Install Pro | Tools 103 10 On High Sierra
After successful launch:
High Sierra introduces new security features that block legacy kernel extensions (kexts). You must prepare the OS to accept the old Avid drivers.
Disclaimer: Avid officially ended support for Pro Tools 10 over a decade ago. macOS High Sierra (10.13) is also considered obsolete by Apple. Running this combination requires working around 64-bit compatibility layers and legacy frameworks. This guide is for legacy project recovery only. Do not use this setup for professional, mission-critical production.
| Issue | Solution | |-------|----------| | No audio from Built-in Output | Install Soundflower or use an aggregate device. PT10’s CoreAudio driver conflicts with High Sierra’s. | | Video engine fails to load | Disable video engine in Setup > Preferences. PT10’s video engine is 32-bit and unstable on High Sierra. | | GUI artifacts / flickering | Turn off “Dynamic Transport” and run in Low Resolution mode (Get Info on Pro Tools.app > check “Open in Low Resolution”). | | Can’t save session | Run Disk Utility > First Aid on your drive. APFS volumes sometimes deny PT10 write access. | | iLok not recognized | Uninstall PACE drivers (use their uninstaller), reboot, reinstall v3.0.0. |
Before we begin, understand the technical wall you are about to hit:
Verdict: It can work, but only on High Sierra 10.13.0, 10.13.1, 10.13.2, or 10.13.3. If you are on 10.13.4, 10.13.5, or 10.13.6, stop now—Apple removed the required frameworks, and the installer will crash immediately.
If you have newer versions of Pro Tools or CoreAudio drivers, remove them via:
Yes, you can install Pro Tools 10.3.10 on High Sierra, but it is a fragile, unsupported configuration. Following this guide – modifying the installer, disabling SIP, using PACE 3.0.0, and trashing prefs – will get the app to launch and play audio. However, expect random CPU spikes, video engine failures, and occasional GUI glitches.
For professional work, treat this as a temporary bridge, not a permanent solution. Keep your High Sierra install offline, backup your sessions frequently, and consider migrating to a modern DAW when possible.
Note to reader: Avid no longer provides support for Pro Tools 10. This guide is for educational and legacy archival purposes only.
Installing Pro Tools 10.3.10 macOS High Sierra (10.13) is officially unsupported
by Avid and is widely considered a "forced" or unstable configuration
. Pro Tools 10 is a 32-bit application, and while High Sierra still supports 32-bit apps, major core changes in the OS make this version highly unreliable without manual workarounds Compatibility Summary Official Support: officially qualifies Pro Tools 10.3.10 only up to macOS 10.8.5 (Mountain Lion) Unsupported "Limit":
Some users found it stable up to 10.9.5 (Mavericks), but anything higher (10.10 through 10.13) often results in significant graphical and functional bugs Avid Pro Audio Community High Sierra Support: For High Sierra, Avid recommends a minimum of Pro Tools 12.8.3 Pro Tools 10.3.10 Information & Downloads - Knowledge Base
Installing Pro Tools 10.3.10 on macOS 10.13 High Sierra is not officially supported by Avid and is generally discouraged due to significant technical hurdles and graphical bugs. ⚠️ Critical Compatibility Warning
Official Support: Pro Tools 10.3.10 was only qualified up to macOS 10.8.5 Mountain Lion.
Installer Block: The installer will typically fail on High Sierra with an "Incompatible version of the OS" error.
Known Bugs: If successfully installed, users often report a "black menu" bug where plugin lists and dropdowns are invisible until hovered over, making the software nearly unusable for professional work. Unofficial Installation Workaround
If you must proceed, you can bypass the OS check using Terminal to extract and run the installer components manually: install pro tools 103 10 on high sierra
Extract the Package: Use the Terminal command pkgutil --expand [path/to/installer.pkg] [destination/folder] to unpack the installer manually.
Modify the Distribution File: Some users find and edit the Distribution file inside the expanded package to remove the OS version check.
Run the Inner PKG: Locate the extracted Pro Tools.pkg (or similar) inside the destination folder and run it directly. Recommended Alternatives
Instead of forcing an unsupported version, consider these more stable paths: How do I get protools 10 to work with high Sierra
Officially, Pro Tools 10.3.10 is not compatible with macOS High Sierra (10.13). Avid's official support for Pro Tools 10.3.10 ends at Mac OS X 10.8.5 (Mountain Lion).
Attempting to install it on High Sierra will likely trigger an "incompatible version of the OS" error because the installer includes an OS version check. Official Compatibility Overview Pro Tools 10.3.10: Only qualified up to Mac OS X 10.8.5.
macOS High Sierra (10.13): Officially requires Pro Tools 12.8.3 or higher (up to version 2020.12).
