macOS 11 Big Sur on Unsupported Macs Thread

[BenSova]

Did anyone ever figure out the best way to add an app to the Big Sur USB installer?

 

[miztom]

That would get my hopes up so hard seeing that notification...

In the end, according to the instructions from previous discussions, I managed to install, but again wi-fi does not work. Do you think there will be another update where there would be a chance to activate wi-fi?

 

[vicfalc09]

This is Big Sur 11.0.1 Beta on my late 2013 iMac. I don't have any graphical issues. I use the resolution 1280x720 HiDPI set with RDM Retina Display Manager.
View attachment 1666125
View attachment 1666129

Can you post a link to the version of RDM you are using. I installed it but don't have the same options you show for HDPI. Maybe its because I have a late 2012 and you have a late 2013. Thoughts? my spec in signature.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Did anyone ever figure out the best way to add an app to the Big Sur USB installer?

@jackluke ?? Did you check out his installer? Links are on the first post...

 

[I Need a Drink]

Is there an option during the install to choose upgrade for fresh install? I watched a video on Youtube and the guy was using Barry's patcher and I didn't see it ask him during the install process. It just asked him to choose a drive during the install. I would prefer to upgrade so that everything is setup the same when it's done.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Is there an option during the install to choose upgrade for fresh install? I watched a video on Youtube and the guy was using Barry's patcher and I didn't see it ask him during the install process. It just asked him to choose a drive during the install. I would prefer to upgrade so that everything is setup the same when it's done.

If you are using the micro patcher you will be guided trough the normal Apple installation (made through the USB installer). Nothing has changed there. If you have a new and empty container/partition you get a fresh installation, if you choose an existing (Catalina) installation on one our your disk partitions/containers your get an upgrade.

Please have a backup and restore working....

 

[hvds]

This error came up when applying the last part , dragging install stevars ? any tips

Myself and another member came across a similar error (number 25 instead of 13) a while ago, see post #5,503 and related, and myself again yesterday.
The reason were kexts in Library/Extensions (not System/Library/Extensions) of the Big Sur volume, which were left over from Catalina (via migration assistant in my case).
I deleted them all while booted from another system. patch-kexts proceeded fine afterwards.
Proceed with caution, have a backup before deleting.

 

[Jack Neill]

In the end, according to the instructions from previous discussions, I managed to install, but again wi-fi does not work. Do you think there will be another update where there would be a chance to activate wi-fi?

I think these guys doing these patchers are amazing and that anything is possible. I haven't tried any of the Big Sur patches, but I used DosDudes since Sierra and they have always been fantastic. Holding out hope for my 2012 MBA/MBP's for a fully working patcher someday. I am really liking BS on my MBA 9,1.

 

[buckrock]

I can't recall where i found this workaround, anyway you have to stop "displaypolicyd" process and use a software like gfxCardStatus, that will let you to select between the gpu you want to use or the dynamic switching.
Since the displaypolicyd starts at every boot, you have to repeat the workaround at every boot too (or use Automator to create an app to do this for you). There are other ways to to that probably, but this is all I know about.
Anyway i don't do that anymore, since using an external monitor prevents from switching to the integrated gpu.

You can turn displaypolicyd off or on with these Terminal commands:

sudo launchctl stop com.apple.displaypolicyd
sudo launchctl start com.apple.displaypolicyd

I'm finding that my MBP Retina mid02012 10,1 on Big Sur 11.0.1 (20B29) now runs cool if I have displaypolicyd enabled and use gfxCardStatus v2.4.4i set on the dynamic switching option.

 

[iNitialE]

So easy for Update to Bigsur From Catalina
.
Cara Install MacOS Big Sur Official di Unsupport Deviecs - iNitial E

 

[Kornelgyorgy]

For those of you still wondering: No, unfortunately, I will not be making a Patcher for Big Sur, for the following reasons:

- Achieving full graphics acceleration with a non-Metal GPU has so far been unattainable under Mac OS Big Sur. As such, any machines that have a non-upgradeable, non-Metal GPU (such as 2011 and older MacBook models) will not be able to run Big Sur at a usable level. While I could make a disclaimer about this on my webpage and/or the tool itself, I know from experience that the vast majority of users will ignore such a warning, and then message me asking why their machine is running like complete garbage once installed (the post above mine as a prime example).

