Wacom legacy driver patch on macOS

For getting old Wacom tablets like Bamboo, Graphire, Intuos (1, 2, and 3), and Cintiq 1st-gen models to work on macOS Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, or Ventura (especially on OpenCore Legacy Patcher (OCLP) systems), a patch is often required. This is because the legacy drivers were discontinued by Wacom and are incompatible with newer macOS versions.

Steps for Patching Wacom Legacy Drivers on macOS:

1. Download Legacy Driver: You will first need the appropriate legacy driver from Wacom. The last supported driver version for these older tablets was typically around version 6.3.15. You can find these archived drivers on Wacom's official website or third-party repositories.

2. Patching the Driver: There are patches available that modify the legacy drivers to work with newer versions of macOS. These patches adjust the installation files or driver code to make the tablet function on newer macOS versions by removing restrictions or adjusting compatibility settings.

3. Modify SIP Settings (System Integrity Protection): For macOS versions like Catalina and newer, you may need to temporarily disable SIP (System Integrity Protection) to install and patch the driver. This can be done by booting into recovery mode and running the csrutil disable command. Once the driver is installed and patched, you can enable SIP again.

4. Install Patched Driver: Install the driver after applying the necessary patches. Sometimes the driver may not install directly due to security restrictions. You can bypass this by:

   • Using Terminal commands to allow apps from anywhere (sudo spctl --master-disable).
   • Manually adding the tablet to your Accessibility and Input Monitoring permissions under System Preferences -> Security & Privacy -> Privacy.

5. Reboot: After installation, reboot your system to ensure the patched driver works. Once the tablet is recognized, you can configure the settings through the Wacom preference pane.

Community Resources:

There are communities like the OCLP forums, InsanelyMac, and specific GitHub repositories that host patches for Wacom drivers. You may find patched versions or instructions tailored for specific macOS versions in those places.

This approach has been confirmed to work on OpenCore Legacy Patcher setups, allowing users to breathe new life into their older Wacom tablets. If you're looking for a pre-patched driver or more detailed instructions, I recommend checking the forums for the exact patch you need based on your macOS version.