BridgePatcher

Not an official Dortania project. Please don't report BridgePatcher issues to Dortania.

This product includes software developed by Dortania and OpenCore Legacy Patcher contributors. See LICENSE.txt.

BridgePatcher is led by albert-mueller (Albert Müller). While building upon work by Dortania and Acidanthera, BridgePatcher independently engineered the critical solutions that make macOS 26 Tahoe fully usable on legacy and T1/T2 hardware:

1. T1 Security & Native Login: Engineered the Native Software Keystore login flow on macOS Tahoe for MacBookPro14,1, MacBookPro14,2, and MacBookPro14,3 (retaining Apple ID/iCloud, resolving Keychain panics).
2. Broadcom Wi-Fi Restoration: Unblocked the IOSkywalkFamily kernel stack in the EFI builder and root patcher on macOS 15 & 26 Tahoe, restoring full Wi-Fi functionality on Broadcom chipsets (14E4:43BA).
3. GPU Hardware Acceleration & GuC: Injected Intel GuC firmware loading (igfxfw=2) and display port keepalive (igfxonln=1) for Kaby Lake, eliminating Tahoe UI micro-stutters.
4. AMD Polaris Power-Gating: Developed the radpg=15 and agdpmod=pikera patch combination for Radeon Pro 555/560 dGPUs, eliminating GPU switching lags.
5. AMD Legacy GCN Fix: Resolved the missing AMDOpenCL import bug in root patch payloads.
6. Tahoe Metal Libraries: Ported MetallibSupportPkg to macOS Tahoe (26.x) with multi-endpoint fallback.

A Python-based project revolving around Acidanthera's OpenCorePkg and Lilu for both running and unlocking features in macOS on supported and unsupported Macs. Security researchers can report vulnerabilities in the app via GitHub Security advisories.

⚠️ On T2 Macs only, this patcher disables SIP completely to be able to boot macOS properly What is SIP? SIP, in short for System Integrity Protection, protects against attackers from tampering with core system files. However, on T2 Macs, SIP also causes thermal throttling and other issues when booting via OpenCorePkg, so it needs to be disabled.

⚠️ EXPERIMENTAL — Adds macOS 15 Sequoia and macOS 26 Tahoe support for all unsupported Macs. T2 Macs as of now are unsupported by the official OpenCore Legacy Patcher from Dortania. Use it at your own risk. It's still in alpha stage, so I highly recommend to backup all your data. This is experimental alpha software.

💡 Recommended Download: Always download pre-compiled releases directly from Releases for maximum stability, bundled payloads, and proper packaging.

🚧 Not ready for general use

Progress:

• Installer boots
• MacBookAir8,1 and MacBookAir8,2 can boot the installer
• Internal hard drive mounts properly on T2 Macs
• ability to reach the desktop
• Post install - issues with second stage
• GPU accelaration/WiFi - most T2 Macs will have GPU accelaration out of the box, and on certain T2 Macs, also WiFi

Our goal of this project is to add support for T2 Macs so unsupported T2 Macs can boot into Tahoe. This project does run also on non-T2 Macs and we're committing to improve macOS 26 Tahoe compatability even on non-T2 Macs.

Noteworthy features of BridgePatcher:

• Support for macOS Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma, Sequoia and Tahoe.
• Native Over the Air (OTA) System Updates
• Supports Penryn and newer Macs
• Full support for WPA Wi-Fi and Personal Hotspot on BCM943224 and newer wireless chipsets
• System Integrity Protection, FileVault 2, .im4m Secure Boot and Vaulting
• Support for T2 Macs
• Recovery OS, Safe Mode and Single-user Mode booting on non-native OSes
• Unlocks features such as Sidecar and AirPlay to Mac even on native Macs
• Enables enhanced SATA and NVMe power management on non-Apple storage devices
• Zero firmware patching required (ie. APFS ROM patching)
• Graphics acceleration for both Metal and non-Metal GPUs

Note: Only clean-installs and upgrades are supported. Here's an exception: if you are already using patchers like OCLP-Mod or OCLP-Plus or the official OpenCore Legacy Patcher by Dortania, you can revert the root patches and upgrade to this patcher.

• You can, however, reinstall macOS with this patcher and retain your original data

Note 2: Currently, BridgePatcher officially supports patching to run macOS Monterey through Tahoe installs. For older OSes, OpenCore may function; however, support is currently not provided from Albert Müller.

• For Big Sur support, use Dortania's OpenCore Legacy Patcher
• For macOS Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave and Catalina support, we recommend the use of dosdude1's patchers

To start using the project, please see our in-depth guide:

• BridgePatcher Guide

This project is offered on an AS-IS basis, and we do not guarantee support for any issues that may arise. Community support for this independent project is provided through GitHub Discussions.

To run the project from source, see here: Build and run from source

• Acidanthera

  • OpenCorePkg, as well as many of the core kexts and tools

• DhinakG

  • Main co-author of the original OpenCore Legacy Patcher by Dortania

• Khronokernel

  • Main co-author of the original OpenCore Legacy Patcher by Dortania
  • Great amounts of help with debugging, and code suggestions for Dortania's OpenCore Legacy Patcher

• Ausdauersportler

  • iMacs Metal GPUs Upgrade Patch set and documentation

• nxvid

  • for documenting and fixing an issue where sbvmm might not have been injected on T2 Macs

• Matteo and Matteo

  • Adding support for T1 Macs on Tahoe
  • writing patches for T1 and non-T1 Macs for macOS 26 Tahoe
  • fixing some bugs, testing and documenting issues

• zkennedy137

  • testing, documenting, and fixing issues with unsupported T2 Macs
  • writing the Spoof-VMM kext so unsupported T2 Macs can get further at booting macOS 26 and 15 on unsupported hardware

