Running Disk Drill for macOS on modified or unsupported Mac hardware and Hackintosh

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 Download now

Tip #1

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.
disk drill in recovery mode

Tip #2

Install a compatible macOS version on an external drive to run Disk Drill.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Start your Mac from the external disk and then download, install and run Disk Drill under the compatible macOS.
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
Mac Studio Mid 2023 (Mac14.13 / Mac14.14) Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No No
Mac Studio Early 2022 (Mac13.1 / Mac13.2) Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No
Mac Pro
Mid 2023 (Mac14.8) Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No No
Late 2019 (MacPro7.1) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No
Late 2013 (MacPro6.1) No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Server Mid 2010 / Mid 2012 (MacPro5.1) No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Mid 2010 (MacPro5.1) No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Early 2009 (MacPro4.1) No No No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Early 2008 (MacPro3.1) 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
Mac Pro (MacPro1.1) No No No No No No No No No No No No
iMac & iMac Pro
24" iMac M3 2023 (TBD) 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 No No No No No No No No
24" iMac M1 2021 (8-Core GPU & 4 USB) (iMac21.1) 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 No No No No No No No
27" iMac Retina 5K 2020 (iMac20.1) 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 No No No No No No
27 iMac Retina 5K 2019 (iMac19.1) 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 No No No No
27" iMac Retina 5K Mid 2017 (iMac18.3) No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No
21.5" iMac 4K Mid 2017 (iMac18.2) No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No
21.5" iMac Mid 2017 (iMac18.1) No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No
27" iMac Retina 5K Late 2015 (iMac17.1) No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No
21.5" iMac Late 2015 (iMac16.2) No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No
21.5" iMac Late 2015 (iMac16.1) 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 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
21.5" iMac Mid 2014 (iMac14.4) No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
21.5" iMac Mid 2013 (iMac14.3) No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
27" iMac Late 2013 (iMac14.2) No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
21.5" iMac Late 2013 (iMac14.1) No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
27" iMac Late 2012 (iMac13.2) No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
21.5" iMac Late 2012 (iMac13.1) No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
27" iMac Mid 2011 (iMac12.2) 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 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
27" iMac Mid 2010 (iMac11.3) 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 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
27" iMac Late 2009 (Core i5 & i7) (iMac11.1) 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 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
21.5" iMac Late 2009 (iMac10.1) 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 Yes Yes Yes Yes
24" iMac Early 2009 (iMac9.1) 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 Yes Yes Yes Yes
20" iMac Early 2008 (iMac8.1) 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 Yes Yes Yes Yes
20" iMac Mid 2007 (iMac7.1) 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
17" iMac Late 2006 (CD) (iMac5.2) 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
17" iMac Late 2006 (iMac5.1) 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
20" iMac Early 2006 (iMac4.1) 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
Mac mini
Early 2023 (Mac14.3 / Mac14.12) Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No No
Late 2020 (Macmini9.1) Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No No
Late 2018 (Macmini8.1) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No
Late 2014 (Macmini7.1) 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 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Late 2012 (Macmini6.1) No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Server Mid 2011 (Macmini5.3) 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 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Mid 2011 (2.3GHz) (Macmini5.1) No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Server Mid 2010 (Macmini4.1) No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Mid 2010 (Macmini4.1) 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 Yes Yes Yes Yes
Late 2009 (Macmini3.1) No No No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Early 2009 (Macmini3.1) 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
Late 2006 (Macmini1.1) No No No No No No No No No No No No
MacBook Pro
14" M3 Late 2023 (TBD) Yes No No No No No No No No No No No
16" M3 Late 2023 (TBD) Yes No No No No No No No No No No No
14" M2 Early 2023 (Mac14.5 / Mac14.9) Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No No
16" M2 Early 2023 (Mac14.6 / Mac14.10) Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No No
13" M2 Mid 2022 (Mac14.7) Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No
14" M1 Late 2021 (MacBookPro18.3/18.4) Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No
16" M1 Late 2021 (MacBookPro18.2/18.1) Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No
13" M1 Late 2020 (MacBookPro17.1) 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 No No No No No No No
13" Touch Mid 2020 Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports (MacBookPro16.2) 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 No No No No No No No
15" Touch Mid 2019 (MacBookPro15.3) 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 No No No No No No
13" Touch Mid 2019 Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports (MacBookPro15.2) 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 No No No No No
13" Touch Mid 2018 (MacBookPro15.2) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No
15" Touch Mid 2017 (MacBookPro14.3) No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No
13" Touch Mid 2017 (MacBookPro14.2) No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No
13" Mid 2017 (MacBookPro14.1) No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No
15" Touch Late 2016 (MacBookPro13.3) No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No
13" Touch Late 2016 (MacBookPro13.2) No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No
13" Late 2016 (MacBookPro13.1) No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No
13" Retina Early 2015 (MacBookPro12.1) No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
15" Retina Mid 2015 (MacBookPro11.5) No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
15" Retina Mid 2015 (MacBookPro11.4) No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
13" Retina Mid 2014 (MacBookPro11.1) No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
15" Retina Mid 2014 (MacBookPro11.2) No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
15" Retina Mid 2014 (MacBookPro11.3) No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
15" Retina Late 2013 (MacBookPro11.3) No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
15" Retina Late 2013 (MacBookPro11.2) No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
13" Retina Late 2013 (MacBookPro11.1) No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
13" Retina Late 2012 (MacBookPro10.2) No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
15" Retina Mid 2012 (MacBookPro10.1) No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
13" Mid 2012 (MacBookPro9.2) No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
15" Mid 2012 (MacBookPro9.1) No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
17" Late 2011 (MacBookPro8.3) No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
17" Early 2011 (MacBookPro8.3) No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
15" Late 2011 (MacBookPro8.2) No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
15" Early 2011 (MacBookPro8.2) No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
13" Late 2011 (MacBookPro8.1) No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
13" Early 2011 (MacBookPro8.1) No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
13" Mid 2010 (MacBookPro7.1) No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
15" Mid 2010 (MacBookPro6.2) No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
17" Mid 2010 (MacBookPro6.1) 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 Yes Yes Yes Yes
15" Mid 2009 2.53GHz (MacBookPro5.4) 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 Yes Yes Yes Yes
17" Early 2009 (MacBookPro5.2) 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 Yes Yes Yes Yes
17" Early/Late 2008 (MacBookPro4.1) 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 Yes Yes Yes Yes
17" Mid/Late 2007 (MacBookPro3.1) 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 Yes Yes Yes Yes
15" Core 2 Duo (MacBookPro2.2) 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
17" (MacBookPro1.2) 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
MacBook Air
15" M2 Mid 2023 (Mac14.15) Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No No
13" M2 Mid 2022 (Mac14.2) Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No
13" M1 Late 2020 (MacBookAir10.1) Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No No
13" Early 2020 (MacBookAir9.1) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No
13" 2019 (MacBookAir8.2) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No
13" 2018 (MacBookAir8.1) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No
13" Early 2015 (MacBookAir7.2) No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
11" Early 2015 (MacBookAir7.1) No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
13" Early 2014 (MacBookAir6.2) No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
13" Mid 2013 (MacBookAir6.2) No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
11" Early 2014 (MacBookAir6.1) No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
11" Mid 2013 (MacBookAir6.1) No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
13" Mid 2012 (MacBookAir5.2) No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
11" Mid 2012 (MacBookAir5.1) No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
13" Mid 2011 (MacBookAir4.2) No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
11" Mid 2011 (MacBookAir4.1) No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
13" Late 2010 (MacBookAir3.2) No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
11" Late 2010 (MacBookAir3.1) No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Mid 2009 (MacBookAir2.1) No No No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Late 2008 (MacBookAir2.1) 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
MacBook
12" Mid 2017 (MacBook10.1) No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No
12" Early 2016 (MacBook9.1) No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No
12" Retina Early 2015 (MacBook8.1) No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
13" Mid 2010 (MacBook7.1) No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
13" Late 2009 (MacBook6.1) 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 Yes Yes Yes Yes
13" Aluminum Late 2008 (MacBook5.1) 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
13" Late 2007 (MacBook3.1) 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
13" Late 2006 (MacBook2.1) 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
Xserve
Early 2009 (Xserve3.1) 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
Late 2006 (Xserve1.1) No No No No No No No No No No No No

Tip #3

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.

Tip #4

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.

Download Disk Drill data recovery app Download now

.updated: October 31, 2023 author: CleverFiles Team