Lenovo ThinkPad T480 OpenCore Configuation

Status: Maintained
Version: 2.1
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⚠️ Disclaimer

This guide is only for the Lenovo ThinkPad T480. I am NOT responsible for any harm you cause to your device. This guide is provided "as-is" and all steps taken are done at your own risk.

The ACPI patches and the style of this README are from EETagent.

 

Introduction

EFI folders

This repo includes multiple EFI configuations for different macOS Versions.

EFI	Description	Type
EFI - Intel	Supports macOS Ventura (using Airportitlwm)	Stable
EFI - HeliPort	Supports every macOS Version, Requires HeliPort app	Stable
EFI - Broadcom	Supports every macOS Version (except Sonoma)	Beta
EFI - Sonoma	Supports macOS Sonoma (using Itlwm and HeliPort)	Stable
EFI - Sequoia	Supports macOS Sequoia (using Itlwm and HeliPort)	Beta

Note The Broadcom configuration is not stable. Use EFI instead for a better experience (you can also disable Airportitlwm).

Download HeliPort app »

💻 My Hardware

These are the Hardware component I use. But this OpenCore configuation should still work with your device, even if the components are not equal.

Note Check the model of your WiFi & Bluetooth card. Intel cards should be compatible with itlwm (or AirportItlwm). If your card is from another manufacturer, please check if your card supports macOS.

Category	Component
CPU	Intel Core i5-8350U
GPU	Intel UHD Graphics 620
SSD	Pioneer APS 1TB SATA SSD
Memory	24GB DDR4 2400Mhz
Camera	720p Camera
WiFi & BT	Intel 18265 Wifi

📸 Photos

 

Installation

⚠️ Anti-Piracy Warning / Disclaimer ⚠️

⚠️ PIRACY IS NO PARTY! ⚠️

I do not endorse or condone the use of pre-configured Hackintosh Distros because not only they cause unnecessary harm to your machine but it is considered to be a form of Software Piracy. Software Piracy is a serious crime according to copyright law and is punishable for up to 10 years in prison.

⚠️ Important Information for any i7 and/or macOS Sonoma Users ⚠️

🛜 AirPortItlwm is still not stable yet! 🛜

If you're using a ThinkPad T480, T480s or X280 that either is rocking an Intel Core i7 CPU and/or is running macOS Sonoma, please be aware that the AirPortItlwm kext is NOT STABLE yet. What I mean is that while the kext actually functions, you will not be able to access any iServices (iMessage, FaceTime,etc.). In order to have any access to iServices, please use the itlwm kext along with the HeliPort application until the AirPortItlwm kext is updated.

📝 Requirements

You must have the following items:

• Lenovo ThinkPad T480 (Obviously 😁).
• Access to a working Windows machine with Python installed.
• A pendrive with more than 4 GB (Remember that during the preparation we will format the flash drive to create the installation media).
• an Internet connection (recommended via Ethernet).
• 1-2 hours of your time.

⚙️ Preperation

Create the install media

First of all, you will need the install media of macOS. I will use macrecovery to download and create the macOS Install media.

With macrecovery, the process is the following:

• Download OpenCorePkg as a ZIP.
• Extract the OpenCorePkg-master.zip file.
• Open cmd.exe with Administrator privileges and change the directory to OpenCorePkg-master\Utilities\macrecovery.
• Enter the following command to download macOS:

# Monterey (12)
python macrecovery.py -b Mac-E43C1C25D4880AD6 -m 00000000000000000 download

# Ventura (13)
python macrecovery.py -b Mac-7BA5B2D9E42DDD94 download

# Sonoma (14)
python macrecovery.py -b Mac-CFF7D910A743CAAF -m 00000000000000000 download

• After the download succeeded, type diskpart and wait until you see DISKPART>

• Plug-in your pendrive and type list disk to see your disk id.

• Select your pendrive by typing select disk <diskid>

• Now we are gonna clean the pendrive and convert it to GPT. First, type clean and then convert gpt.

Note: If an error occurred, try to convert again by typing convert gpt.

• After the pendrive is clean and converted, we will 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.

• Finally, mount your pendrive by typing assign

• Now, close the Command Prompt and create the folder com.apple.recovery.boot on the pendrive. Copy OpenCorePkg-master\Utilities\macrecovery\BaseSystem.dmg and Basesystem.chunklist into that folder.

Note: If you can't find BaseSystem.dmg, use RecoveryImage.dmg and RecoveryImage.chunklist instead.

After the install media was created, we need to make the USB drive bootable.

Configure and install OpenCore

Download the EFI folder from this repo, you will find the latest files under the release tab or just download the repo as it is. Move the folder to the root of your pendrive (e.g. J:) and rename the folder to EFI.

GenSMBIOS

We need a script, called GenSMBIOS, to create fake serial number, UUID and MLB numbers. This step is essential to have working iMessage, so do not skip it!

The process is the following:

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

Enter the proper ROM value

After adding serials to your config.plist, you have to add the computer's MAC address to the config.plist file. This step is also essential to have a working iMessage, so do not skip it. We need a Plist editior, to write the MAC address into the config.plist file. I used ProperTree, since it works on Windows too. You have to change the MAC address value in the config.plist at

PlatformInfo -> Generic -> ROM

Delete the generic 112233445566 value, and enter your MAC address into the field, without any colons. Save the Plist file, and it is now ready to be written out to the EFI partition of your install media.

