Upgrade Mac Os

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  1. List Of Mac Os Versions
  2. Upgrade Mac Os To El Capitan
  • The latest version of macOS is macOS 11.0 Big Sur, which Apple released on November 12, 2020.Apple releases a new major version roughly once every year. These upgrades are free and are available in the Mac App Store.
  • The upgrade install is the easiest way to upgrade your Mac to macOS Sierra. This method preserves all of your current user data, documents, and apps while upgrading the existing operating system on your Mac's startup drive to macOS Sierra. The advantage is that once the upgrade is complete, your Mac is ready to go, with all of your personal.

Install Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan on an external drive. (Download El Capitan from Apple's site.) El Capitan seems to be the last release that can migrate files from Snow Leopard. Use the Startup. Easily check which versions of mac OS, iOS, iPadOS, or watchOS are compatible with your Mac model or iDevice. Guide includes OS X 10.8.x to macOS 11.0.x. In each version of Mac OS X, updates are accessed through the Apple menu. However, the method for opening the 'Software Update' menu differs slightly when utilizing newer and older versions of OS X. Updates can also be installed using standalone installers. See the steps below for upgrading your particular version of Mac software.

Each year, Apple makes improvements to macOS, the operating system (OS) you use on your Mac. The annual Apple Mac update cycle often brings iterative tweaks, but some years have major changes.

Your macOS operating system – or OS X, for older versions of macOS – can be updated each Fall, so long as Apple is still supporting your device. Here we'll show you how to prepare your Mac for an update, the right way to update MacOS to the latest version of OS X or macOS, and some apps that make the process much smoother.

How to prepare your Mac for an OS update

Knowing how to update the latest Mac system is one thing – preparing your machine is equally important. To prepare your Mac for an upgrade, you'll want to make sure your files are organized properly, all of your system settings are correct, and that your file system is backed up. It's also important to know if your Mac is eligible for an update.

Check the General Requirements (and Hardware)

To see what specs your Mac has, follow these steps:

  1. From the menu bar on your Mac, select the Apple icon on the top left
  2. Select 'About This Mac' from the drop down menu

This will tell you what year your Mac was made, the version of macOS or OS X you're currently on, the computer's RAM (Memory), processor, and which graphics card your Mac has. These are important to know, as upgrading to the latest version of macOS – macOS 11 Big Sur – requires the following:

  • macOS 10.10 or later
  • 4GB RAM (Memory)
  • 15-20GB of available storage.
Note: To see how much available storage space you have, follow the two step process above, then 'Storage' tab at the top of the window.

When you want to upgrade MacOS, keep in mind the latest version of macOS is only available for these models:

  • MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)
  • MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or newer)
  • MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or newer)
  • Mac mini (Late 2012 or newer)
  • iMac (Late 2012 or newer)
  • iMac Pro (2017)
  • Mac Pro (Late 2013 or newer)

Back up your Mac

When it's time to back your Mac up, Apple has an official method dubbed Time Machine. When you use Time Machine, it keeps what's called an 'image' of your Mac, which is what a backup really is. When you backup your Mac, you're making a compressed version of your entire operating system.

Learn more about time machine backup.

The purpose of creating a backup is most often to have a recent save point you can reboot from. It's important to do as often as possible.

Here's how to create a backup of your Mac using Time Machine:

  1. Connect an external drive. This is where your backup will be stored.
  2. From your Mac menu bar, go to Apple > System Preferences > Time Machine
  3. Click 'Select Disk'
  4. Select the external drive you connected to your Mac
  5. Select 'Use Disk' in the new popup window

There's a much better way to backup your Mac, though: Get Backup Pro.

Get Backup Pro makes backing up your Mac simple, and you remain in total control. One issue many have with Time Machine is it often starts backing up during the day, which consumes resources on your Mac, and things you're working on may not save in your backup. Get Backup Pro lets you back your Mac up to any device you like, and you can set the schedule you want for backing your Mac up. You can even choose how many backups you want to keep; Time Machine doesn't allow such customizations!

Make sure you have sufficient space for macOS Update

Apple recommends you have a minimum of 4GB RAM, or Memory, and 12.5GB available storage when upgrading your Mac. Photo booth mac no connected camera. (It's also wise to have a strong internet connection, as the download can take quite a bit of time!)

Here's how to check your system to see if your Mac is eligible for an Apple OS update:

  1. From the menu bar on your Mac, select the Apple icon on the top left
  2. Select 'About This Mac' from the drop down menu – this shows you how much Memory (RAM) you have
  3. Select the 'Storage' tab
  4. Under 'Macintosh HD,' ensure you have at least 12.5GB storage available

Clean Your Mac

When you think 'how do i update my mac operating system?,' you should also be thinking about how to prepare your Mac for the update. Remember that if you need to boot your Mac from a backup, it will load exactly what you have on your Mac at the time of the update. Now is a great time to delete apps, re-organize your files, and make sure your settings are optimized.

