/T480-hackintosh

✅ Up to date Hackintosh's EFI for my custom ThinkPad T480. ⚠️ Take the risk and use ir for other models (probably compatible). ⚠️

GNU General Public License v3.0GPL-3.0

Thinkpad T480 Hackintosh 🍏

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Welcome to the T480 Hackintosh project, aimed at enabling macOS to run on the Lenovo Thinkpad T480. 🚀

Disclaimer ⚠️

This EFI is based in pierpaolodimarzo and valnoxy repository, go and support them. This repository couldn't be done without their work; any suggestion is acepted to improve the files.

Most of all components and services are working, take a look to this list to make an idea about. Thigs that doesn't work are Airdrop, Intel Wifi card doesn't have support to that.


Hardware Specifications 🛠️

note IMPORTANT!

  1. Add NVMeFix.kext if you don't use any Western Digital storage device.
  2. Generate your own SMBIOS or your won't be able to use Apple Services.
  3. After system installation you must install YogaSMC.app.
Category Details
Display 1920x1080
SMBIOS MacBookPro15,2
CPU Intel Core i7-8550
GPU Intel UHD Graphics 620
Memory 64GB (32x2) DDR4 3200MHz
LAN Intel Ethernet Connection I219-V
Wifi Intel Wi-Fi AX210
Audio Realtek ALC256
Bluetooth Bluetooth 4.2
Storage 1 Western Digital Blue SN570 1TB (macOS)
Storage 2 Western Digital Sn520 500GB (Windows 11)
Thunderbolt JHL6240 Thunderbolt 3 LP Alpine Ridge

Repository descriptios says "and probably other models", there is a chance that similar models could use this EFI and may not present problems in the using. Some tested and succesful installation models could be:

  • ThinkPad T580. Tested by rvlphee
  • ThinkPad T480s. Tested by michal161 - Thunderbolt not working
  • ThinkPad X280. Tested by loll70 - Thunderbolt not working

BIOS Configuration 🔧

For successful installation, configure your BIOS settings as follows:

  • Security > Security Chip: Disabled
  • Memory Protection > Execution Prevention: Enabled
  • Virtualization > Intel Virtualization Technology: Enabled
  • Virtualization > Intel VT-d Feature: Enabled
  • Anti-Theft > Computrace > Current Setting: Disabled
  • Secure Boot > Secure Boot: Disabled
  • Intel SGX Intel SGX Control: Disabled
  • Device Guard: Disabled

Make sure to set your StartUp Menu options to UEFI Only and disable CSM Support.

For USB settings, set Always On USB to Disabled.

In the Thunderbolt Menu, configure the settings accordingly:

  • Thunderbolt BIOS Assist Mode: Disabled
  • Wake by Thunderbolt(TM) 3: Disabled
  • Security Level: No security
  • Support in Pre Boot Environment > Thunderbolt(TM) device: Enabled

Refer to this issue to report any problem with Thunderbolt.


Preparing USB 🛠️

note

Next steps were tought to be done in a Windows system, I'll recommend using Python3 from the Microsoft Store.

Formating USB 🧹

  1. Plug your USB device.
  2. Open CMD with administrative permissions, type diskpart
  3. Type list disk to see your disk id.
  4. Select your pendrive by typing select disk <diskid>
  5. Clean the pendrive and convert it to GPT. First, type clean and then convert gpt.
  6. Create a new partition where we can put our files on. First, type create partition primary, then select the new partition with select partition 1 and format it format fs=fat32 quick.
  7. Finally, mount your pendrive by typing assign

OpenCore 🔄

  1. Download OpenCorePkg as a ZIP.
  2. Extract the OpenCorePkg-master.zip file.
  3. With Windows Terminal or CMD, go to next path OpenCorePkg-master\Utilities\macrecovery
  4. From the Dortania's guide, use any of these commands to download macOS version I support in my EFI:
# macOS Big Sur (11)
python3 macrecovery.py -b Mac-42FD25EABCABB274 -m 00000000000000000 download

# macOS Monterey (12)
python3 macrecovery.py -b Mac-FFE5EF870D7BA81A -m 00000000000000000 download

# macOS Ventura (13)
python3 macrecovery.py -b Mac-4B682C642B45593E -m 00000000000000000 download

#macOS Sonoma (14) TESTING
python3 macrecovery.py -b Mac-7BA5B2D9E42DDD94 download

Folders 📁

Note

There is an EFI specifically for BigSur, use It if you don't plan to use Ventura or Monterey.

  1. After downloading macOS with those commands, create the folder com.apple.recovery.boot in the pendrive.
  2. Copy OpenCorePkg-master\Utilities\macrecovery\BaseSystem.dmg and Basesystem.chunklist into com.apple.recovery.boot folder.
  3. Download and copy the EFI folder of this repository and paste it into your USB.
  4. Make sure you have com.apple.recovery.boot and EFI in the pendrive.

SMBIOS 💿

Note

In order to use AppleID and other services, check if the serial generated has support with Apple verification the coverage of a device

  1. Start GenSMBIOS.bat and use option 1 to download MacSerial.
  2. Choose option 2, to select the path of the config.plist file. It will be located in EFI -> OC folder in your pendrive.
  3. Choose option 3, and enter MacBookPro15,2 as the machine type.
  4. Press Q to quit. Your config now should contain the requied serials.

