Resolving Stuck Boot Screen After macOS Sequoia Update on Older Macs with OpenCore Legacy Patcher

Guide:

Your MacBook Pro 2012 is unsupported by newer macOS versions like Sequoia, so OpenCore Legacy Patcher (OCLP) is required. A stuck boot screen after applying root patches typically indicates a driver conflict, failed patch installation, or firmware issue. Follow these steps to resolve it:

Step 1: Force Reboot and Test Basic Recovery

1. Force Shutdown:
   Hold the power button for 10+ seconds to turn off the Mac.

2. Boot Normally:
   Turn it back on. If it still hangs, proceed below.

Step 2: Boot into Safe Mode

Safe Mode loads only essential drivers, bypassing problematic patches.

1. Intel Macs:
   Hold Shift immediately after powering on until the Apple logo appears.

2. If Successful:

   • Open Terminal (from Utilities).

   • Reinstall OCLP root patches:

     bash

     Copy

     sudo /Volumes/EFI/EFI/OpenCore/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher.app/Contents/MacOS/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher -p

   • Reboot normally.

Step 3: Reinstall/Update OpenCore Legacy Patcher

Outdated OCLP versions may conflict with Sequoia.

1. From Recovery or Another Mac:

   • Download the latest OCLP release.

   • Create a new USB installer with OCLP and reinstall the root patches.

2. Ensure Correct Settings:
   In OCLP, select MacBookPro10,1 (or your exact model) and enable NVIDIA/Intel GPU patches if applicable.

Step 4: Reset NVRAM and SMC

1. Reset NVRAM:
   Reboot and hold Cmd + Option + P + R until the Apple logo flashes twice.

2. Reset SMC (2012 MacBook Pro):

   • Shut down.

   • Hold Shift + Control + Option + Power for 10 seconds, then release.

Step 5: Check for Hardware-Specific Issues

The 2012 MacBook Pro’s Intel HD 4000 GPU or SATA controller may cause hangs.

1. Disable GPU Acceleration (Temporarily):

   • Boot into OCLP’s picker (hold Option at startup).

   • Select your drive, then press Spacebar and choose Disable GPU Acceleration.

2. Test with External SSD/USB:
   Install macOS Sequoia on an external drive to rule out internal storage issues.

Step 6: Verbose Mode for Debugging

See where the boot process stalls:

1. In OCLP’s boot menu, press Spacebar and select Verbose Mode.

2. Look for error messages like:

   • Waiting for Root device → Storage driver issue.

   • AppleIntelSNBGraphicsFB → GPU patch failure.

Step 7: Revert to Backup or Older macOS

If all else fails:

1. Restore from Time Machine:
   Boot into Recovery (Cmd + R) and restore from a backup.

2. Clean Install macOS Monterey/Ventura:
   Older macOS versions work more reliably on 2012 Macs. Use OCLP’s official compatibility list.

Critical Notes

• Backup Data First: Use Target Disk Mode or another Mac to recover files if the system is unbootable.

• Avoid Beta OCLP Releases: Stable versions are safer for critical updates.

• Community Support: Ask for help on the OCLP Discord with your model and error logs.

Troubleshooting Table

By following these steps, you should resolve the boot hang and Success fully update your MacBook Pro 2012. If issues persist, consider downgrading to a macOS version with better OCLP support.