Q: I have installed macOS on an unsupported Mac or I use a Hackintosh and keep getting errors and exceptions in Disk Drill. Why is that happening?
A: Some users make a decision to “hack” their Apple hardware. This includes users who have an older Mac that does not support new macOS versions or want to run Macintosh software on hardware it is not officially authorized for. In any case this means some processes on your Apple computer were altered that may be crucial for our software to operate properly.
Disk Drill is an authorized macOS software that is developed in correspondence with all Apple Corporation requirements, therefore we do not guarantee it’s flawless operation in case a user “hackintoshed” their computer. Please check Disk Drill’s system requirements on our website to find the list of officially supported configurations. For the sake of this article, let’s consider the term “hackintosh” to be an Apple computer with modified software or hardware.
If you have already obtained Disk Drill and are trying to use it on your modified computer, there are several tips we’d like to share that should allow you to use Disk Drill without major issues:
Download Disk Drill data recovery app
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Tip #1. Try to Start Disk Drill in macOS Recovery Mode
Try loading Disk Drill in macOS Recovery Mode. In this case however, a lot of extra features typically unavailable in macOS Recovery Mode, will be missing. This includes the Preview option, mounting of recovered files as a disk, etc.
Tip #2. Try to Install a Compatible macOS Version on Your Device
Install a compatible macOS version on an external drive to run Disk Drill.
- If you are not sure which OS versions are officially compatible with your computer, you might find this website helpful. You can check the model of your Mac in the System Info: the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen → About this Mac → System Report.
- Once you know the compatible OS version, you can download it using the Apple Support guide. Then install the macOS on an external HDD, SSD, USB stick, or SD Card of 64GB capacity or larger.
- Start your Mac from the external disk and then download, install and run Disk Drill under the compatible macOS.
| Sequoia 15.x | Sonoma 14.x | Ventura 13.x | Monterey 12.x | Big Sur 11.x | Catalina 10.15.x | Mojave 10.14.x | High Sierra 10.13.x | Sierra 10.12.x | El Capitan 10.11.x | Yosemite 10.10.x | Mavericks 10.9.x | Mountain Lion 10.8.x | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mac Studio Mid 2023 (Mac14.13 / Mac14.14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Mac Studio Early 2022 (Mac13.1 / Mac13.2) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Mid 2023 (Mac14.8) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Late 2019 (MacPro7.1) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Late 2013 (MacPro6.1) | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Server Mid 2010 / Mid 2012 (MacPro5.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mid 2010 (MacPro5.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Early 2009 (MacPro4.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Early 2008 (MacPro3.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mac Pro (8-core) (MacPro2.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Mac Pro (MacPro1.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 24″ iMac M4 2024 (TBD) | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 24″ iMac M3 2023 Mac15,4 / Mac15,5 | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 24″ iMac M1 2021 (7-Core GPU & 2 USB) (iMac21.2) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 24″ iMac M1 2021 (8-Core GPU & 4 USB) (iMac21.1) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 27″ iMac Retina 5K 2020 (5700 / 5700 XT) (iMac20.2) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 27″ iMac Retina 5K 2020 (iMac20.1) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 21.5″ iMac Retina 4K 2019 (iMac19.2) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 27 iMac Retina 5K 2019 (iMac19.1) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| iMac Pro 2017 (iMacPro1.1) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| 27″ iMac Retina 5K Mid 2017 (iMac18.3) | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| 21.5″ iMac 4K Mid 2017 (iMac18.2) | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| 21.5″ iMac Mid 2017 (iMac18.1) | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| 27″ iMac Retina 5K Late 2015 (iMac17.1) | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| 21.5″ iMac Late 2015 (iMac16.2) | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| 21.5″ iMac Late 2015 (iMac16.1) | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| 27″ iMac Retina 5K Late 2014 / Mid 2015 (iMac15.1) | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| 21.5″ iMac Mid 2014 (iMac14.4) | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| 21.5″ iMac Mid 2013 (iMac14.3) | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 27″ iMac Late 2013 (iMac14.2) | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 21.5″ iMac Late 2013 (iMac14.1) | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 27″ iMac Late 2012 (iMac13.2) | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 21.5″ iMac Late 2012 (iMac13.1) | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 27″ iMac Mid 2011 (iMac12.2) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 21.5″ iMac Mid / Late 2011 (iMac12.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 27″ iMac Mid 2010 (iMac11.3) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 21.5″ iMac Mid 2010 (iMac11.2) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 27″ iMac Late 2009 (Core i5 & i7) (iMac11.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 27″ iMac Late 2009 (Core 2 Duo) (iMac10.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 21.5″ iMac Late 2009 (iMac10.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 20″ iMac Early / Mid 2009 (iMac9.