Installation 🔌

Note

  1. Make sure you have an Internet connection or use Ethernet.
  2. Boot macOS without USB is possible, you'll need to create an EFI partition during disk manager steps.
  3. In the installation your computer may restart sometimes, keep calm and continue the process.

Boot USB 🚀

  1. Restart your computer and open Boot Menu during startup with F12
  2. Choose your USB device and wait.
  3. A Black Screen with Boot options must be showed.
  4. Press the space bar to display hidden options.
  5. Choose the OC DEVEL (dmg), you could recognize like a yellow gear.

Partitions 🗄️

  1. A menu must be display, choose Utility Disk.
  2. Touch View and choose the option Show all devices. Once done, all your storage devices will be show in the SideBar.
  3. Choose the device which you'll install the system and apply. the option erase. Make sure to have this settings.
    • Name: 'Macintosh HD'
    • Format: APFS
    • Scheme: GUID Partition Map

You could name your device as you want, keep in my that It cannot be modified after the system is installed.

  1. Once done, choose your storage again and select Partitions option.
  2. Select the + and choose the option that says Create partition, then resize the new partition created to 512 mb.
    • Format: MS-DOS (fat)

Do not select ExFat, it won't be possible to boot OC.

System 💻

Keep your pendrive pluged.

  1. Exit Utility Disk and choose Install macOS... or Reinstall macOS...
  2. Acept terms and conditions, now it will show you your devices options to install the system.
  3. Choose the one you named steps before.
  4. Now wait until the installation, this could take some time.
  5. Once the installation finished, your computer could restart without any reason.
  6. Keep waiting and check if in your screen shows something like "Installation process 27 minutes left".
  7. Your computer could restart 2 or 3 times.

Enjoy the system 🎓

Congratulation, now you'll see Select Your Country or Region interface, that means the system is now installed in your computer.


Booting without USB 🚀

  • Mount the EFI partition of your main disk.
  • Copy the EFI folder from the USB to the main disk's EFI partition.
  • Unplug the USB device and reboot your laptop to boot macOS.

Troubleshooting 🛠️❗

ProperTree is going to be used for modifying config.plist. Remember to install hombrew and python-tk dependency, also you can build te app in macOS.

Processor Optimization

Using CPUFriendFriend tool you could be able to change energy management for Performance or Power Saving. Read next section in Dortania to process to the building of your own kext.

It's important to mention that you may need to know your TPD-down Frecuency as the guide says. Check your value in ARK site

Configuration I recommend you

  • TPD-down frecuency: 800 mhz
  • EPP Ranges: 40 : Balanced
  • Perf-Bias: 05 : Modern MacBook Pro
  • Additional Energy Saving Options: Y

Once new kext is built, just replace the old one with the new that you created using the tool.

Compiling Kext

This is optional, I just like to build some kext using Lilu-and Friends script.

Customize OpenCore

Dortania's guide has a section that shows many themes made by blackosx. In GitHub there are other OpenCore themes not showed in the guide but you could inquire them.

Samsung PM981

Most Thinkpad T480 has the Samsung PM981 which is not compatible with macOS even using NVMeFIX.kext won´t works at all. Reference.

System language

The default keyboard layout and language is Spanish. The value for English would be en-US:0. Check this value language list.

To change the language modify:

  • NVRAM > Add > 7C436110-AB2A-4BBB-A880-FE41995C9F82 > prev-lang:kbd

Latam keyboard

My keyboard has some troubles in the hackintosh, I have the "<>" keys at the bottom of the keyboard, this repository has fixed that key. Follow its README to install.

BIOS entry

By default this is enabled in this config.plist. I'll recommend this by default.

Enable

OC writes an entry into BIOS pointing directly to OpenCore.efi and the computer's boot menu shows OC and connected disks.

  • Misc > Boot > LauncherOption = Full
  • Misc > Boot > LauncherPath = Default

Disable

Computer's boot menu shows connected disks but OC does not write its own entry into BIOS

  • Misc > Boot > LauncherOption = Disabled
  • Misc > Boot > LauncherPath = Default

Hide OpenCore

In the config.plist modify next line to show or hide the Boot Menu, I personally do not recommend this due to some cases a macOS update could break something.

  • Misc > Boot > ShowPicker = False
  • Misc > Boot > UsePicker = True

Change OpenCore background color

We have to modify with hex valor the backgrounds color. Modify and change the value with the color you want (e.g. BFBFBF)

  • NVRAM > Add > 4D1EDE05-38C7-4A6A-9CC6-4BCCA8B38C14 > DefaultBackgroundColor > <000000>

Change NVRAM size

By default It is recommend to use 1.5Gb, even macbook Pro use the same size, but If you are who likes to using more, read next Reddit post about It.

Hide EFI partitions

During the bootloader, EFI partitions may be showed. Hiding this is easiest as adding .contentVisibility file into BOOT and OC folders. By default this is enabled in this configuration.

Disable smoothing font

Smoothing font can exhaust the eyes in 1366x768 display, disable It with next command.

# disable font smoothing
defaults -currentHost write -g AppleFontSmoothing -int 0

# enable default smoothing. You can also use "1" for light smoothing and "3" value for strong smoothing.
defaults -currentHost write -g AppleFontSmoothing -int 2

Special Thanks 🙌

A big thank you to the following references and projects that made this hackintosh project possible:

Your support and contribution are greatly appreciated! 👏