103 10 On High Sierra | Install Pro Tools

Avid’s installer certificates expired years ago. High Sierra will refuse to run the package if it thinks the date is “too modern.”

pkgutil --expand /Volumes/Pro\ Tools\ Installer/Pro_Tools_10.3.10.pkg ~/Desktop/PT_Expanded
cd ~/Desktop/PT_Expanded
cat Payload | gunzip -dc | cpio -i
sudo cp -R Pro\ Tools.app /Applications/
sudo cp -R Library/Audio/Plug-Ins /Library/Audio/

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.

| Problem | Details | |--------|---------| | Installation fails | Installer may crash or refuse to run. Workaround: Use Pacifist or manually copy components. | | AAE -6101 / CPU spikes | Very common – High Sierra’s audio/memory handling conflicts with PT10’s 32-bit memory space. | | No video playback | QuickTime 7 (32-bit) required – broken on High Sierra. | | Plugin scanning crashes | Many older 32-bit AAX/RTAS plugins crash on launch. | | Graphics glitches | UI redraw errors, missing text, frozen windows. | | Random quits | Especially when using memory-heavy sessions (>2GB RAM used). | | Peripheral issues | MIDI controllers, Control surfaces, or external clocking may disconnect. |

⭐ 2/10
“It technically can be done, but you’ll spend more time fighting crashes than making music.”

If you absolutely must run PT10, dual-boot macOS Mountain Lion or use a virtual machine. High Sierra is the wrong tool for this job.

Installing Pro Tools 10.3.10 macOS High Sierra (10.13) is officially unsupported

and generally not recommended. Pro Tools 10 was originally designed for older operating systems like Mac OS X 10.8.5 (Mountain Lion) Key Issues and Risks

Users who have attempted this installation often report a "hot mess" of technical problems: Graphical Glitches

: The most common issue is a broken user interface, such as blank pull-down menus or a missing plugin list. Installation Blocks

: The standard installer will typically throw an "incompatible OS" error. Uninstaller Failure : The Pro Tools 10.3.10 uninstaller is known not to work

on High Sierra, which makes it very difficult to clean up if the installation fails or causes system instability. Potential Workarounds

If you must try to get it running, some community members suggest these non-official methods: Protools 10 installation on High Sierra - Facebook

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 install pro tools 103 10 on high sierra

If you must proceed, you can bypass the OS check using Terminal to extract and run the installer components manually:

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

Note: Avid does not officially support this configuration. Pro Tools 10’s last officially supported OS was Mountain Lion (10.8.5). However, with workarounds, it can run on High Sierra, though not perfectly. This guide is for legacy users who need old RTAS/32-bit plugins or TDM hardware.

Before touching the installer, understand the three major hurdles:

It runs, but it’s not stable for critical paid sessions. Occasional random quits and graphic glitches (especially with large sessions). Fine for recalling old projects or light tracking. For daily work, stay on Sierra (10.12.6) or use PT 12/202x.

If you absolutely need PT 10 today: Consider dual‑booting High Sierra (for everything else) and Mountain Lion / Mavericks on an older Mac.

Has anyone else tried this? Any tips on getting the video engine semi‑stable?

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: Avid’s installer certificates expired years ago

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 macOS High Sierra (10.13) is not officially supported by Avid, as Pro Tools 10 is only qualified up to macOS 10.8.5

. Attempting to run it on newer systems often results in severe graphical glitches, such as blank pull-down menus.

However, if you must proceed, you can use the following community-tested workaround to bypass the OS version check and mitigate visual bugs. Phase 1: Bypassing the Installer OS Check

The standard installer will fail with an "incompatible version of the OS" error. To bypass this:

Pro Tools Operating System Compatibility Chart - Knowledge Base Disclaimer: Avid officially ended support for Pro Tools

Installing Pro Tools 10.3.10 on macOS High Sierra (10.13) is not officially supported by Avid, as the software was only qualified up to OS X 10.8.5. While the installer typically blocks you with an "incompatible version" error, you can bypass this using a terminal-based workaround. Feature Highlight: "The Terminal Override"

The most critical "feature" or method to get Pro Tools 10 onto High Sierra involves manually expanding and modifying the installer package. Because the original installer cannot correctly read two-digit point releases (seeing 10.13 as 10.1), you must use the following manual steps:

Extract the Installer: Copy the Pro Tools.pkg to your desktop and use the Terminal command pkgutil --expand [path_to_pkg] [destination_folder].

Modify the Distribution File: Open the "distribution" file within the extracted folder and change the OS check logic (e.g., changing "volume check leopard" or similar OS restrictions to "true").

Re-package: Use Terminal to flatten the modified folder back into a new .pkg file that High Sierra will allow you to run. Critical Post-Installation Adjustments

Even after a successful installation, you will likely encounter severe graphical glitches, such as blacked-out plugin menus.

The Resolution Fix: A known community workaround is to lower your screen resolution in System Preferences > Displays before launching Pro Tools.

The "CoreServices" Trick: Alternatively, some users temporarily spoof their system version by editing the SystemVersion.plist in /System/Library/CoreServices/ to read as "10.9" during the installation process, though this carries a high risk of system instability. Comparison Table: Compatibility vs. Reality Version Official Support (High Sierra) Known Issues on 10.13 Pro Tools 10.3.10 No (Max 10.8.5) Graphical bugs, menu glitches, installer errors Pro Tools 12.8.3 Yes Fully qualified for 10.13.2+; stable operation Pro Tools 2020.12 Yes Last officially supported version for High Sierra

For those needing a stable environment for older RTAS plugins, creating a dedicated partition with OS X 10.8.5 is highly recommended over forcing an installation on High Sierra. How do I install ProTools 10.3.10 on macOS High Sierra?

Installing Pro Tools 10.3.10 on macOS High Sierra is technically possible but operationally impractical for professional use. It requires disabling security features, manual patching, and accepting instability. This configuration is best reserved for emergency session migration, not daily operation. Avid’s official support ended in 2015, and Apple’s deprecation of 32-bit frameworks makes future failures inevitable. For any long-term archival access, converting sessions to Pro Tools 12+ or exporting stems/OMF is the safer path.

Document version: 1.0 – Last tested on macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 + Pro Tools 10.3.10 + iLok 2

Pro Tools 10.3.10 is not officially supported on macOS High Sierra (10.13). Avid officially qualifies this version only up to Mac OS X 10.8.5; attempting to install it on later versions like High Sierra typically triggers an "incompatible version of the OS" error.

While some users attempt workarounds, these often result in severe graphic glitches, such as empty plugin lists or software that fails to open entirely. Installation Overview

If you must proceed despite the lack of support, standard installation involves: Downloading : Obtain the Pro Tools 10.3.10 full installer from your Avid Account Clean Uninstall : Avid recommends a clean uninstall of any previous Pro Tools versions before continuing. iLok Authorization : Ensure you have a valid Pro Tools 10 license on your Unofficial Workarounds

To bypass the OS version check during installation, some users employ these advanced methods: