An excerpt from the repository, fetched Nov 13, 2026.
Read the project’s introduction
Retroactive
You can use Retroactive to run Aperture, iPhoto, and iTunes on macOS Golden Gate, macOS Tahoe, macOS Sequoia, macOS Sonoma, macOS Ventura, macOS Monterey, macOS Big Sur, and macOS Catalina. Xcode 11.7 on macOS Mojave. Final Cut Pro 7, Logic Pro 9, and iWork ’09 on macOS Mojave or macOS High Sierra.
Opening Retroactive
After downloading Retroactive, double click to open it. macOS may prompt you “Retroactive cannot be opened because it is from an unidentified developer.” This is expected.
To open Retroactive, navigate to System Settings > Privacy & Security, then scroll down and click “Open Anyway”.
Retroactive will not harm your Mac. This alert only shows up because Retroactive is not notarized. Retroactive is open source, so you can always examine its source code to make sure it’s safe.
Transition from Aperture, iPhoto, iTunes, and Final Cut Pro 7 to supported apps
Because Rosetta 2 will be removed from macOS 28, macOS Golden Gate is likely¹ the final version of macOS to support running Aperture, iPhoto, and iTunes through Retroactive.
After upgrading to macOS 28, you need to transition from Aperture, iPhoto, and iTunes to a wide range of supported apps, many of which are built into macOS or free to download.
iTunes
Switch to Music, TV, Podcasts, Books, and Finder.
Install Windows with Parallels Desktop or VMware Fusion, then download iTunes for Windows.
To archive iPhone and iPad apps, use Asspp, IPATool, iMazing, Apple Configurator (tutorial), or iTunes 12.6.5.3 for Windows.
Aperture and iPhoto
Switch to Photos, Darktable, or RawTherapee.
Purchase or subscribe to AfterShot Pro, Capture One Pro, Darkroom, DxO PhotoLab, Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, Luminar Neo, or Photomator.
Final Cut Pro 7
Export your projects into XML on a compatible Mac. Then import them into DaVinci Resolve, Media Composer, or Premiere Pro. You can also use SendToX to import them into the latest version of Final Cut Pro.
¹ It may theoretically be possible to modify Aperture, iPhoto, and iTunes in a way that makes macOS 28 treat them as older, unmaintained games, which will continue to run under a subset of Rosetta functionality.
Because Aperture, iPhoto, and iTunes likely depend on frameworks beyond this remaining subset, Aperture, iPhoto, and iTunes may need to be augmented with x86_64 frameworks extracted from the dyld shared cache from macOS Golden Gate using dsce.
Picking an app
On macOS Golden Gate, macOS Tahoe, macOS Sequoia, macOS Sonoma, macOS Ventura, macOS Monterey, macOS Big Sur, and macOS Catalina, Retroactive can unlock Aperture and iPhoto, or install iTunes. Pick the app you want to run. If you want to run multiple apps from here, pick any one of them. You will always be able to get back to this screen later.
On macOS Mojave and macOS High Sierra, Retroactive can also unlock Final Cut Pro 7, Logic Pro 9 (experimental), Xcode 11.7 (requires macOS Mojave), and fix iWork ’09.
I’ll use Aperture as the example, but the same process also works for iPhoto, iTunes, Final Cut Pro 7, Logic Pro 9, Xcode 11.7, and iWork ’09.
Locating the app or choosing a version
Retroactive will automatically scan your Mac to locate an existing Aperture, iPhoto, Final Cut Pro 7, Logic Pro 9, Xcode 11.7, or iWork ’09 install. If Retroactive has already located the app you would like to run, skip to the next section.
If Retroactive can’t locate an existing install, you’ll either be asked to download it, or re-install it from a DVD disc. You can also find the app on another Mac you own, then AirDrop it to this Mac, or restore the app from a Time Machine backup.
If you chose iTunes, Retroactive will ask you which version to install, then automatically download and install it for you.
iTunes 12.9.5 supports Dark Mode and most DJ apps.
iTunes 12.6.5 supports Ringtones and iTunes U.
iTunes 11.4 has a classic look.
iTunes 10.7 supports CoverFlow.
If you don’t know which version to install, keep the default setting and click “Continue”.
Authenticating Retroactive
To install or modify the app you chose, you need to authenticate with your login password first. Click “Authenticate”, and enter your login password.
Your password is never stored or sent anywhere. To verify this, you can view Retroactive’s source code.
Modifying the app
Retroactive will install or modify the app you chose. Modifying the app should only take about 2 minutes.
If you chose to install iTunes, this process may longer.
Depending on the version you chose, it can take between 10 minutes to an hour.
It is completely normal for the fans to spin up during the process.
If Retroactive asks for your login password again, re-enter it again.
If iTunes 12.9.5 can’t be installed, try to install iTunes 12.6.5.
After installing iTunes, Retroactive will ask you about iPod syncing. If you need to sync with iPod devices, click "Enable Full Disk Access", and follow on-screen instructions provided by Retroactive.
That's it! You can use the app now.
Using the app
After successfully modifying or installing the app, you can play with it to your heart's content.
All Aperture features should be available except for playing videos, exporting slideshows, Photo Stream, and iCloud Photo Sharing. If RAW photos can't be opened, you need to reprocess them.
All iPhoto features should be available except for playing videos, exporting slideshows, Photo Stream, and iCloud Photo Sharing.
All features should work for iTunes 12.9.5.
Most features should work for iTunes 12.6.5. Use iTunes 12.9.5 or Finder to back up your device instead. Use Apple Configurator 2 to download iOS apps on your Mac.
Movies and TV Shows downloaded from the iTunes Store may be unable to play in iTunes. Download or play them in the TV app instead.
Some dialogs in iTunes may display a crossed-out iTunes icon. This is purely cosmetic and has no functional impact.
All Final Cut Pro 7 features should work.
Support for Logic Pro 9 is experimental. You may see frequent freezes
Read the full README on GitHub