AppleALC Guides

About

This repository contains guides for working with the AppleALC source code to get audio working on Wintel machines running macOS. The centerpiece of this repo is a guide for creating/modifying ALC Layout-IDs for the AppleALC.kext.

Included Guides

• How to create/modify a Layout-ID for AppleALC
• Using alc-verb for testing audio routes
• AppleALC File Management
• Testing Notes Template
• Slimming and compiling the AppleALC kext
• CODEC Dumps with Schematics

⚠️ macOS 26 Tahoe — Analog Audio is Broken

As of macOS 26 Tahoe beta 2, AppleALC no longer works for analog onboard audio (Realtek, Conexant, and similar codecs). This affects built-in speakers, headphone jacks, and line inputs.

Why: Apple removed AppleHDA.kext entirely in Tahoe beta 2. Since all Intel Macs still supported by Tahoe use a T2 chip to handle audio — and therefore never needed AppleHDA — Apple dropped it. Hackintosh systems don't have a T2 chip, so the driver layer that AppleALC depends on is simply gone.

What still works: Digital audio via HDMI or DisplayPort outputs is unaffected, as it relies on different kexts.

Workarounds:

• VoodooHDA-Tahoe — a drop-in replacement that doesn't depend on AppleHDA. Audio quality is generally lower than AppleALC, but it works. For additional info check Dortanias's Notes about macOS Tahoe.
• OCLP root patching — reinstates AppleHDA.kext and its associated dylib via root volume patches, restoring full AppleALC functionality. Requires lowered SIP and an OCLP-based patcher. See Audio on macOS Tahoe for Hackintosh systems for details.

Credits and Resources

→ see respective sections for details.