There's just no better app for this than CleanMyMac X. It leaves your Mac running in peak condition, and like Get Backup Pro, it can be set to alert you on a schedule that it's time to clean up your Mac. All you have to do is open CleanMyMac X on your Mac, select the 'Smart Scan' module, and the app scans your system and cleans up unnecessary files, scans for malware, and ensures your settings are set to keep your Mac running as fast as possible by doing things like freeing up RAM and running maintenance scripts.

If you want to really dial your Mac in, CleanMyMac X has a module for uninstalling apps, which also removes their associated files. You can also run the 'Maintenance' module to take the Smart Scan feature a step further with a more detailed scrubbing of your Mac.


Upgrade

How to update a Mac

You may be wondering 'how do I upgrade my Mac operating system?' Now that we've told you how to backup your Mac and optimize it, here's how you update your Mac:

  1. From the menu bar on your Mac, select the Apple icon on the top left
  2. Select 'Software Update'

That's all you need to do! Your Mac will tell you if there's an upgrade available for you. Next time you're thinking 'how do i upgrade my operating system on my Mac?,' remember this two-step process.

How to turn on automatic updates

You can trigger your Mac to update automatically – but first, a word of caution. Many set their Mac to update automatically so they don't ask themselves 'how do i update mac os?' every few months. It's typically fine to have your Mac update automatically, but there have been some features that break old apps in newer macOS builds. We would caution you to consider your needs; if you can't risk apps not working or perhaps files being shifted around, we would advise against automatic updates.

10.6.8

How to update a Mac

You may be wondering 'how do I upgrade my Mac operating system?' Now that we've told you how to backup your Mac and optimize it, here's how you update your Mac:

  1. From the menu bar on your Mac, select the Apple icon on the top left
  2. Select 'Software Update'

That's all you need to do! Your Mac will tell you if there's an upgrade available for you. Next time you're thinking 'how do i upgrade my operating system on my Mac?,' remember this two-step process.

How to turn on automatic updates

You can trigger your Mac to update automatically – but first, a word of caution. Many set their Mac to update automatically so they don't ask themselves 'how do i update mac os?' every few months. It's typically fine to have your Mac update automatically, but there have been some features that break old apps in newer macOS builds. We would caution you to consider your needs; if you can't risk apps not working or perhaps files being shifted around, we would advise against automatic updates.

But for most, it's fine to automatically upgrade your Mac. Here's how:

  1. From the menu bar on your Mac, select the Apple icon on the top left
  2. Select 'Software Update'
  3. Select 'Advanced'
  4. Make sure all boxes are checked

Note: for a Mac to automatically update, it must be connected to power.

Keep in mind you have a bit of control here, too. You can choose to have your Mac check for updates automatically, but not download them. This is a smart choice for those who want a bit more control over when their Mac updates, and we prefer this option as it allows you to run CleanMyMac X before a backup with Get Backup Pro. Backing up before an update is always a smart move.

How Can I Update Drivers on Apple OS?

Drivers are what allow your Mac to communicate with peripherals like graphics cards, speakers, or printers. You can't directly update drivers on a Mac; your best bet is to update your operating system, which has all the necessary drivers.

If you're using a specific app to communicate with peripherals, like an app for a printer, updating the app itself may install new drivers.

Mac Won't Update?

If your Mac simply won't update, it's likely a hardware issue. As we noted, you'll need 4GB RAM and 12.5GB storage to update your Mac. If you don't have at least that, you will be unable to run the latest version of macOS.

Your Mac may also be too old. Though the system requirements help avoid this, Apple only supports older machines for a certain amount of time; this is often because other specs, like graphics cards, are no longer adequate for newer versions of macOS.

It's also possible the update was interrupted; this is why we advise you have a strong internet connection before updating your Mac. These are core issues with a Mac which won't update. If you're experiencing issues, get hold of Apple for support.

Conclusion

New versions of macOS are exciting for Mac enthusiasts, but don't rush to download them. Always make sure you've cleaned your Mac using CleanMyMac X, and back your machine up with Get Backup Pro. Another great app to download is Disk Drill, which can help you recover files you thought were lost.

All three apps are available for free as part of a seven day trial of Setapp, a robust suite of productivity apps for your Mac. Alongside Disk Drill, GEt Backup Pro, and CleanMyMac X, you'll get unlimited access to the full Setapp library of nearly 200 excellent Mac apps.

