Hackintosh

Not to be confused with Macintosh clone.
A Hackintosh running OS X Yosemite

A Hackintosh (/ˈhækɪntɒʃ/, a portmanteau of "Hack" and "Macintosh") is a computer that runs Apple's Macintosh operating system macOS on computer hardware that is not authorized for the purpose by Apple.[1] This can also include running Macintosh software on hardware it is not originally authorized for. Benefits of "Hackintoshing" can include cost (older, cheaper or commodity hardware), ease of repair and piecemeal upgrade, and freedom to use customized choices of components that are not available (or not available together) in the branded Apple products.[2] macOS can also be run on several non-Apple virtualization platforms, although such systems are not usually described as Hackintoshes. Hackintosh laptops are sometimes referred to as "Hackbooks".[3]

Apple's software license for macOS only permits the software's use on "Apple-branded Systems"[4] However, because many still-supported Macintosh computers use Intel-based hardware, it is often possible to run the software on other Intel-based PCs, with only a few technical hurdles.[5] Notably, companies such as Psystar have attempted to release products using macOS on non-Apple machines,[6] though many Hackintosh systems are designed solely by macOS enthusiasts of various hacking forums and communities.[7]

Although the practice of "Hackintoshing" has existed since the 1980s,[8] a new wave of "Hackintoshing" began as a result of Apple's 2005 transition to Intel processors, away from PowerPC. Since 2005, many Mac computers have used the same x86-64 computer architecture as many other desktop PCs, laptops, and servers, meaning that in principle, the code making up macOS systems and software can be run on alternative platforms with minimal compatibility issues.[9]

In 2020, Apple began to move to ARM64-based Apple silicon processors. The company has said it will eventually stop supporting the x86-64 architecture.[10] This will eventually end the ability for users to install new versions of macOS on Intel-based hardware.[11]

Commercial circumvention of the methods Apple uses to prevent macOS from being installed on non-Apple hardware is restricted in the United States under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA),[12] but specific changes to the law regarding the concept of jailbreaking[13] have placed circumvention methods like these into a legal grey area.

  1. ^ David Ramsey. "Turning PC into Apple Macintosh: Hackintosh". BenchmarkReviews.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
  2. ^ Gardner, James (July 25, 2010). The Little Innovation Book 2nd Edition. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-1-4461-4749-8.
  3. ^ "What is Hackintosh – For Beginners and Noobs". April 21, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  4. ^ Apple Inc. "Apple Inc. Software License Agreement for Mac OS X" (PDF). Apple Inc. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
  5. ^ "Modern "Hackintoshes" show that Apple should probably just build a Mac tower". Ars Technica. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  6. ^ "Apple Sues Mac Clone Maker Psystar - NYTimes.com". archive.nytimes.com. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  7. ^ Lynch, Jim. "Why hasn't Apple killed the Hackintosh?". CIO. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  8. ^ "Special - Build your own Hackintosh". Computer Shopper. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  9. ^ "Can I install OS X on my PC? Read this first". Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Butler, Sydney (March 9, 2022). "The Hackintosh Will Soon Be Dead, and That's Just Fine". How-To Geek. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  12. ^ Keizer, Greg (November 14, 2009). "Judge's ruling puts legal nail in Psystar's coffin". Computerworld. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  13. ^ Keizer, Gregg. "U.S. Declares iPhone Jailbreaking Legal, Over Apple's Objections". WIRED. Retrieved June 1, 2018.