Pro Tools Operating System Compatibility Chart - Knowledge Base
High Sierra handles multi-core processing differently than older OS versions. If you get CPU errors, go to Pro Tools > Setup > Playback Engine. Reduce the Host Processors setting by one core (e.g., change from 8 Cores to 7 Cores) to leave room for macOS background tasks.
: Locate the extracted Pro Tools.pkg (or similar) inside the destination folder and run it directly. Recommended Alternatives
Navigate to the top menu bar, click , and open Terminal . Type the following command and press Enter: csrutil disable Use code with caution. Restart your Mac normally. Step 2: Spoof Your macOS Version install pro tools 103 10 on high sierra
Take the original backup of SystemVersion.plist from your Desktop and drag it back into /System/Library/CoreServices/ . Confirm the file replacement and type your admin password.
: Before attempting an unsupported install, create a system image or use Time Machine.
| Component | Requirement | High Sierra Compatibility | |-----------|-------------|---------------------------| | OS Version | OS X 10.8.5 (Mountain Lion) | 10.13.x (unsupported) | | Bit Architecture | 32-bit | Supported until 10.14 Mojave | | Audio Engine | CoreAudio, TDM/HDX | CoreAudio works partially | | QuickTime | 7.x or Pro | QT 10+ bundled, codec issues | | Java | Java 6 (Apple legacy) | Must be manually installed | Pro Tools Operating System Compatibility Chart - Knowledge
The standard installer fails because it misreads "10.13" as "10.1," which it considers too old. Manual Extraction : Users often use a tool like or the Terminal command pkgutil --expand to extract the Pro Tools package manually to the desktop. The "Distribution" Edit : Once expanded, advanced users locate the Distribution
pkgutil --expand /Volumes/Pro\ Tools\ 10/Install\ Pro\ Tools.pkg ~/Desktop/PT_Extract/Expanded.pkg Use code with caution.
cd /Volumes/Pro\ Tools\ Installer/Pro\ Tools\ Installer.app/Contents/Resources cp Distribution Distribution.bak nano Distribution : Locate the extracted Pro Tools
After installing, go to and click "Allow" if you see a message about Avid software being blocked. Step 3: Fix the iLok License Manager
According to the official Avid Compatibility Chart , Pro Tools 10 legacy software was only qualified up to OS X 10.8.5 (Mountain Lion). Because Pro Tools 10 relies heavily on older 32-bit architecture and RTAS plugins, running it on High Sierra requires bypassing the built-in installer restrictions and managing known visual glitches.
Reboot into Recovery Mode (Cmd+R), open Terminal, type csrutil disable , reboot. (Re-enable after install with csrutil enable if desired).
Pro Tools Operating System Compatibility Chart - Knowledge Base
High Sierra handles multi-core processing differently than older OS versions. If you get CPU errors, go to Pro Tools > Setup > Playback Engine. Reduce the Host Processors setting by one core (e.g., change from 8 Cores to 7 Cores) to leave room for macOS background tasks.
: Locate the extracted Pro Tools.pkg (or similar) inside the destination folder and run it directly. Recommended Alternatives
Navigate to the top menu bar, click , and open Terminal . Type the following command and press Enter: csrutil disable Use code with caution. Restart your Mac normally. Step 2: Spoof Your macOS Version
Take the original backup of SystemVersion.plist from your Desktop and drag it back into /System/Library/CoreServices/ . Confirm the file replacement and type your admin password.
: Before attempting an unsupported install, create a system image or use Time Machine.
| Component | Requirement | High Sierra Compatibility | |-----------|-------------|---------------------------| | OS Version | OS X 10.8.5 (Mountain Lion) | 10.13.x (unsupported) | | Bit Architecture | 32-bit | Supported until 10.14 Mojave | | Audio Engine | CoreAudio, TDM/HDX | CoreAudio works partially | | QuickTime | 7.x or Pro | QT 10+ bundled, codec issues | | Java | Java 6 (Apple legacy) | Must be manually installed |
The standard installer fails because it misreads "10.13" as "10.1," which it considers too old. Manual Extraction : Users often use a tool like or the Terminal command pkgutil --expand to extract the Pro Tools package manually to the desktop. The "Distribution" Edit : Once expanded, advanced users locate the Distribution
pkgutil --expand /Volumes/Pro\ Tools\ 10/Install\ Pro\ Tools.pkg ~/Desktop/PT_Extract/Expanded.pkg Use code with caution.
cd /Volumes/Pro\ Tools\ Installer/Pro\ Tools\ Installer.app/Contents/Resources cp Distribution Distribution.bak nano Distribution
After installing, go to and click "Allow" if you see a message about Avid software being blocked. Step 3: Fix the iLok License Manager
According to the official Avid Compatibility Chart , Pro Tools 10 legacy software was only qualified up to OS X 10.8.5 (Mountain Lion). Because Pro Tools 10 relies heavily on older 32-bit architecture and RTAS plugins, running it on High Sierra requires bypassing the built-in installer restrictions and managing known visual glitches.
Reboot into Recovery Mode (Cmd+R), open Terminal, type csrutil disable , reboot. (Re-enable after install with csrutil enable if desired).