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 24″ iMac Early 2009 (iMac9.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 24″ iMac Early 2008 (iMac8.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 20″ iMac Early 2008 (iMac8.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 24″ iMac Mid 2007 (iMac7.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 20″ iMac Mid 2007 (iMac7.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 24″ iMac Late 2006 (iMac6.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 17″ iMac Late 2006 (CD) (iMac5.2) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 20″ iMac Late 2006 (iMac5.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 17″ iMac Late 2006 (iMac5.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 17″ iMac Mid 2006 (iMac4.2) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 20″ iMac Early 2006 (iMac4.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 17″ iMac Early 2006 (iMac4.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Late 2024 (TBD) | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Early 2023 (Mac14.3 / Mac14.12) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Late 2020 (Macmini9.1) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Late 2018 (Macmini8.1) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Late 2014 (Macmini7.1) | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Late 2012 i7 and Server Late 2012 (Macmini6.2) | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Late 2012 (Macmini6.1) | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Server Mid 2011 (Macmini5.3) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mid 2011 (2.5GHz & 2.7GHz) (Macmini5.2) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mid 2011 (2.3GHz) (Macmini5.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Server Mid 2010 (Macmini4.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mid 2010 (Macmini4.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Server Late 2009 (Macmini3.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Late 2009 (Macmini3.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Early 2009 (Macmini3.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mid 2007 (Macmini2.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Late 2006 (Macmini1.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 14″ M4 Late 2024 (TBD) | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 16″ M4 Late 2024 (TBD) | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 14″ M3 Late 2023 (Mac15,3 / Mac15,6 / Mac15,8 / Mac15,10) | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 16″ M3 Late 2023 (Mac15,7 / Mac15,9 / Mac15,11) | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 14″ M2 Early 2023 (Mac14.5 / Mac14.9) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 16″ M2 Early 2023 (Mac14.6 / Mac14.10) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 13″ M2 Mid 2022 (Mac14.7) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 14″ M1 Late 2021 (MacBookPro18.3/18.4) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 16″ M1 Late 2021 (MacBookPro18.2/18.1) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 13″ M1 Late 2020 (MacBookPro17.1) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 13″ Touch Mid 2020 Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports (MacBookPro16.3) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 13″ Touch Mid 2020 Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports (MacBookPro16.2) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 16″ Touch Late 2019 (MacBookPro16.1/16.4) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 15″ Touch Mid 2019 (MacBookPro15.3) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 13″ Touch Mid 2019 Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports (MacBookPro15.4) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 13″ Touch Mid 2019 Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports (MacBookPro15.2) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 15″ Touch Mid 2018 (MacBookPro15.1) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| 13″ Touch Mid 2018 (MacBookPro15.2) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| 15″ Touch Mid 2017 (MacBookPro14.3) | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| 13″ Touch Mid 2017 (MacBookPro14.2) | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| 13″ Mid 2017 (MacBookPro14.1) | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| 15″ Touch Late 2016 (MacBookPro13.3) | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| 13″ Touch Late 2016 (MacBookPro13.2) | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| 13″ Late 2016 (MacBookPro13.1) | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| 13″ Retina Early 2015 (MacBookPro12.1) | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| 15″ Retina Mid 2015 (MacBookPro11.5) | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| 15″ Retina Mid 2015 (MacBookPro11.4) | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| 13″ Retina Mid 2014 (MacBookPro11.1) | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| 15″ Retina Mid 2014 (MacBookPro11.2) | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| 15″ Retina Mid 2014 (MacBookPro11.3) | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| 15″ Retina Late 2013 (MacBookPro11.3) | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| 15″ Retina Late 2013 (MacBookPro11.2) | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| 13″ Retina Late 2013 (MacBookPro11.1) | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| 13″ Retina Late 2012 (MacBookPro10.2) | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 15″ Retina Mid 2012 (MacBookPro10.1) | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 13″ Mid 2012 (MacBookPro9.2) | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 15″ Mid 2012 (MacBookPro9.1) | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 17″ Late 2011 (MacBookPro8.3) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 17″ Early 2011 (MacBookPro8.3) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 15″ Late 2011 (MacBookPro8.2) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 15″ Early 2011 (MacBookPro8.2) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 13″ Late 2011 (MacBookPro8.