Thinkpad T460s running macOS (OpenCore bootloader)

First OpenCore build for T460s ever

How to Upgrade to macOS Big Sur

Introduction

General knowledge & credits

Why OpenCore
Dortania's guide to install macOS
SSDT patches from OC-little
Useful tools by @CorpNewt
Acidanthera's OpenCore and kexts development
@MSzturc for keyboard map and ThinkpadAssistant

My Hardware

Model: Thinkpad T460s (20F9003AUS)
Processor: Intel Core i7-6600U (2C, 2.6 / 3.4GHz, 4MB)vPro
Graphics: Integrated Intel HD Graphics 520
Memory: 4GB Soldered + 4GB DIMM 2133 MHz DDR4
Display: 14" WQHD (2560x1440) IPS
Sound Card: Realtek ALC293
Storage: 256GB SSD M.2 Opal2
WLAN + Bluetooth: BCM94360CS2
Camera: 720p
Keyboard: Backlit
Fingerprint Reader: Yes
Battery: 3-cell (23Wh) + 3-cell (26Wh)

What if I don't have this exact model?

This EFI will suit any T460s regardless of CPU model¹ / RAM amount / Display resolution² / Storage drive (SATA or NVMe¹).

1: custom CPU Power Management guide

2: 1440p display models should change UIScale to 2 for better resolution while booting

NVRAM -> Add -> 7C436110-AB2A-4BBB-A880-FE41995C9F82 -> UIScale = 2

3: Some NVMe drives may not work OOTB with MacOS, NVMeFix could resolve some issues.

Recommended changes

USB ports map

Needed to make TP dock ports working since I don't have one and my config doesn't include them.

Use one of the following methods if needed:

CPU Power Management

If you want to take a step forward and create a custom CPU power profile, follow the steps below:

Use CPUFriendFriend to generate a .plist file with PM data; (settings for i7-6600u):

Low Frequency Mode (LFM) = 800MHz #(TDP-down frequency for i7-6600u)
Energy Performance Preference (EPP) = 80 #(Balance power)

via ResourceConverter.sh inside CPUFriend, select the .plist to generate either CPUFriendDataProvider.kext or SSDT-DATA.dsl;
Load CPUFriend.kext and CPUFriendDataProvider.kext inside EFI/OC/config.plist or
Alternatively combine SSDT-DATA.dsl data with SSDT-PLUG and load it with CPUFriend.kext inside EFI/OC/config.plist.

That's how power consumption looks like on my machine at idle state:

True Macbook experience 

Generate your own SMBIOS

run the script with MacbookPro13,1
add results to PlatformInfo > Generic > MLB, SystemSerialNumber and SystemUUID

Enable HiDPI with RDM Utility

install RDM Utility
open it, click on "resolution", then "edit"
for 2560x1440 screens I suggest using 1440x810 resolution
to accomplish that, use the settings below

Other tweaks

Install ThinkpadAssistant

Every hotkey will work on macOS with a beautiful, apple like control hud.

include SSDT-KBRD and relative patches in config.plist
install ThinkpadAssistant app under /Apllication/
check launch on login

Use PrtSc key as Screenshot shortcut

set F13 shortcut under SystemPreferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts > Screenshots

Monitor temperatures and power consumption with HWMonitor

This app is relatively old and no longer supported, but it gets the job done and has a nice simple look.

Make dock animation faster and without delay

Run these lines in terminal:

defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-delay -float 0
defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier -float 0.5
killall Dock

Mac-like Bootloader GUI and Boot Chime

For Mac-like Bootloader GUI and Boot Chime follow the appropriate Dortania Guide. It would be unnecessary to rewrite the whole thing here.

Information for Boot Chime setup:
AudioDevice : PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x1f,0x3)
AudioOut : 0 //Speakers
AudioOut : 1 //Headphone Jack

Bios settings

Config > USB > UEFI BIOS Support > Enable
Config > Power > Intel SpeedStep Technology > Enable
Config > Power > CPU Power Management > Enable
Config > CPU > Hyper-Threading Technology > Enable
Security > Security Chip > Disable
Security > Memory Protection>Execution Prevention>Enable
Security > Virtualization > Intel Virtualization Technology > Enable
Security > Virtualization > Intel VT-d Feature > Enable
Security > Anti-Theft > Computrace > Current Setting > Disable
Security > Secure Boot > Disable
Security > Intel SGX > Disable
Security > Device Guard > Disable
Startup > UEFI/Legacy Boot > UEFI Only
Startup > CSM Support > No
Startup > Boot Mode > Quick

What's working ✔️

Startup time from OC Picker to Desktop was 26s, now it's 18s

What's not working ⚠️

Fingerprint Reader
Video output not so stable
Safari DRM
WWAN not tested

Update tracker 🔄

Item	Stable	Development	Beta
MacOS	10.15.6	10.15.6	11.0
OpenCore	0.5.9	0.6.0	0.6.0
Lilu	1.4.5	1.4.6	1.4.6
VirtualSMC	1.1.4	1.1.5	1.1.5
WhateverGreen	1.4.0	1.4.1	1.4.1
AppleALC	1.5.0	1.5.1	1.5.1
VoodooPS2Controller	2.1.4	2.1.6	2.1.4
VoodooRMI	none	1.0.1	none
VoodooSMBus	none	2.2	none
IntelMausi	1.0.3	1.0.3	1.0.3
Sinetek-rtsx	2.2	2.3	2.2
HibernationFixup	1.3.3	1.3.4	1.3.3
CPUFriend	1.2.2	1.2.3	1.2.2

New, fully working, trackpad gestures!

If you found my work useful please consider a PayPal donation

Thanks to

The hackintosh community from GitHub, InsanelyMac and r/hackintosh.

aerozavr/Thinkpad-T460s-macOS-OpenCore