How can I install FCP on High Sierra 10.13.6

Hey Everyone, hoping someone can help...

I have an older iMac from mid 2010. It’s still running great so I’d like to avoid buying another one. My FCP7 finally crashed and couldn’t get it running again so I figured that was a sign to finally upgrade to X. I upgraded to High Sierra 10.13.6 which seems to be the most recent OS my iMac will handle. Feeling excited to finally download X, I go to the App Store, click on FCP X and it tells me I can’t install because I need macOS version 10.14.6 or later. Noooooooooooo!

So, now my OS is too new to run FCP7 but too old to install FCPX.

Do I have any options for installing any version of FCP on my setup? I’m not super tech savvy so any options that involve setting up some sort of partition or wall are going to go right over my head.

Any help would be much appreciated... I have a half edited wedding video that I promised my wife I would finish by her birthday! Ugh!

Thanks!

It’s complicated. You need a friend who has a Mac with the current OS or 10.14.6. They have to allow you to log into the App Store with your Apple ID and enter your payment information. You can then purchase the application with your Apple ID on their machine. On your home machine you can log into the App Store with your Apple ID and from the Purchased page it will allow you to download the last version that worked with High Sierra. That’s the only way I know to do it.

Thanks for the reply, Tom! Wow, they sure don't make it easy for us with older macs. Do you happen to know what the closest alternative software to FCP is these days?

iMovie

Hi Jeff
Welcome to the fcp.co forums.
You are sporting a pretty old Mac, so performance will suffer, especially with high resolution media. 10k $$$ should get you going well, but for me, not going to happen today. I'm rocking on a 2012 rMBP and really want a new Mac, at least dreams are free. FCPX 10.4.6
I believe that this page is still active and will allow you to download FCPX 10.2.3 free trial, not current version.
support.apple.com/en-us/HT202826
Link in support document to older trial version. From there, Apple does have FCPX10.4.6 (last version to work on High Sierra) on their servers and it may direct you to the proper version in App Store. If not, call Apple support and they may direct you to the appropriate download. I know it exists and I used to have the direct link, but access may be tied to Mac and Apple ID.
I'm still on HS but now considering upgrading to Mojave mainly for the latest version of FCPX. Not Catalina!
Otherwise, follow Tom's advice If you can.
Hope this Helps, Greg

Thanks for the reply, Greg! I tried what you described. the link did actually allow me to download and install that version FCPX 10.2.3... closer than I've gotten yet! Unfortunately, when I go to my applications FCP has the circle cross over it. When I try opening, it tells me I need to update it then takes me to the app store and I'm back to square one.

The trial version of 10.2.3 is now installed though. Any thoughts on how I might be able to access it?

Thanks again for all the help, guys!

hi,
i had the same problem. To open final cut pro 10.2.3, you need to follow these passages:
- open the finder and go in application;
- open final cut with a right click, now click on "show package content"
- when you are in the contents of the app, go in /Contents/MacOS/ and open the file in the folder. Final cut will open in a few seconds.
let me know if this method works, if you have some problem I'll link you the tutorial video:

Jeff, you can still install FCP on either system. It is the installer that won't let it install. You can install it manually in the terminal. I have a very old version I think 3 that I load on Mojave. If you need help just reply back.
I will monitor for a little while...

Hi guys ,

I'm also having a problem . I'm running Os high Sierra 10.13.6 and for some reason I can't update to Mojave 10.14.6 . This means when I try to install FCP trial version there's a compatibility problem. I have a Mid 2010 Mac book pro.
Does anyone know a way to fix this ? , Would really appreciate some help ,
Thanks

There is no trial version available for High Sierra. The hardware is not upgradable beyond 10.13.6.

Hello kf4jrt! Is it possible to send me the terminal instructions to instal final cut? Thank you!

2010... yeah... that's going to be tough...

I know this question was from a year ago and it's likely been resolved by the poster, one way or another,  but I had the same situation and found a super simple solution that worked for me. I've been upgrading my old mid-2010 Mac Pro (new metal/RX580 GPU, amongst other things), and got it to High Sierra where I would like this machine to stay so that I can continue to also use CS6 for my photography work. When I went to update my FCPX tonight (It's been at 10.2.1 for sooo long), I got the same message "Incompatible Update." The App Store was forcing me to upgrade to version 10.5.1, which would of course require me to also upgrade my OS to Mojave. 

My solution: I went into my apps folder, took FCPX and moved it to the trash. I did not dump it. I then went back to the App store and this time searched for "Final Cut Pro X" in the search window (I did NOT go back to my Updates window.). FCPX came up in the search choices and this time, Instead of "upgrade", it now said "install". Clicked on it, installation began and completed. I now have version FCPX 10.4.6 and it's running beautifully on High Sierra. 

Thanks for posting this solution. It worked great for me as well. What other video editing apps have you had to "hack" into because of incompatibility issues. I wish I could somehow salvage my FCP 7 app as well. Thanks again.