouraging, and if you want to try it out for the old Mac that’s been sitting on a shelf for the last decade, then that’s your prerogative!

The following Macs can use OpenCore to upgrade to macOS Ventura with a fresh install:

Yes, future updates over the air are supported, alongside support for Metal,Apple’s own framework that can rendergames on a Mac, similar to Vulkan and OpenGL. However, this isn’t sanctioned by Apple, obviously, as the company could bring out a future update to macOS that may bring OpenCore to its knees, and have your Mac refuse to boot into Ventura, rendering it into a big paperweight.

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With all of these Macs running onIntelchips, you’re also not taking advantage of the greater speed and battery life that Apple Silicon offers. So while it may be great to be using macOS Ventura up to a point with this tool, you’re not having the greatest experience compared to anM2 MacBook Air.

Regardless, it’s a great effort by a community to bring new life to old Macs, but sometimes, it’s best to leave it be, and use this as an educational tool, rather than a method to run a weakened macOS Ventura on an unsupported Mac from 2009.

Daryl had been freelancing for 3 years before joining TechRadar, now reporting on everything software-related. In his spare time, he’s written a book, ‘The Making of Tomb Raider’. His second book, ‘50 Years of Boss Fights’, came out in 2024, with a third book coming in 2025. He also has a newsletter called ‘Springboard’. He’s usually found playing games old and new on his Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, and MacBook Pro. If you have a story about an updated app, one that’s about to launch, or just anything Software-related, drop him a line.

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