- The tool would need to be almost completely re-engineered, due to the completely different installer implementation Apple has done for Big Sur. While this normally wouldn't be a problem for me, it does take quite a lot of time to produce something that looks nice, is user-friendly, and works relatively reliably. Unfortunately at this time, due to other projects and obligations, I don't have quite as much free time as I used to.

- There are at least a few other Patchers developed by other people that work very well on the machines that I would support if I were to make a Patcher of my own (2012/2013 machines, and older models upgradeable to Metal GPUs only). An additional patcher would be redundant, as it would not offer any extra support than what is available in other Patchers.

With all that said, I will most likely make a patcher for the next major version of macOS released in the future. After developing, maintaining, and updating my patchers over the past 4 years, I really just need a bit of a break. I apologize if this is disappointing news to some, but don't worry, there are many other talented developers working on Big Sur patchers, and I can assure you that you won't be let down.

2008 iMac support Big Sur Pacher?

 

[cannfoddr]

Just a vote of thanks to all I just used the big-sur-micropatcher to install the release version of Big Sur on my MacBook 10,1 with an updated SSD and Network Card. I used an external enclosure with the old SSD formatted as 'Big Sur USB'. I had one glitch in the install which I think was a bad usb cable, I replaced and reinstalled and everything is now working - I had some strange WiFi Icon behaviour post install - it looked like wifi wasn't connected when it was, but it soon settled down.

I have booted back to the catalina internal ssd to mull over if I want to do the upgrade to the internal SSD - will probably give it some time before fully committing.

Has anyone tried using Opencore as an alternative to patching the installer on their unsupported MacBooks?

I am using this approach on my MacPro 5,1 (4,1)

 

[andytse]

Let me check, I guess I need to update that prelinkedkernel .

I am uploading the new prelinkedkernel for 2012 machines that should fix Wifi and AirDrop channel, after I update my previous post.

edit:
updated also my previous post this should work: BigSur prelinkedkernel Wifi AirDrop fixes.zip

The attached file is only for APFS firmware machines: Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge and maybe also Haswell architecture.

managed to get everything working on a mac mini 2012. i'm connected via ethernet and wanted to test Airdrop, noticed that i couldn't connect to a hidden network and applied these fixes.

restarted the machine and now stuck on prohibitory sign.

can boot via USB Installer I created. any suggestions or is it a case of having to restore the machine again?

thanks.

 

[Enrico Ferro]

Hi there. Can somebody explain how is it possible to re-create a recover HD partition?
I read something about an apple script called "recovery partition creator", but i can't find anymore in internet.

I managed to install Big Sur on my MacBook Pro Retina 13 inch (late 2012), but now i can't use recovery or internet recovery...

If i try to boot in internet recovery i found an error 1005F... (probably because i upgraded my wi-fi card?)

At the moment everything work fine, but i would like to know that in case of problem i can boot in recovery

Thanks

 

[jackluke]

managed to get everything working on a mac mini 2012. i'm connected via ethernet and wanted to test Airdrop, noticed that i couldn't connect to a hidden network and applied these fixes.

restarted the machine and now stuck on prohibitory sign.

can boot via USB Installer I created. any suggestions or is it a case of having to restore the machine again?

thanks.

That's a very earlier prelinkedkernel fix, recently I updated a bit those things: https://github.com/jacklukem/BigSurfixes

Anyway it's even fixable, just boot the USB Installer, from Utilities open terminal and type:

diskutil list

(locate your BigSur Preboot diskXs2)

diskutil mount diskXs2

mount -uw /Volumes/Preboot/

rm /Volumes/Preboot/*/System/Library/CoreServices/com.apple.Boot.plist

rm /Volumes/Preboot/*/System/Library/CoreServices/PlatformSupport.plist

reboot

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hi there. Can somebody explain how is it possible to re-create a recover HD partition?
I read something about an apple script called "recovery partition creator", but i can't find anymore in internet.

