Install | Pro Tools 103 10 On 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.


Known Issues & Workarounds

| 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. | install pro tools 103 10 on high sierra

Step 1: Disable System Integrity Protection (SIP)

Pro Tools 10.3.10 needs to write files to system-protected directories that Apple locked down starting OS X 10.11. You must temporarily disable SIP. Note: Avid does not officially support this configuration

  1. Restart your Mac.
  2. Hold down Command + R immediately after the startup chime until the Apple logo appears.
  3. In Recovery Mode, go to Utilities > Terminal.
  4. Type: csrutil disable and press Enter.
  5. Restart your Mac normally.

Security Note: Re-enable SIP after installation by repeating the process with csrutil enable. Known Issues & Workarounds | Issue | Solution

Summary

Pro Tools 10.3.10 on High Sierra is a working but fragile combination. It requires disabling modern security features (Gatekeeper) and replacing the binary executable file to bypass authorization checks. Once set up, it is stable enough for basic editing and mixing tasks.

Here’s a consolidated review of installing Pro Tools 10.3.10 on macOS High Sierra (10.13.x) , based on real-world user experiences.