• gandolf243

  • UI redesign
  • fixing some bugs, testing and documenting issues

• DrDonk

  • for helping to write a valid patch for AppleKeyStore
  • testing and troubleshooting

• TheRaddish1313

  • for fixing framebuffer issues and boot args
  • testing and troubleshooting

• vit9696

• Albert Müller

  • Main author of BridgePatcher
  • Adding support for unsupported T2 Macs
  • Help troubleshooting, determining fixes, fixing security vulnerabilities and writing patches

• Ronan LE MEILLAT / altorio

  • Fix modern wireless on unsupported T2 Macs running macOS 26 Tahoe

• YBronst

  • for fixing modern wireless on macOS 26 Tahoe

• pyquick and hackdoc

  • improving support for Metallibs on macOS 26 Tahoe on unsupported non-T2 Macs

• stephandeutsch

  • for fixing USB1.1 compatibility with Sequoia and Tahoe

• vytska69

  • developing patches for the T2 chip
  • Developing Secure Enclave Processor (SEP) timeout patches
  • workflow files

• kodeaqua

  • for research on MacBook Air 2018-2019 hardware to fix boot issues

• GUTY345

  • for fixing a bug in BridgePatcher where USB-Map.plist's syntax was invalid and SMBIOS spoofing bug that prevented SMBIOS spoofing from working properly on T2 Macs
  • fix graphics accelaration on Intel UHD Graphics 630 on unsupported T2 Macs
  • fix your Mac is not supported by macOS 26 Tahoe
  • fix Unsupported Mantissa speed kernel panics on T2 MacBooks

• EduCovas

  • macOS Tahoe patch set
  • non-Metal patch set for nVidia Tesla/Fermi/Maxwell/Pascal, AMD TeraScale 1/2, and Intel Core 1st/2nd Generation GPUs
  • 3802 Metal patch set and MetallibSupportPkg for nVidia Kepler and Intel Core 3rd/4th Generation GPUs
  • Metal bundle patches and shims for nVidia Kepler, AMD GCN 1 - 4, and AMD GCN 5 (Vega)
  • IOSurface offset patches for nVidia Kepler, AMD GCN 1 - 5, and Intel Core 3rd - 6th Generation GPUs
  • legacy Wi-Fi patch set restores functionality for Wi-Fi cards in all 2007 - 2017 models
  • T1 patch set restores Touch ID, Apple Pay, and other secure functionality in 2016 - 2017 models
  • AppleGVA downgrade for accelerated video decoding on 2012 - 2016 models
  • OpenCL and OpenGL downgrade for AMD GCN
  • USB 1 patch

• ASentientHedgehog

  • non-Metal patch set for nVidia Tesla/Fermi/Maxwell/Pascal, AMD TeraScale 1/2, and Intel Core 1st/2nd Generation GPUs

• ASentientBot

  • macOS Tahoe patch set
  • 3802 MTLCompiler, 31001 MTLCompiler, T1, WiFi patch sets
  • dsce and shared code used by some other patches

• cdf

  • Mac Pro on OpenCore Patch set and documentation
  • Innie and NightShiftEnabler

• Syncretic

  • AAAMouSSE, telemetrap and SurPlus

• dosdude1

  • Main author of the original GUI of Dortania's OpenCore Legacy Patcher
  • Development of previous patchers, laying out much of what needs to be patched

• parrotgeek1

  • VMM Patch Set

• BarryKN

  • Development of previous patchers, laying out much of what needs to be patched

• mario_bros_tech and the rest of the Unsupported Mac Discord

  • Catalyst that started OpenCore Legacy Patcher

• arter97

  • SimpleMSR to disable firmware throttling in Nehalem+ MacBooks without batteries

• Mr.Macintosh

  • Endless hours helping architect and troubleshoot many portions of Dortania's OpenCore Legacy Patcher

• flagers

  • Aid with Nvidia Web Driver research and development
  • non-Metal patch set for nVidia Tesla/Fermi/Maxwell/Pascal, AMD TeraScale 1/2, and Intel Core 1st/2nd Generation GPUs
  • Metal bundle interposer for AMD GCN 1 - 5 and Intel Core 5th/6th Generation GPUs
  • LegacyRVPL, SnapshotIsKill, etc. to aid in rapid testing and development

• joevt

  • FixPCIeLinkrate

• Jazzzny

  • Research and various contributions to Dortania's OpenCore Legacy Patcher
  • UEFI Legacy XHCI research and development
  • NVIDIA OpenCL research and development
  • MacBook5,2 research and development
    • LegacyKeyboardInjector
  • Pre-Ivy Bridge Aquantia Ethernet Patch
  • Non-Metal Photo Booth Patch for Monterey+
  • GUI and Backend Development
    • Updater UI
    • macOS Downloader UI
    • Downloader UI
    • USB Top Case probing
    • Developer root patching
  • Vaulting implementation
  • macOS 15 3802 Helios Research
  • UEFI bootx64.efi research
  • universal2 build research
  • Various documentation contributions

• crystall1nedev

  • Various contributions to Dortania's OpenCore Legacy Patcher and PatcherSupportPkg

• Amazing users who've graciously donated hardware to the developers of Dortania's OpenCore Legacy Patcher:

  • JohnD - 2013 Mac Pro
  • SpiGAndromeda - AMD Vega 64
  • turbomacs - 2014 5k iMac
  • vinaypundith - MacBook7,1
  • ThatStella7922 - 2017 13" MacBook Pro (A1708)
  • zephar - 2008 Mac Pro
  • jazo97 - 2011 15" MacBook Pro
  • And others

• MacRumors and Unsupported Mac Communities

  • Endless testing and reporting issues

• Apple

  • for macOS and many of the kexts, frameworks and other binaries reimplemented into newer OSes