Where can I find High Sierra?

Question

Level 3

933 points

Where can I find High Sierra?

I have a mid-2011 iMac running El Capitan (10.11.6) and tried to install Mojave (10.14.x) but was told by the Mac App Store that High Sierra (10.13.x) was the highest I can go. HOWEVER, when I searched for High Sierra, I was told it wasn't available.

I heard that if you tried to download an app from the MAS that wasn't compatible with your hardware/OS, you'd be offered the last compatible version. But the MAS didn't offer me High Sierra or even Sierra. Any way to get High Sierra or am I SOL?

iMac 21.5", OS X 10.11

Posted on May 27, 2019 1:43 PM

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Answer 1

mdp1101

Level 3

971 points

May 27, 2019 3:07 PM in response to romad

Can you try to download high Sierra on a different Mac, make a bootable flash drive and try that. I would consider upgrading to Sierra. System Preferences > Software update > Look for Mac OS Sierra > Download it > Wait > Then do the same procedure but change the Mac OS Sierra to Mac OS High Sierra. NOTE! You May need to upgrade the OS a couple times to finally get to Mac OS High Sierra. This method saves all of your files.

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Answer 2

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

May 27, 2019 2:23 PM in response to romad

Yeah, nobody knows how Apple operates anymore.

You can also find Sierra...

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macos-sierra/id1127487414?ls=1&mt=12

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Answer 3

romad Author

Level 3

933 points

May 27, 2019 3:13 PM in response to BDAqua

I've been trying to update all 32-bit apps to 64-bit where possible figuring the older 32-bit ones would be more likely to break in HS even though they are supposed to be supported through Mojave. I may just have to see what happens.

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Answer 4

Niel

Community+ 2025

Level 10

741,167 points

May 27, 2019 1:47 PM in response to romad

Click here.

(171870)

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Answer 5

romad Author

Level 3

933 points

May 27, 2019 1:52 PM in response to Niel

Thanks, Niel. I wonder why when I went to the MAS from my iMac and El Capitan, it only offered Mojave? Maybe I wasn't holding my tongue and crossing my toes correctly!

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Answer 6

romad Author

Level 3

933 points

May 27, 2019 2:28 PM in response to BDAqua

Would it be better if I went to Sierra first instead of bypassing it and going direct to High Sierra?

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Answer 7

Niel

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Level 10

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May 27, 2019 2:31 PM in response to romad

No.

(171871)

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Answer 8

romad Author

Level 3

933 points

May 27, 2019 2:37 PM in response to Niel

OK. Thanks again.

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Answer 9

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

May 27, 2019 2:38 PM in response to romad

Depends, Sierra is a bit easier to live with than High Sierra, but of course won't have all the "spangles" of HS, Sierra breaks a few less 3rd party Apps than HS.

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