Process to Update Hackintosh macOS Sierra to Hackintosh macOS High Sierra
In this tutorial I will show you the step by step Process to Update Hackintosh macOS Sierra to Hackintosh macOS High Sierra. As I always say, please backup your current working macOs Hackintosh as if this process to update Hackintosh macOS Sierra to Hackintosh macOS High Sierra fails, they you can go back and install the working version from your backup.
What you would need to Update Hackintosh macOS High Sierra ?
Go to the App Store and Download macOS High Sierra. It is completely free to download from App Store. You can download macOS High Sierra only from App Store, therefore I am assuming you already have Sierra running and have access to app store to download High Sierra.
USB Flash Drive 16 GB 3.0 – If you are using an old motherboard, avoid using USB 3.0 as it might not read the files when booting. (SanDisk Ultra Flair 16GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive – SDCZ73-016G-G46
)
We would need this piece of software called DiskMaker for High Sierra, in order to create the bootable USB installer.
Files to Download for Updating Hackintosh High Sierra
Step 1: Creating Bootable USB Installer For hHackintosh High Sierra Using DiskMaker X
Once you have downloaded and installed DiskMaker X, go ahead and Open it. When you run DiskMaker, make sure It was able to detect your Downloaded High Sierra OS. You should see a message like this, In case it was not able to detect High Sierra Installer, Copy the Installer to your applications folder and then run DiskMaker.
Now DiskMaker will ask you for which kind of Disk you want to use to make bootable.
Select the thumb drive option.
DiskMaker will now ask to select the disk you want to Erase. Select your USB from the Drodown. Then, it will warn you as erasing/formatting disk can result in loss of data. Go ahead and click Erase then create the disk option.
Click Continue
Once Done creating the disk, DiskMaker will show a pop-up window confirming the disk is ready to use. You will hear the roar of the lion once disk is created. Click Quit as we are done with creating the bootable disk. In nest part we will copy required files and folders in our bootable USB flash drive.
Step 2: Use Clover Bootloader to Install Required Files on USB
Go ahead and open the Clover Bootloader Application. and follow these steps. You would need this application to install the bootloader for hackintosh.
If you get the Error, that Clover Cannot be opened as the developer is unknown. Do the Following, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy and Choose Open Anyway.
- So click Continue for the first two windows as this is bunch of info about the app. If you have time go ahead review it and then click continue.
- On the Destination Select tab, click on the option Change Install Location.
- Select the USB Flash Drive that you just created for Hackintosh High Sierra Update using DiskMaker. After Select the Flash Drive click Continue.
- Now on the Installation Type Tab Click on the Customize option. Select the option Install for UEFI booting only.
- Click on the Dropdown for Drivers64UEFI and Select the option EmuVariableUefi-64 and PartitionDxe-64 and click Install.
Step 3: Copy Post-Install Files on USB
Go to Finder and open mounted EFI. Replace the EFI folder with the EFI Folder provided in the Post-Install.zip File.
Make sure you first delete the EFI Folder the is mounted by Clover on USB and then Copy EFI folder and nvram.plist file to Mounted EFI.
- So now copy the files from Post-Install-2 to your USB Flash Drive As you would need these files post successful installation of Hackintosh High Sierra.
Step 4: Configure BIOS Settings
First you need to Insert the USB installer’ into the USB 2.0 Port and Start your PC. The USB 2.0 port is recommended because in some cases the USB 3.0 Port may not work during installation process. If the USB 3.0 port is working, then feel free to use it. (Give it a try)
Now during the PC is starting up keep pressing the BIOS or UEFI Menu button to access the BIOS or UEFI Menu. For most Motherboards, the BIOS or UEFI Menu is placed on the DELETE button on the keyboard. (Please note your BIOS interface would look different but the options will be same in most cases)
You would not need to do any changes as you already have Hackintosh Sierra installed and you must have configured the BIOS settings, when you installed it. But, it’s always good to double check your settings to avoid any install failures as we proceed.
1. First and Foremost, go over to the Advanced Mode(F7) Tab located at the bottom and then go to the Exit Tab.
2. Load Optimize Defaults that’s the first thing we want to do.
3. Go to Advanced Tab and click on CPU Configuration\CPI – Power Management Control and then set CFG Lock to Disabled.
4. Go to Advanced Tab and click on System Agent (SA) Configuration and then set VT-d to Disabled.
5. Go to Boot Tab and make sure under Boot Option Priorities you have selected the USB that you just created to install Hackintosh macOS High Sierra on i7 8700k with ASUS Prime Z370. (Your USB name may be different , based on the Manufacturer or Brand).
6. Now go to EXIT and click on Save Changes & Exit. When the confirmation popup appears click OK.
View the Step By Step Image Guide for Bios Settings needed to install Hackintosh High Sierra.
- Now your System Will Reboot and the System will directly boot into the USB Drive. Incase you get the option to Select your boot drive, just Select the plugged-in Flash Drive.
Step 5: Install Hackintosh macOS High Sierra on SSD
- Ok,When you select to boot from Flash Drive, you should see the Clover Boot Manager Screen. On this screen you will choose External drive (Flash Drive) Boot OS X Install from Install macOS High Sierra and press Enter to boot into the Installer.
First inside the macOS High Sierra installer select your language and click on arrow to Continue. My preferred language is English.
Now the macOS High Sierra will take you to the macOS High Sierra utilities menu.
First before installing the macOS High Sierra you will need to Erase your disk. Select the Disk Utility and Press the Continue Button.
Now in Disk Utility select the disk were you going to install the macOS High Sierra Hackintosh and go to the Erase Tab.
For disk Name you can use any name and format you can choose between Mac OS Extended Journaled or APFS (Apple File System).
Note: If you are using newer, hardware then you can choose APFS but also, can use Mac OS Extended Journaled. If you are using legacy hardware or older hardware, then it’s recommended to use the Mac OS Extended Journaled.
Now to erase the disk just Press Erase button.
After the disk is erased, close Disk Utility and go back into the macOS Utilities Menu. In the macOS Utilities menu select Install macOS and press the Continue button.
Select Continue >> Agree >> Agree
Select the disk were you going to install to install macOS High Sierra and press the Install button.
Note: During installation process the Mac OS will reboot several Times. For most cases the installing will continue automatically but if not then in the Clover Menu you will need to select the disk were you going to install the macOS High Sierra hackintosh manually.
- After installing the macOS High Sierra, continue with personal settings like Language, Keyboard and other settings like creating the computer account or connecting to your Wi-Fi and so on.
Step 6: Post Installation Process For Hackintosh macOS High Sierra
- Now Do ahead and open the USB Flash Drive and Copy the Post-Install-2 Folder to the Desktop.
- Open the Post-Install-2 Folder and the Unzip the contents of CCG.zip. This is the Clover Configurator Application.
- Now Double Click on the Clover Configurator App and Open it.
- If you get the Error, that Clover Cannot be opened as the developer is unknown. Do the Following, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy and Choose Open Anyway.
- Click on Mount EFI and Mount the EFI Partition disk, where you have installed Hackintosh. Do not Mount the USB Flash Drive.
- Click on Mount EFI and Mount the EFI Partition disk, where you have installed Hackintosh. Do not Mount the USB Flash Drive.
- Once the partition is mounted Go to Finder and click on it.
- Right-Click on EFI folder and move it to trash.
- Copy the EFI Folder in Post-Install Folder and paste it in EFI Partition (Basically here we are replacing the EFI folder with custom EFI folder)
- Now you can go ahead an eject the USB Flash Drive.
- Re-Start your Hackintosh High Sierra.
- Now the Hackintosh will directly boot from the SSD.
Step 7: Copying Kext Files For Hackintosh macOS High Sierra
- Now Open Finder and Click on Go > Computer > Open the Hackintosh Drive > System > Library > Extensions
- Now Open the Post-Install Folder in another Finder Window and go to CLOVER > kexts > Other
- Copy all the files from the Other Folder to the Extensions Folder.
Step 8: Installing Draphic Drivers For Hackintosh macOS High Sierra
- In the Post-Install-2 Folder, run the Web Driver File for Nvidia Graphic Cards.
- If you get an error that the web driver is not compatible with your version of High Sierra, then download the latest version from here.
- After installing the Nvidia Web Drivers you can Restart your Hackintosh. (Note: When installing, Make sure the Destination you install Graphic Drivers on, is your Macintosh HD and not the USB. Also, before Restarting Eject your USB from your PC.)
If you have some additional drivers, then feel free to install the drivers. For example, Install the USB Wi-Fi drivers if you are using USB Wi-Fi Plug.
After installing all drivers, you can Restart your Hackintosh. In macOS High Sierra you’ll need to enable the Audio. To enable the Audio, go into the System Preferences and select Sound.
In Sound, under Sound Effects select Internal Speakers or in some cases Line Out.
Under Output select Internal Speakers or Line Out in some cases.
Under Input select your Microphone and finally the Mac OS High Sierra is ready to use.
Now you can continue with installing your favorite apps and software’s. You can also do your personal customization and you can enjoy all features of macOS High Sierra.
