Setup

VPN for an Old Mac: How to Install It on macOS 11 Big Sur (MacBooks and iMacs 2013–2015)

5 min readРусская версия

In short: if your Mac has an Intel processor and runs macOS 11 Big Sur, the regular ProxysVPN will not install on it: it needs macOS 12. Such Macs have a separate file, ProxysVPN_0.3.24_x64_bigsur.dmg. It is on the download page: the “Mac on macOS 11 Big Sur?” line under the buttons. The image is notarized by Apple and opens like any other app.

ProxysVPN is our service, and the app is ours too. The other apps in the comparison are described from public information as of the date this article was updated; whatever we have not checked ourselves is marked as such.

Who this file is for

  • A Mac with an Intel processor (not M1 or newer) running macOS 11 Big Sur: version 11.0 and newer fits.
  • Typical models: MacBook Air 2013–2014, MacBook Pro Late 2013 and Mid 2014, 12-inch MacBook 2015, iMac 2014–2015. Apple’s exact list is in a separate guide.
  • Macs with Apple silicon (M1 and newer) and Intel Macs on macOS 12 or newer take other files: a table to pick from.

Step 0. Check your system

Open the Apple menu in the top-left corner and choose “About This Mac”. The window shows the name and version of macOS, and below it either “Processor” (an Intel Mac) or “Chip” (an Apple silicon Mac), as Apple describes it. You need: an Intel processor and macOS 11.

How to install ProxysVPN on a Mac with Big Sur

  1. 1Open the “Mac on macOS 11 Big Sur?” line on the download page and download ProxysVPN_0.3.24_x64_bigsur.dmg.
  2. 2Open the downloaded file and drag ProxysVPN to “Applications”.
  3. 3At the first launch macOS asks whether to open an app downloaded from the internet. Click “Open”.
  4. 4Get a sign-in code: in your dashboard, open the device card and press “Code for the app”. The eight-character code is valid for 10 minutes and works once. No account yet? Signing up takes a minute with an email address; Telegram is not needed.
  5. 5Open ProxysVPN, choose sign-in by code and enter the code from the dashboard.
A user confirmed the Big Sur build on a 2014 MacBook Pro running macOS 11.7. We have not run it on the other models in Apple’s list. If something goes wrong, write to support.

Updates

Updates arrive in the app itself, like the regular version. You do not need to download the file again each time.

What it costs

The app itself is free; what you pay for is the subscription: $1.50 per device per month, taken from your balance, with nothing charged to your card automatically. Top-ups start at $5. An account opened on the Russian site is priced in roubles instead: an account keeps the currency it was opened in, whatever card tops it up.

If it did not work

  • The app does not open: go through the five checks.
  • Not sure which file you need: a short table.
  • macOS 10.15 Catalina and older: there is no build for it. Write to support and we will tell you what can be done.

FAQ

Is there a ProxysVPN app for a Mac on Big Sur?

Yes, a separate file for Macs with an Intel processor running macOS 11 Big Sur: it is on the download page, in the “Mac on macOS 11 Big Sur?” line.

Do I need to update macOS to install the app?

Not on a Mac with Big Sur: this file is built for macOS 11.0 and newer. The regular version needs macOS 12.

How do I sign in to the app?

With the eight-character code from your dashboard. It is valid for 10 minutes and works once.

Will the app update itself?

Updates arrive in the app itself, like the regular version.

What if I have macOS 10.15 Catalina or older?

There is no build for those systems. Write to support.

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Who we are. These guides are written and kept current by the team that runs ProxysVPN. The date of the last update is at the top of the article. If a step is wrong or out of date, write to support and we will fix it.