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User profile for user: John the Greek
John the Greek Author
User level: Level 1
17 points

13" MacBook, circa 2011 running Snow Leopard want to upgrade Os

My wife's MacBook is running 10.6.8 and I want to upgrade the Os to the most recent that it will support. I've been trying to get somewhere on her machine but without success, because all her browsers are old too and not supported any more. This is her 'about' window...


Can anyone tell me where I can get a download of the highest Os that this Mac will support? I thought I'd try upgrading it first to Lion, but the browser didn't work when I tried to order it ($19.99 on Apple's site). I really want to install a more recent Os on it, but can't seem to find out which one and how to download it.

MacBook

Posted on Nov 4, 2020 3:06 PM

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User profile for user: HWTech
HWTech
User level: Level 9
60,446 points

Posted on Nov 4, 2020 6:50 PM

A 2011 Mac can run up to macOS 10.13 High Sierra. You may need to first install macOS 10.11 El Capitan before being able to upgrade to 10.13. macOS 10.11 can be downloaded from outside the App Store using this link:

http://updates-http.cdn-apple.com/2019/cert/061-41424-20191024-218af9ec-cf50-4516-9011-228c78eda3d2/InstallMacOSX.dmg


Here are the instructions for using the macOS 10.11 installer (read it carefully):

https://support.apple.com/kb/HT206886


I recommend creating a bootable macOS USB installer:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372


If you cannot download the installer on this Mac, then you can use any other computer (macOS, Windows, Linux) to download the installer .dmg file and transfer the installer .dmg to the 2011 laptop where you follow the instructions to extract the installer from the .dmg and create a bootable macOS USB installer.


Make sure to have a good backup before attempting to upgrade macOS in case something goes wrong.

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User profile for user: HWTech
HWTech
User level: Level 9
60,446 points

Nov 4, 2020 6:50 PM in response to John the Greek

A 2011 Mac can run up to macOS 10.13 High Sierra. You may need to first install macOS 10.11 El Capitan before being able to upgrade to 10.13. macOS 10.11 can be downloaded from outside the App Store using this link:

http://updates-http.cdn-apple.com/2019/cert/061-41424-20191024-218af9ec-cf50-4516-9011-228c78eda3d2/InstallMacOSX.dmg


Here are the instructions for using the macOS 10.11 installer (read it carefully):

https://support.apple.com/kb/HT206886


I recommend creating a bootable macOS USB installer:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372


If you cannot download the installer on this Mac, then you can use any other computer (macOS, Windows, Linux) to download the installer .dmg file and transfer the installer .dmg to the 2011 laptop where you follow the instructions to extract the installer from the .dmg and create a bootable macOS USB installer.


Make sure to have a good backup before attempting to upgrade macOS in case something goes wrong.

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13" MacBook, circa 2011 running Snow Leopard want to upgrade Os

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