Known Issues: Users who manage to bypass the installer check often report severe graphical bugs, such as black plugin lists that only appear when hovered over. Unofficial Workarounds (Use at Your Own Risk)
If you must attempt the installation, the following methods have been used by the community:
Modify the Installer Package: Some users bypass the OS check by editing the Distribution file inside the Pro Tools installer package to remove the version limitation.
Visual Bug Fix: If the software launches but displays graphical glitches, you can sometimes resolve this by temporarily lowering your screen resolution in System Preferences > Displays before opening the app, then reverting to native resolution once the session is loaded.
Partitioning/Dual Boot: The most stable way to run Pro Tools 10 on newer hardware is to create a separate drive partition running a supported older OS, such as Mountain Lion. Recommended Action Pro Tools Operating System Compatibility Chart
macOS Monterey (12.5.1) Windows 10 (release 21H2) Windows 11 (release 21H2) 2022.6. macOS Mojave (10.14.6) *** macOS Catalina (10.
Installing Pro Tools 10.3.10 on High Sierra: A Step-by-Step Guide and Review
Introduction
Pro Tools is a professional digital audio workstation (DAW) developed by Avid Technology. Installing Pro Tools 10.3.10 on macOS High Sierra may seem like a challenge, but with the right guidance, you can successfully set it up. In this review, we'll walk you through the installation process and share our experience with running Pro Tools 10.3.10 on High Sierra.
System Requirements
Before installing Pro Tools 10.3.10, ensure your system meets the minimum requirements: After successful launch: High Sierra introduces new security
Installation Steps
Installation Challenges and Solutions
Review and Performance
After successfully installing Pro Tools 10.3.10 on High Sierra, we evaluated its performance and compatibility.
However, we did encounter some limitations:
Conclusion
Installing Pro Tools 10.3.10 on High Sierra requires some technical expertise and patience. While the software runs relatively stable and performs well, it's essential to be aware of the potential limitations and challenges. If you're a professional audio engineer or producer, you may want to consider upgrading to a newer version of Pro Tools or using a different DAW that's officially supported on High Sierra.
Rating: 4/5
Recommendation
If you're looking to install Pro Tools 10.3.10 on High Sierra, ensure you follow the installation steps carefully and are aware of the potential challenges. If you're a professional audio engineer or producer, consider upgrading to a newer version of Pro Tools or using a different DAW that's officially supported on High Sierra.
Installing Pro Tools 10.3.10 on macOS 10.13 High Sierra is technically unsupported and requires manual workarounds. Avid officially supports Pro Tools 10 only up to macOS 10.8.5 Mountain Lion. Running it on High Sierra often results in a non-functional installer and severe graphical glitches. ⚠️ Compatibility Warning
Official Support: Avid states Pro Tools 10.3.10 is NOT qualified for macOS 10.9 or higher.
Installer Blocks: The standard installer will likely fail with an "Incompatible version of the OS" error.
Graphical Glitches: If successfully installed, users frequently report "blacked-out" plugin menus where text only appears when hovered over. 🛠️ Installation Steps (Workaround)
Because the installer blocks newer OS versions, you must bypass the OS check. 1. Bypass the OS Version Check
You can temporarily "trick" the installer by modifying your system's version identification:
Backup: Always back up your system before editing system files.
Edit Plist: Navigate to /System/Library/CoreServices/SystemVersion.plist. Disclaimer: Avid officially ended support for Pro Tools
Change Version: Temporarily change the ProductVersion string from 10.13.x to 10.8.5. Install: Run the Pro Tools 10.3.10 installer.
Revert: Immediately change the version back to 10.13.x after installation to avoid system instability. 2. Fix Graphical Menu Glitches
A common fix for the "invisible menu" bug involves changing display scaling: Open System Preferences > Displays.
Change the resolution to Scaled and select a lower resolution. Launch Pro Tools.
Once the session is open, switch the resolution back to your monitor's native setting. ⚙️ Essential Optimizations
To improve stability on an unsupported OS, apply these High Sierra-specific optimizations:
iLok Drivers: Manually download the latest iLok License Manager instead of using the one included in the old PT10 installer.
New Admin Account: Create a dedicated "Pro Tools" Admin user account to minimize background process interference.
Security Permissions: If the installer fails to launch, check System Preferences > Security & Privacy to "Allow" the app from an unidentified developer.
Disable FileVault: Avid recommends disabling FileVault encryption for better disk performance with Pro Tools. 💡 Recommended Alternatives
Given the instability of PT10 on High Sierra, consider these more reliable options:
Upgrade Pro Tools: Pro Tools 12.8.3 through 2020.12 is natively supported on macOS 10.13.6.
Dual Boot: Create a separate partition on your hard drive and install macOS 10.8.5 specifically for running Pro Tools 10.
If you would like to proceed with the manual install, let me know: Do you have a backup of your system?
Are you comfortable using the Terminal to edit system files? Which audio interface are you planning to use?
I can provide more detailed commands for the system version bypass if needed.
After installation, the Pro Tools 10 app is likely broken due to permission mismatches.