Some tips and learnings from a guy who's set up 20+ Macs with OCLP

First of all, if you're on the fence about doing this... DO IT. I've been using Macs since 2006, and as any old Mac-head knows Apple hardware lasts FOREVER and it's hard to get rid of. I discovered OCLP a few years ago and have been experimenting with it ever since. The guys at Dortania have built something magical here, it's absolutely incredible how seamless they've made this.

However, there are a few things you can do to make it easy, so here are some battle-tested gotchas I've learned.

some definitions:

• OCLP - OpenCore legacy patcher
  
• Target - the machine you want to upgrade to a modern version of MacOS using OCLP
• Helper - the machine you're building your OCLP installer package on if you can't do it on your target machine Image - the image file for the version of MacOS you want to install
• EFI - the partition of the drive on your target machine that sets all the OCLP configuration that allows the modern image to run on your old hardware
• Installer - the combination of your MacOS image and the EFI that is built by the OCLP software

1. Build your installer on your target machine if possible.

OCLP installs on just about anything, so if the base OS from your target machine supports it, do it there. Reason being, each Mac is different so if OCLP is installed on the one you want to convert to a modern OS, it can get the EXACT spec to build the EFI partition. This is the easiest way to make sure it installs and runs smoothly

2. If you CAN'T get OCLP installed on your target machine, get the spec of your target BEFORE you build the installer on your helper machine.

On your target, goto the apple menu and select "About this Mac", then click "System Report". In the first tab, you'll see your exact Mac model (it will look like MacBookPro5,2 or something, this is the Hardware Model). Take note of this so you can specify it on your helper machine and build the correct installer.

*If you can't access your target machine's details bc the OS won't boot or something try:

1. Enter recovery mode on your Mac (shut down, Press and hold Command (⌘) + R) then open a terminal and type: sysctl hw.model . This will give you the hardware model and you can specify this in OCLP on your helper machine.
2. If you can't get on your machine at all, see if you can find it printed somewhere on the case and search for it on everymac.com.
3. Worst-case, use everymac to look at pictures and make your best guess. Once you create the installer usb you can use the solution from option 1 and confirm.

3. Go with the newest OS available in OCLP

Modern versions of MacOS are built to take advantage of the upgraded hardware in new Mac's, but the OCLP EFI partition ensures it's configured to only use the resources available to your target Mac. Generally, older OSes like Monterrey won't run any faster than Sequoia (I've tested ad-nauseum) so unless you have an app or something that requires a specific version of MacOS, just install the newest.

4. Once you have it up and running, there are a few tweaks you can make to be more responsive. This isn't required, but in 2015 and older Macs these small changes have served me well without sacrificing much of the eye-candy

In system settings (using Sequoia)

1. Accessibility - Display - reduce motion, reduce transparency, disable auto-play animated images
2. Appearance - Highlight color - choose one color instead of multi, disable allow wallpaper tinting in windows
3. Apple intelligence & siri - disable if available
4. Desktop & dock - Minimize windows using scale effect, disable animate opening applications, disable Stage Manager, disable Use iPhone widgets
5. Displays - disable automatically adjust brightness
6. Screensaver - Disable screensaver so your screen just turns off (might need to goto Lock Screen settings for this)
7. Wallpaper - choose a static (not-animated) background or solid color

5. Feel free to install MacOS updates, but make sure you install the root patches afterwards

It's like one extra reboot that takes <5 mins and it ensures the next time you reboot, everything will continue to run smoothly.

6. You probably won't need it, but keep a USB key with your installer on it handy, just in case.

If you forget to install the root patches and your battery dies, or maybe you restart without installing them, or you get a power surge or something while it's booting, there's a small chance your machine won't boot up correctly. The good news is, if you have the USB with your installer handy, it will always boot. Once it boots, just run OCLP and reinstall the root patches and you're good to go.