When the trial ends, Setapp is only $9.99 per month to retain unlimited access to the full suite of apps. For families, Setapp's $19.99 monthly plan allows full access to Setapp on up to four unique Macs. An incredible deal – give Setapp a try today!

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The day has come, High Sierra is available for upgrade. In case you were hesitant about whether you should rush to do it, don't be. It's a solid improvement with a whole bunch of new features. The new Apple File System and the end of autoplaying videos in Safari browser alone are worth it. You can check our separate entry on High Sierra features if you want. So, let us proceed to the macOS update and preparation.

Important notice: Apple has recently pulled down macOS Sierra installer from the Mac App Store. This means that if you decide to upgrade now, the only OS you'll be able to go back to is El Capitan. We kindly advise you to consider this before upgrading and make sure you'll be willing to keep High Sierra for the next year.

Can your Mac update macOS this time?

List Of Mac Os Versions

Here are all the Mac models that are fit to run the latest OS 10.13.

MacBook Pro (2010 and later)MacBook (late 2009 and later)MacBook Air (2010 and later)
iMac (late 2009 and later)Mac Pro (2010 and later)Mac Mini (2010 and later)

Does your Mac have enough space and RAM?

Hardware requirements haven't changed since last time, so it's still like this:

Required memory:
2GB or more
Require disk storage:
8.8GB
Prepare Mac for the upgrade
Сleanup and backup

A few things before you install new macOS 10.13 High Sierra

To check your available disk space, click on the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen and choose About this Mac.

Find the Storage tab and see how much free space you have. If it's low, get a Mac cleaner to free up some space. Let's talk about it in detail.

Clean up your Mac

Mac software update always works better on a clean computer, without old cache files, leftovers, and random system junk. So before you go get yourself that new High Sierra download and run it, make sure you have a clean Mac. There's a great app for that, CleanMyMac. It deals with all kinds of system and hard drive trash in minutes, so you don't have to lift a finger looking for junk manually.

Don't forget to back up important data

Another step that needs to be remembered at all times: back up. Back it all up.

Upgrades are mostly safe and stable but you really don't want to be that one accidental glitch in the system where your files get corrupted. So a proper backup is a must. You can get a powerful software for the job, Get Backup Pro. It's faster and more secure than the native Time Machine.

Check Hard Disk for Errors, Health, Bad Sectors before upgrade macOS

You might also want to check your disk for errors before upgrading.

You can do it with Disk Utility app:

  1. Simply open Disk Utility app
  2. Click on First Aid and run it. It will check your startup disk for possible errors and fix them if it finds anything.

And run disk bad sector checking with Disk Drill app:

Upgrade Mac Os To El Capitan

Should you upgrade or get a clean install?

Maquina virtual mac no windows. First, you probably want to know what's the difference between the two. Upgrade is a simple installation of a new system over the old one, where the core software gets upgraded while your files and system preferences remain intact.

A clean install, on the other hand, is a more radical way of upgrade that removes all your files on the hard drive. Now, why would you want that? Well, your system could've been misbehaving lately, your hard drive overloaded and you don't feel like cleaning it, or you just want that feeling of a brand new Mac again. In this case you'll have to upload the files you still need in the cloud or save them on another drive.

How to download macOS High Sierra

This is pretty easy, even though not always fast. Your latest macOS download is on the Mac App Store.

So, follow these steps to download and update macOS:

  1. Make sure you have a fast and stable WiFi connection. Don't use public networks in cafes/hotels for upgrades, they can be of poor quality and interrupt the process.
  2. Open the App Store app on your Mac.
  3. Fin the last tab in the top menu, Updates.
  4. Click it.
  5. One of the updates is macOS High Sierra.
  6. Click Update.
  7. Your download has started.
  8. High Sierra will update automatically when downloaded.

After you upgrade to new macOS 10.13

While you're enjoying your new system, here's how to make your experience even better. New macOS always feels like a fresh start, which means it's time to take care of your Mac. With Setapp subscription you not only get CleanMyMac and Get Backup Pro that we mentioned earlier, but a whole collection of super-handy applications.

For instance, Setapp has apps to keep your Mac safe and healthy, like iStat Menus with real-time performance analytics. You can see how your Mac is doing, is it overheating or running out of RAM, view battery life, and a whole set of other indicators. iStat Menus is a real heart monitor for computers and it lets you catch every minor issue before it gets major.

There's also Disk Drill app to recover your data. It's a handy app with a bunch of irreplaceable features like restoring your files in case the drive was corrupted, analyzing your disk to see what hogs space on it, and duplicate file removal. So everything you need on Mac in one app subscription. Give it a spin, it's free for a week.

We hope this guide has been of help to you. Have a good upgrade, cheers!

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