I managed to install Big Sur on my MacBook Pro Retina 13 inch (late 2012), but now i can't use recovery or internet recovery...

If i try to boot in internet recovery i found an error 1005F... (probably because i upgraded my wi-fi card?)

At the moment everything work fine, but i would like to know that in case of problem i can boot in recovery

Thanks

If you have upgraded your WiFi the client software within the firmware will fail to connect to the internet recovery server. Possibly patching the firmware can heal this.

You can get around this using a cable connection to your router. If you have created an Big Sur USB installer just boot into it, this will be your Big Sur recovery environment.

BTW:
Before entering the world of unsupported macOS versions prepare a USB installer for the last known supported OS.

 

[andytse]

That's a very earlier prelinkedkernel fix, recently I updated a bit those things: https://github.com/jacklukem/BigSurfixes

Anyway it's even fixable, just boot the USB Installer, from Utilities open terminal and type:

diskutil list

(locate your BigSur Preboot diskXs2)

diskutil mount diskXs2

mount -uw /Volumes/Preboot/

rm /Volumes/Preboot/*/System/Library/CoreServices/com.apple.Boot.plist

rm /Volumes/Preboot/*/System/Library/CoreServices/PlatformSupport.plist

reboot

thanks for the prompt reply. i thought i messed up so bad so i've reinstalled from scratch. currently going through.

how should i process with the hidden wifi issue? what do you recommend?

thanks

 

[hvds]

11.0.1 (20B29) on MBP5,2. Running fine but without graphics acceleration.

The two extra complications are: a) legacy USB, b) by my own choice, installation on an external SSD. I'm using jackluke's BigSur BaseSystem legacy usb fix to patch the result of createinstallmedia, and optionally the patch-kexts part of BarryKN's micropatcher 0.5.1. Not using OpenCore.

Photos app works since 11.0.1 with my data migrated from Catalina, while it crashed before.

Night Shift, USB mouse (no CMDS+S/exit boot needed), WIFI+Ethernet, internal audio work.

For Ethernet, using jackluke's fixes (legacy USB, framebuffer, snapshot) was not sufficient. In my network at home I need to set speed manually. That worked only after applying patch-kexts.sh which seems to use nvenet.kext differently.

It was very useful to apply disable-animations as BarryKN has recommended. Also did that now on Catalina.

A word to my usage of micropatcher: I copied part of the micropatcher payload to the root of the USB installer after having done the BigSur BaseSystem legacy usb fix, to be able to use it from the same USB volume.
Also I had made an addition to the kexts used by patch-kexts earlier, and modified patch-kexts.sh accordingly. These changes I've now in 0.5.1. They are just for CoreBrightness (i.e. night shift) and IOHIDFamily (i.e. USB mouse with normal booting). - And they are anyway in jackluke's fixes.

For patch-kexts to run properly, had to remove kexts from Library/Extensions of the Big Sur volume (did that while booted from Catalina). Some had observed earlier that otherwise kmutil can fail. These kexts have crept in by migration from Catalina.


You might ask why do that for a system without graphics acceleration in sight. First, I'm responsible for maintaining a supported Mac (MBP11,1 2013) and would like to see how things look before upgrading it to BS.
Secondly, that's my kind of computer game. And I didn't give up hope on acceleration yet.

But my Catalina system must remain in its excellent working condition. With BS only on external SSD, and care to not implant an unwanted firmware upgrade, that should work.

THANKS dosdude for Catalina! Thanks jackluke, BarryKN and contributors!

(in oder not to overload this post further, I'll make an extra one with other installation exercises done)

 

[I Need a Drink]

Thanks for all the help and answers and thanks to Barry for the patcher.

I installed on my iMac, but after install I have some files in my Documents folder that seem weird. There are now folders for iMovie, Preview, Quicktime Player and TextEdit in my Documents folder. Each folder has one Alias file in it called iChats. Any idea what that's about?

 

[WT_]

I've just registered to the forum to say a huge thank you to the community for its amazing research work and to Barry for making the process so straightforward.

I've installed Big Sur on my 15-inch mid-2012 Unibody MacBook Pro and I have encountered a strange issue on Safari when I open a new tab: the background picture is heavily pixelated. When I change the background it looks normal for a second and it becomes pixelated.

Does anyone have the same issue?

 

[alfon_sico]

For now I have a system with two SDD booting macOS Catalina and Big Sur
I think Catalina has two "collateral damage" since I reset NVRAM with USB patched
- multimedia keys of keyboard doesn't work in Catalina macOS (yes in Big Sur)
- spotlight doesn't show any file or app indexed from SDD when Catalina system is booted. Working in Big Sur

I read some remedies for that are reset NVRAM as usually. What could happen if I do with the Big Sur unsupported partition? Would I lost some kind of patched for boot Big Sur?

 

[lewolf]

For now I have a system with two SDD booting macOS Catalina and Big Sur
I think Catalina has two "collateral damage" since I reset NVRAM with USB patched
- multimedia keys of keyboard doesn't work in Catalina macOS (yes in Big Sur)
- spotlight doesn't show any file or app indexed from SDD when Catalina system is booted. Working in Big Sur

I read some remedies for that are reset NVRAM as usually. What could happen if I do with the Big Sur unsupported partition? Would I lost some kind of patched for boot Big Sur?

alfon,

I have the same setup as you: 2012 Mac mini with two separate SSDs with Catalina on one and Big Sur on the other.

I rebooted into Catalina and I don't have the symptoms you have. But I don't have a proper Mac keyboard, only an old ACER one that I really like. In any case, it has volume keys and those work fine. I don't know about multimedia keys in general.

Spotlight seems for me to work fine in Catalina.

I didn't intentionally or specifically reset NVRAM when I installed Big Sur.

Please let me know if you'd like me to test anything for you on my machine....

 

[alfon_sico]

alfon,

I have the same setup as you: 2012 Mac mini with two separate SSDs with Catalina on one and Big Sur on the other.

I rebooted into Catalina and I don't have the symptoms you have. But I don't have a proper Mac keyboard, only an old ACER one that I really like. In any case, it has volume keys and those work fine. I don't know about multimedia keys in general.

Spotlight seems for me to work fine in Catalina.

I didn't intentionally or specifically reset NVRAM when I installed Big Sur.

Please let me know if you'd like me to test anything for you on my machine....

Thank you
I've tried Onyx for recover the SDD indexing in spotlight but doesn't working out, terminal code, privacy folders ... no solution
Multimedia keys I take care today, I guess they works before. I read about a possible solution could be reset NVRAM but I prefer do not try for now

 

[andytse]

alfon,

I have the same setup as you: 2012 Mac mini with two separate SSDs with Catalina on one and Big Sur on the other.

I rebooted into Catalina and I don't have the symptoms you have. But I don't have a proper Mac keyboard, only an old ACER one that I really like. In any case, it has volume keys and those work fine. I don't know about multimedia keys in general.

Spotlight seems for me to work fine in Catalina.

I didn't intentionally or specifically reset NVRAM when I installed Big Sur.

Please let me know if you'd like me to test anything for you on my machine....

mind me asking if your wifi is working ok on the mac? i'm connected to ethernet at the moment and cannot connect to a hidden network.

jackluke suggested something before but im not sure how to go about that process with the downloaded files.

 

[lewolf]

mind me asking if your wifi is working ok on the mac? i'm connected to ethernet at the moment and cannot connect to a hidden network.

jackluke suggested something before but im not sure how to go about that process with the downloaded files.

WIFI works fine for me in Big Sur, but I had to try a few different commands in Terminal (see post #6011) before I got one to work. In Big Sur I only get 2 of 3 strength bars on WIFI, but in Catalina I get all four.