Default keyboard layout and language

The default keyboard layout and language is German. To change the language, edit the value of NVRAM -> Add -> 7C436110-AB2A-4BBB-A880-FE41995C9F82 -> prev-lang:kbd to the value of your language. If your value contains an underscore "_", replace it with a hyphen "-". The value for English would be en-US:0. You can find a list of all language values here.

ACPI patches

Please enable / disable the following patches depending on what is installed in your device.

SSDT	Affected device	Description
SSDT-ARPT.aml	Broadcom cards	Disable Broadcom card during sleep
SSDT-OFFTB.aml	Thunderbolt	Disable Thunderbolt
SSDT-OFFGDGPU.aml	NVIDIA GeForce MX 150	Disable NVIDIA GPU (necessary if installed)

Install OpenCore

After you've finished with the neccesary tweaks, you have to copy the EFI folder to the EFI partition of your pendrive.

🚚 Installation

Prepare BIOS

The bios must be properly configured prior to installing macOS. In Security menu, set the following settings:

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

In Startup menu, set the following options:

• UEFI/Legacy Boot: UEFI Only
• CSM Support: No

In Thunderbolt menu, set the following options:

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

Now you can go through the install.

Install macOS

1. Boot from USB, press SPACE and select the USB drive inside of OpenCore "NO NAME (DMG)" or similar.

Note: The first boot may take up to 20 minutes.

2. Wait for the macOS Utilities screen.
3. Select Disk Utility, select your disk and click erase. Give a name and choose APFS with GUID Partition Map.
4. After erasing, go back and select Reinstall macOS and follow the steps on your screen. The installation make take up to 2 hours.

Note: Your PC will restart multiple times. Just boot from USB and select your disk inside of OpenCore. (named macOS Installer or the disk name).

5. Once you see the Region selection screen, you are good to proceed.
6. Create your user accound and everything else.

♻️ Upgrade macOS / Switch EFI

If you plan to upgrade your macOS (or updating the EFI / switching to HeliPort), you'll need a different OpenCore configuation (EFI). Please follow these steps:

Note: Download the desired macOS version in the Settings before following these steps, if you are connected via WiFi.

1. Download the newest release & ProperTree and extract it.
2. Start ProperTree and load the Config.plist on your EFI partition. (File -> Open)

Note: You can mount your EFI partition by pressing ALT + SPACE, typing Terminal and enter the following command: sudo diskutil mountDisk disk0s1.

3. Now also load the new configuration file from the repo for the desired macOS installation (or HeliPort config).
4. You should now have 2 ProperTree-windows open on your screen.
5. Go in both windows to Root -> PlatformInfo -> Generic. Transfer MLB, ROM, SystemProductName, SystemSerialNumber and SystemUUID to the new config.
6. Save the new config (File -> Save) and close both windows.
7. Now delete your existing EFI folder from the EFI partition and copy the new one to it. (Make sure that the Directorys Boot and OC are in EFI).

If you want to upgrade macOS, download the desired macOS version in the Settings app and perform the upgrade like on a real Mac.

 

Post-install (optional)

💾 Install OpenCore to Hard drive

1. Press ALT + SPACE and open terminal. Type sudo diskutil mountDisk disk0s1 (where disk0s1 corresponds to the EFI partition of the main disk)
2. Open Finder and copy the EFI folder of your USB device to the main disk's EFI partition.
3. Unplug the USB device and reboot your laptop. Now you can boot macOS without your USB device.

✏️ Create a offline install media (Optional)

In case of reinstalling macOS, a offline install media can save some time. You also don't need an Ethernet connection for the installation. To create a offline install media, you need the following stuff:

• macOS Installer from the App Store.
• A 16 GB pendrive (Keep in mind, during the preperation we will format the disk to create the install media).

Press ALT + SPACE and open Disk utility. Select your USB device and click erase. Name it MyUSB and choose Mac OS Extended with GUID Partition Map. After erasing the USB device, close Disk utility.

Now press ALT + SPACE and open terminal. Type the following command:

Big Sur: sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyUSB --downloadassets

Monterey: sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Monterey.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyUSB --downloadassets

After creating the install media, copy your EFI folder to the EFI partition of your USB device.

 

Status

✅ What's working

• Intel WiFi & Bluetooth (Itlwm + Heliport for now.)
• Brightness / Volume Control
• Battery Information
• Audio (Audio Jack & Speaker)
• USB Ports & Built-in Camera
• Graphics Acceleration
• Trackpoint / Touchpad
• Power management / Sleep
• FaceTime / iMessage (iServices)
• HDMI
• Automatic OS updates
• Handoff / Universal Clipboard
• Sidecar (Cable) / AirPlay to Mac
• SIP / FireVault 2
• USB-C

⚠️ What's not working

• Safari DRM Use Chromium powered Browser or Firefox to watch Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ and others
• AirDrop & Continuity
• Fingerprint Reader (Disabled with NoTouchID kext)
• Thunderbolt 3
• Sidecar Wireless
• Apple Watch Unlock

🔄 Not tested

• WWAN
• Dualbooting Windows / Linux (with OpenCore)

 

⭐️ Feedback

Did you find any bugs or just have some questions? Feel free to provide your feedback using the Discussions tab.

 

📜 License

This repo is licensed under the MIT License.

OpenCore is licensed under the BSD 3-Clause License.

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© 2018 - 2022 valnoxy. All Rights Reserved.
By Jonas Günner <[email protected]>