In the past, when MacBooks cannot run the latest MacOS X operating system, I typically relegate them to physical archive. I know that security patches can still be applied for some time, but sometimes missing the latest features can be an impediment to other shared devices within the Apple Wall Garden. For example, your latest iPhone may not work as well with the older MacBook etc.
Recently I found out about OpenCore Legacy Patcher (OCLP). This is an excellent tool that intercepts the booting process so that ultimately newer operating systems can run on older hardware. OCLP’s explanation on the Boot Process does a much better job in explaining this than I can, so please go check it out.
I am not going to explain the step by step process of using OCLP. Mr. Macintosh does a much better job than I can.
I use the fresh install process to install Sonoma (the latest MacOS at time of this writing). I did successfully on the following computers:
- MacBook Air Early 2015
- MacBook Pro 15″ 2016
- MacBook Pro 15″ 2017
Once Sonoma is installed, the new operating system can also participate in future updates from Apple. However, the exception is before installing the updates, one has to ensure that OCLP must be updated. The update process is explained here.
Since these computers are relegated to legacy anyways, this process does not have much risk, and perhaps adds more life to your old hardware.