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 13″ Early 2011 (MacBookPro8.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 13″ Mid 2010 (MacBookPro7.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 15″ Mid 2010 (MacBookPro6.2) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 17″ Mid 2010 (MacBookPro6.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 13″ Mid 2009 (MacBookPro5.5) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 15″ Mid 2009 2.53GHz (MacBookPro5.4) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 15″ Mid 2009 (MacBookPro5.3) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 17″ Early 2009 (MacBookPro5.2) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 15″ Late 2008 (MacBookPro5.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 17″ Early/Late 2008 (MacBookPro4.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 15″ Early 2008 (MacBookPro4.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 17″ Mid/Late 2007 (MacBookPro3.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 15″ Mid/Late 2007 (MacBookPro3.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 15″ Core 2 Duo (MacBookPro2.2) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 17″ Core 2 Duo (MacBookPro2.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 17″ (MacBookPro1.2) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 15″ (Glossy) (MacBookPro1.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 15″ M3 Early 2024 (Mac15.13) | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 13″ M3 Early 2024 (Mac15.12) | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 15″ M2 Mid 2023 (Mac14.15) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 13″ M2 Mid 2022 (Mac14.2) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 13″ M1 Late 2020 (MacBookAir10.1) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 13″ Early 2020 (MacBookAir9.1) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 13″ 2019 (MacBookAir8.2) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 13″ 2018 (MacBookAir8.1) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 13″ Early 2015 (MacBookAir7.2) | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| 11″ Early 2015 (MacBookAir7.1) | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| 13″ Early 2014 (MacBookAir6.2) | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| 13″ Mid 2013 (MacBookAir6.2) | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 11″ Early 2014 (MacBookAir6.1) | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| 11″ Mid 2013 (MacBookAir6.1) | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 13″ Mid 2012 (MacBookAir5.2) | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 11″ Mid 2012 (MacBookAir5.1) | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 13″ Mid 2011 (MacBookAir4.2) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 11″ Mid 2011 (MacBookAir4.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 13″ Late 2010 (MacBookAir3.2) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 11″ Late 2010 (MacBookAir3.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mid 2009 (MacBookAir2.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Late 2008 (MacBookAir2.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MacBook Air (MacBookAir1.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 12″ Mid 2017 (MacBook10.1) | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| 12″ Early 2016 (MacBook9.1) | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| 12″ Retina Early 2015 (MacBook8.1) | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| 13″ Mid 2010 (MacBook7.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 13″ Late 2009 (MacBook6.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 13″ Early/Mid 2009 (MacBook5.2) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 13″ Aluminum Late 2008 (MacBook5.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 13″ Early / Late 2008 (MacBook4.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 13″ Late 2007 (MacBook3.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 13″ Mid 2007 (MacBook2.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 13″ Late 2006 (MacBook2.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 13″ Late 2006 (MacBook1.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Early 2009 (Xserve3.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Early 2008 (Xserve2.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Late 2006 (Xserve1.1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Tip #3. Try Using Another Computer
Use another computer that you can connect the hard drive with the lost data to, it can be a computer running macOS or Windows. To follow this option, remove your hard drive from the computer with the unsupported macOS and connect it to the computer where the supported OS is installed. There you can scan it with the installed Disk Drill.
If you don’t feel comfortable disturbing the hard drive, you can create its disk image (Disk Drill can do that!), save the resulting DMG to an external HDD, SSD or a USB flash drive, and scan it at another computer with the supported OS.
💡 Pro Tip: Always scan for your lost or deleted files with the latest version of Disk Drill—this ensures you benefit from the most up-to-date recovery algorithms.
Tip #4. Connect Your Mac in Target Disk Mode
Yet another way to avoid physically removing the hard drive is using target disk mode. In case you have two Macs with USB, USB-C, FireWire or Thunderbolt ports, you can connect your Mac with an unsupported OS to another as an external hard disk. Follow the detailed instructions described in Apple support resources.
.updated: June 5, 2025 author: